As we leave kitchen and bathroom month we'll be diving headfirst into our 5th Annual Smallest Coolest Contest and a month full of inspiration and tips for small spaces. Lots of people are choosing to downsize or are just tackling some spring cleaning in their small spaces. So to kick off April we've compiled a top ten list for living large in a small or just smaller space:
Double duty. We try to find and highlight furniture that does more than one thing: an ottoman that also provides storage, a bench to sit on, put your tv on or store baskets underneath, etc.
Regular edits. We run the Cure each spring and Fall and even if you don't want to commit to the whole thing, it's a great way to make sure you're reviewing your possessions twice a year to keep them to only the things you use and/or love. Sell your extra stuff on craigslist, use freecycle or just donate it at the local goodwill, get that stuff out of your house so that you have more space for living! Check out the Spring Cure in its 3rd week.
Convert a closet. A friend recently moved into a small studio and had too much furniture to fit into the room so we figured out that since she doesn't have that many clothes, the bookshelf (and later possibly her desk) can fit easily in half the closet without cluttering things up.
Go vertical. All those waist high shelves you have are great, but if you really want to maximize storage, have those shelves go all the way up. If you keep them tidy and just have one wall of shelving it won't overwhelm or clutter the space.
Digitize media. We ripped all of our cd's onto a hard drive and made some extra cash and freed up a ton of space. Next we tackling our record collection.
Have a landing strip. This will keep clutter from overwhelming a small space. It could be as simple as a hook for you coat and a shair for your bag and mail. Just something so that when you walk in the door everything in your arms doesn't end up on the bed or the floor.
Have a space for everything. If something doesn't have a home, it's not going to get put away and will likely be sitting around for months. Use some small space shelving ideas to make sure that you have enough room for the things you own.
Put your apartment on a diet. This is good for your space and your pocketbook. Only bring things in if you're taking something out. This way more stuff isn't accumulating and it gives you a chance to really consider your purchases and whether you're willing to give something up for it.
What do you see? Abby rounded up some great small space solutions including keeping things monochromatic and considering site lines to make a space feel larger.
And finally, we asked you what you're best tips are and here they are ranging from using furniture with legs because they feel lighter in a space to taking your time when purchasing furniture. Our favorite quote from reader, marigael:
"stop designing for who people expect you to be. find out who you are & what you need. then, start to edit."
Amen.
For more check out our archives or one of these posts:
15 Design Tips from Jonathan Adler
Top Ten Organizing Tips from Chez Larsson
6 tips for Sustainable Living That are Easy To Do
Finding Space for a Home Office
Look! Small Space Living in a Garbage Truck
How Having Less is Having More
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I am like Sooo tired of the "For Like Ever" poster. There..I said it.
view modernguy's profile
I like to blend small spaces. When you cannot tell where one area ends and the other starts, the space just feels larger. Bring a wall color through the kitchen and into the dining area. Extend a long shelf from the entry to the living area. Paint a far wall to coordinate with what is going on in the living room, even though the wall is in another room, it is read as the far wall of the living space. See some of my projects at http://www.designbyphoto.com/Site%206/lynnec1.html
Small spaces are the best to work with because you just have to be clever.
view designbyphoto's profile
What is that table?
view millbee's profile
Yes, the table. It's exactly what I've been looking for. Source, please!
Modernguy, I think it's expressly stated in the new commenting policy that one must refrain from disparaging For Like Ever OR Keep Calm and Carry On...
view madsarah's profile
I would add this to the list (making it Top 11):
Use furniture on casters, when possible.
I have a very small living room that does double-duty as a home workout space (in front of TV) and just recently as a guest bedroom. Having a coffee table on casters is crucial to making that happen. Also it's great for vacuuming and cleaning small spaces too.
On another note, I think I'm even more tired of hearing commenters complaining about either of those posters than seeing them in home pics. It's been said enough.
view lolax's profile
I'm totally over ... people complaining about being over "For Like Ever." FLE-hating and editorial-"we"-hating are getting really old. I hereby pronounce those horses dead.
view Cheryl's profile
Some things just can't be contained!
view modernguy's profile
It's not a good idea to encourage people to digitize and sell their physical media like CDs and DVDs. In order to retain the license to use them you need to retain the physical media. Even then the legalities are hazy. Digitizing is all well and good but put those old CD's up in the attic or under the bed.
view 9thDesignRgmt's profile
I'd really like to look at the thumbnail images closer...
why can't I click on them for enlargement?
Don't tease us - Please fix!!
view springishere's profile
I want bigger images too!
view ARobin's profile
I - want - that - table - now!!!
view jcgal's profile
COME ON LAURE!!
PLEASE ALLOW US TO CLICK AND ENLARGE IMAGES!!
view springishere's profile
Sorry guys, they're all images that the links link to so that the post isn't long long long...
the first one is here, second one here, third one here and fourth one is, um, hang on I'm looking for it...
view laure's profile
the table is my dad's and I can't remember what it is, but it's mid century and he bought it about 10 years ago from a place in venice...
view laure's profile
the table is fantastic...someone needs to copy it for mass consumption! I'll be first in line!
view Bridget212323's profile
no wonder we all love it, my dad told me it's an original george nelson. of course!
view laure's profile
Hey, I'm late to the game, but maybe I'll still get an answer...what color are the white walls?!
view Raisa's profile