5 life hacks for living in a small apartment

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It is impossible to increase the area of housing - but you can use it as efficiently as possible.

1. Zone the space

Each zone of the apartment has its own clear function: rest, eating, work. The bedroom should be visually separate from the kitchen, even if you have a studio. To do this, just use the shelving unit. And if the height of the ceilings allows, you can put the bed on the podium. Place drawers in it - get additional square meters for storing bed linen or vacuum bags with seasonal clothes.

Different materials are also a good way to divide the space. For example, you can use parquet in the sleeping area, and tiled floors in the dining area. Designers also advise to mark different areas with color. If you make an accent wall next to a bed or a sideboard with a TV, your eyes will perceive this space as a separate one.

2. Choose folding furniture

It not only saves space, but in some cases is used as additional storage space. This can be a book-table, a folding bed that transforms into a wardrobe during the day, or a model with boxes for linen. By the way, dust is unlikely to accumulate under the latter - at the same time, you will save time on cleaning.

And if there is so little space that only a sofa fits, look for one with wide enough armrests. It can be placed on them, which will replace the coffee table.

They even exist for the kitchen. The hob, oven, small countertop, and folded cupboard take up no more than two square meters.

3. Make the most of your space

And it's not about turning all the surfaces into shelves for storing small things, you just don't need to do this.

Kitchen

Replace the spice drawer with jars with magnets that can be placed on the refrigerator door so they will always be at hand. If there is no ready-made set of such containers on sale, you can make them yourself according to the instructions. You will need baby food jars, colored tape, magnets and a glue gun.

A tall cabinet-tall cabinet will accommodate small appliances such as a blender, as well as pots and pans. If there is more crockery than the hanging kitchen cabinet can hold, you can solve the problem by screwing the hooks into the top of the shelf and hanging the cups from the handles on them. Place a stack of plates in the vacant space.

Bedroom

Storage space can be found not only under the bed, but also around it. If the headboard is wide enough, install several small drawers with dividers in it, and place open hanging modules above it. And at the foot you can put a bench with shelves or in the form of a bench, under which you can put boxes or baskets with bedspreads and rugs.

Consider in detail the internal equipment of the wardrobes: in addition to the rails for hangers, use drawers for linen and scarves, boxes for shoes.

The window sill can turn into a place for reading or even work if it is wide enough. And even if not, it can be enlarged using a window sill of the desired size. Make it yourself from MDF or buy it from the manufacturer of plastic windows (many companies accept individual orders).

Bathroom

Additional space for bath accessories can be found in the walls themselves: just equip them with niches. The main disadvantage of this option: it is not suitable for load-bearing walls. Also, a pipe or wires can become an obstacle.

If you don't have a shower, but a full-fledged bathtub, cover it with sliding screens. In a dedicated space, hidden from prying eyes, you can store household chemicals, toilet paper and hygiene products.

Hang not only a bathrobe on the door hooks, but also towels, a wardrobe trunk with a hairdryer or combs. And the door for the cabinet can be easily turned into a place for storing small metal objects, tweezers, hairpins, manicure accessories. Simply attach the self-adhesive magnetic strips from the inside.

Balcony

If the entire usable area of the balcony is not occupied by a bicycle or vegetable preparations, it is worth placing cabinets with a height from floor to ceiling and open shelves there. Here you can store what you need from time to time: tools, light bulbs, picnic accessories, boxes with sports equipment (skates, dumbbells). And it's better not to lean the bike against the wall, but hang it on it. At the same time, space will be freed up for the dryer.

5. Expand the area visually

Scientists say that living in cramped conditions does not have the best effect on the psyche. The good news is that there are working ways to create at least the illusion of spaciousness.

Correct light

If you are not a conservative, decide on a glossy floor: the walls will reflect in it and therefore appear taller. And the use of long mirrors placed opposite doorways and windows will visually expand the room.

When there is enough light and it is evenly distributed over surfaces, the room seems a little less cramped. Instead of one chandelier, opt for lamps that need to be installed around the perimeter of the ceiling at the same distance from each other. It's good if you can equip them with smart bulbs and change the light intensity.

Place a tall floor lamp in at least one corner: the light will be reflected from two walls at once, which also visually expands the space.

Lucky color

It can be almost any shade you like, if you use only it to paint the walls of adjacent rooms. It will simply visually unite the rooms, and the apartment will seem more spacious. And to enhance this effect, you can also paint the ceiling with walls in one shade (always light!).

By the way, painting the ceiling is a bold, but sometimes justified idea. If you choose a deep blue or graphite shade, the ceiling will appear high and distant - like a starry sky.

How exactly the colors of the walls, floor and ceiling change our perception of space is clearly explained in this diagram. Use it for your color experiments.