No matter where you live, there’s no getting around the fact that most apartments are tiny. They’re small when they’re brand new and they stay small after years of constant use and hoarding.
If you want to expand your living space, then you need to try some creative organization hacks to make your room look bigger than it actually is. Here are nine clever ways to do just that!
Make small closet look bigger
1. Put a floor length mirror on the back of your door. It will make the area look twice as large.
2. Hang a long scarf or other long piece of fabric across the top of your closet using a clothes hanger, it will create an illusion of more space.
3. Use large pieces of furniture to help make the room feel larger, like an over-sized dresser or bed frame with matching nightstands.
4. Install shelves in your closet for shoes or purses.
5. Hang artwork at eye level, it makes everything look taller and bigger by drawing attention up instead down at the ground level.
6. Consider making one wall in your room bold with colour, like red or purple, for contrast.
Add height to make a small room appear larger
If you have a small room, hang shelves or some other type of storage on the walls. Hang curtains or window treatments that are short in front of your windows and long behind them.
This will make your space feel more open. Hang a mirror across from your bed so that it reflects the light coming in through the window. This will brighten up any room.
Get rid of clutter and keep it clean
Decluttering your room can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. If you feel like you’re too busy or overwhelmed with the idea of tackling the space all at once, try breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks.
For example, tackle one area of your room at a time—closet, dresser drawers, nightstands—and then move onto the next section. The following hacks will help declutter any small bedroom.
Make your bed every morning
Making your bed every morning is a small, but important step in getting your room ready for the day. A clean, made bed can make a world of difference when it comes to organization.
When you make your bed, you’re not just hiding the evidence of last night’s slumber; you’re also giving yourself some space to breathe in an otherwise congested room.
Hang paintings that add colour
Framing artwork is a great way to make a small room look bigger. When you hang paintings that add colour, it will brighten the space.
Plus, these pieces will bring life into your living area. Remember that you don’t need expensive artwork for this to work!
Double duty furniture
One of the many benefits of couches is that they can often also serve as extra seating. Try stacking your bookshelves on top of each other, or use them as a sofa table.
Shelving units can be used for more than just books, try using them to organize your clothes by colour or length. If you want to make your small room feel bigger, hang curtains low so they brush the floor.
You’ll get more light in the room and it’ll look much larger!
Invest in quality pieces
Sometimes the best way to make a small room look huge is by investing in quality pieces.
These items are often expensive, but will last much longer than cheaper items which will need replacing more often. Investing in quality pieces can also be a good investment for resale value as well!
When looking for furniture or decor, try to find things that are multifunctional or have multiple purposes. This will not only save space, but also add some personality into your room.
Get away from the yes, but attitude when decorating
When it comes to decorating a small room, the main question is yes, but how? You know you have the space–but how do you work with it? How do you maximize its potential? The answer is simple: by getting away from the yes, but attitude when decorating.
Add architectural details
The first thing you need to do is remove all furniture from the room. This includes beds, dressers, desks, armoires – everything! If you have a desk in the room, store it in a closet or another room temporarily. The next step is determining what kind of storage you want on the walls and the floor.
Do you want shelves? How about baskets or drawers for storage? One person’s idea of organization might be different from another’s so feel free to mix it up! For example, some people might prefer lots of shelves while others might prefer baskets. Drawers are also very popular because they offer lots of storage space.