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Tuesday, March 20th, 2018
Sleek is the way to go: Orient Express Furniture Dining Room Uptown Dining Chair (Set of 2).
Small apartments, without a doubt, are one of the trickiest spaces to design. First of all, you have to deal with limited space and you also have to consider choosing which pieces to include in the design or not. A lot of homeowners have already made the mistake of designing their small apartments without rules and they end up crying over the disaster that strikes after.
Admit it, a smaller space has more requirements since you have limited real estate to beautify. Function and comfort are also two elements that you should not forget about.
Here are some mistakes that others before you have done. It’s time to learn from them –
As Flexible As Your Furniture
Most homeowners and even a few designers would say that huge furniture has no space in a small apartment. The mistake here, though, is that you are locked into thinking that you should only shop for smaller furniture pieces.
Having a successfully designed small space means you have to have furniture that is flexible. Learn to arrange furniture in the best possible way. You might consider investing in multiple pieces when you can actually just have one huge piece with more than one function.
Take for instance a daybed. This can serve as a sofa during the day and a bed at night. Nesting tables such as the Hooker Furniture Living Room Nesting Tables are also a good investment since the extra table can be pulled out the moment more guests arrive.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Nesting Tables
Correct furniture arrangement for a small apartment also means moving pieces out of the way before the guests arrive. You would want to keep furniture pieces that are mobile, simple, and versatile.
While it does make sense that you buy smaller furniture in a small apartment, the truth is, this isn’t a hundred-percent applicable at all times. Buying smaller pieces does not automatically make the apartment look bigger, in fact, if the proportions don’t make sense, then the apartment could end up looking smaller than it actually is. This is what’s known as the dollhouse effect.
Making Do with Limited Storage
Another huge mistake that many homeowners have made is to make do with the storage that they have in their small apartment. The smarter move is to figure out what you need to store. These are the things that you use daily or regularly.
Oprah Winfrey once said that if you’re no longer using something for six months or over, then, chances are, you won’t use that anymore.
Add storage if you have to but learn also to let go of stuff that only becomes clutter.
Not Following the 2/3 Rule
Whether you like it or not, you have to buy the proper size of furniture. Again, this is dependent on correct measurements. You don’t just eyeball a piece prior to purchasing it, you have to have the numbers to follow.
Not Trusting Your Gut Feel
As soon as you have made all the measurements and have purchased the furniture pieces, the next step is to plan how you can use each one in your home. While many design experts are more than willing to impart their know-how regarding this, your perception will always be the best tool that you can rely on. This is no less than your sixth sense so trust it when you are arranging the pieces that you have bought.
Always pay close attention to how you feel the moment you place the pieces in the living room, the bedroom or any room in your home. If it does not feel right, then more often than not, there is something wrong with the design that you just concocted.
Tags: designing a small apartment, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, styling an apartment
Posted in Apartment Living, Condo Living, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Big Mistakes, Small Apartment
Friday, June 24th, 2016
1586-90014-BLK1 Belle Semainier Chest is petite and vertically superb for any small apartment.
Small apartments may have their upside but they also come with some furnishing concerns. Sure, you love paying the lower rent and being close to your work, add the coziness and all, and what you get is a warm, easy-to-decorate place. But is it really that easy to furnish a tiny apartment?
One of the greatest misconceptions about decorating smaller apartments is that functionality should always come before design. While function is important, it is also just as crucial to create a design that describes who you are. An apartment might have limited space but this does not mean that you have to be short on style, too. You have to find the right balance between style and function or you won’t be comfortable in your apartment, eventually.
You Can Still Define Separate Areas
One advice that homeowners often get when it comes to style is to use an open space layout. This lack of definition on space could look cluttered if not given much attention.
As much as you can, try to define separate areas by giving each area a purpose. For instance, you can place a coat and shoe racks right by the entryway. Place the buffet between the kitchen and dining areas so serving and storage become easier. Back the sofa up to the foot of the bed so the beholder’s eyes are drawn to the living area.
If you have a hobby, go ahead and experiment in separating the area where you would display your collections and other living areas. Don’t be afraid to show who you are. If your hobby is biking, then install an indoor rack that will make your bike look like it’s been intentionally made into a décor. Plants may also be used to signify changes in space use.
Make Use of Dual-Purpose Furniture
Every inch counts when it comes to dealing with small space. Invest in smaller furniture that, preferably, can double into something else. Focus your energies on buying furniture pieces that work with your chosen theme.
Bedrooms are often the perfect rooms for dual-purpose furniture. It is best to buy furniture that has a dual purpose than to work the space around the furniture that you purchase.
Consider having a trundle bed that folds into a sofa when you want to watch the television. A hollow ottoman can also double as a storage case, or a dining table with built-in leaf to make guest entertainment a lot easier.
Whatever kind of dual-purpose piece you buy, just make sure that you buy the sizes that are appropriate to your available space. Overstuffed pieces will only make your space look a lot smaller than it already is. Now don’t worry too much about searching for sofas, there are many designs that will fit your micro-living space.
Assess Unused Spaces
Living in a small space means you also have to rethink unused areas now and then. If there are extra pots that lay around or candles that have not been used for so long, then what’s the point in keeping them around?
Now look around your apartment and find out if you have any dead spaces that serve very little to zero purpose. Find blank walls and unused corners then discover how you can make these spaces more useful. Use them to your advantage, create storage where there was none before.
Extend Vertically
Planning the best way to use space means you have to know how to use vertical storage. Narrow, tall storage systems work best in smaller spaces so shop for those kinds. An entertainment center that is narrower yet reaches from floor to ceiling is your perfect divider between the living and sleeping areas.
Decorating tiny apartments doesn’t need to be taxing. All you need is a little creativity and a tad of patience and you should be fine.
Flexsteel Living Room Love Seat 1139-20 is the right solution for small apartment seating needs.
Tags: decorating a small home, decorating a small space, designing a small apartment, designing an apartment, furnishing small apartments, furniture for small apartments, interior design for small spaces, living in a small space, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, small apartment design, small apartment furniture, small space, small space organization, small space solutions, studio apartment living, styling an apartment
Posted in Apartment Living, Furniture, Interior Design 101, Tiny Homes | No Comments »
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