How to Make the Best Use of a Small Apartment Space

A constant rise in the price of real estate commodities (the number one concern for homebuyers), as well as increased rural-urban migration flows; which if unchecked, bring about unequal distribution of resources (a pressing concern in today’s largely globalized world), has created a demand for tiny apartment spaces.

As a matter of fact, micro-homes (owing to their multiple advantages over traditional housing) have witnessed a considerable increase in their popularity in recent years. Moreover, the global housing crisis – triggered by an oversupply of luxury properties and a lack of affordable housing facilities – has gradually turned the tiny house movement into the latest contemporary lifestyle trend.

But no matter how small your studio flat may physically appear, nothing can beat the comfort and luxury of a personal living space. Even though making fitting arrangements that fulfil your requirements can be a daunting task, given the limited space at your disposal, taking up customization and redecoration gigs for your new place comes with its own charm. Moreover, you can style the interior of your place to match it with your personality traits: calm or quirky; thereby claiming your space in the best possible way.

With the mass availability of the internet (especially in developing economies), property selection is no longer a difficult pursuit. Consider the case of Pakistan, where online real estate portals, including Zameen, provide their users with innumerable listing services; facilitating convenient access to the local property marketplace.

Whether you’ve recently relocated to a new place or are tired of the drab interior messing your existing space, you can always utilize the following tips and tricks in order to make your apartment feel like home:

1.      Divide the existing space into zones

You can customize the existing space of your apartment by adding separators to designate specific areas as your bedroom, living room, and kitchen. This can help create the illusion of additional space and give it more order. For example, the placement of long curtains around your kitchen can give it a cosy outlook.

2.      Make full use of vertical space

You need to get crafty and creative with your tiny living space. People often disregard the use of walls as storage spaces, which are the number one untapped resource when it comes to commencing with the smart decorating gig. The first tip to get your things in order is to hang everything on your walls. It can be an amazing way to save space and a fun way to exhibit your creative prowess.

You can hang everything: from shelves and paintings, to clothes, or even your bike. You just need to find the right place to fit your things in; giving your space a quaint vibe. One of the most important tips is to replace your table lamps with scones. Instead of big plant pots, you can set up a vertical living planter on the wall to make plants a part of your living environment.

3.      Place shelves everywhere

Shelves are some of the most customizable, useful, and budget-friendly storage options you can incorporate into your redecoration pursuit. They can even be a super-easy DIY activity for your friends to partake. You can replace awkward corner or a small unnecessary wall with multiple shelves to store your books and other knickknacks that don’t seem to fit anywhere else. Decorate these shelves with scented candles or picture frames for a perfect ambiance.

4.      Use hooks and hanging shoe organisers

Hang hooks and pegs behind doors, on walls, and in closets to increase the amount of space in order to showcase your belongings or for your storage purposes. You can hang anything: from tools and cleaning utensils, to handbags and jewellery. You can even install hooks or pegs inside cabinet doors to make way for hidden yet extra space.

Similarly, you can buy hanging show organisers for your place. For those living on a budget, these utilities come in affordable prices. Also, they can be of great use in the cluttering process. You don’t necessarily have to use them as a shoe storage facility. You can fit whatever you want in them: undergarments and socks, wrapping sheets, stationary, tools, or you can even use one to make a hanging plant wall. The possibilities are endless.

5.      Invest in multifunctional furniture

Any furniture which serve multiple purposes – seating cubes which act as small side tables or fold-out as a sitting arrangement for the guests – provides additional perks. The most common use of a double purpose furniture is its extra ‘hideaway’ storage space. Coffee tables, couches, or ottomans, which have built-in hollow storage space, can be of great help to hide the clutter which otherwise doesn’t fit into any category.

Similarly, skirted furniture is another means to hide your clutter or storage boxes. It’s great since it can give you more space for your possessions while also giving off a decorative and pretty vibe.

Moreover, folding chairs and beds, as well as collapsible tables, are essentials for an apartment owner. Invest in a couch which opens up into a bed for when your family visits from out of town. Buy folding chairs so you can stack them away in your closet in order to declutter your living area.

6.      Grab a ladder

Ladders, again, can have more than one use. They are great for storing (and aesthetically displaying) your towels and blankets. But you will also need it to reach some of higher shelves you’ve put up. Ladders come in affordable prices, provided you know just the right place to obtain one for yourself, and are a handy piece to have at home.

Living in small apartments can come off as an overwhelming experience, but with these easy-to-perform tasks, you can realistically remodel your place as per your needs and requirements. But remember, it is not important to put everything you own on a routine display. Sometimes minimalism becomes the need of the hour.