Moving into a small space requires some advance planning, especially if you've got to buy new furniture or make tough decisions about which of your existing pieces will fit in your new home. One 600-square-foot apartment featured in Better Homes and Gardens shows how it can help to keep a few simple principles in mind...
• Choose furniture that allows you to see through to the floor, creating an illusion of more space. The bedside table in the top photo is a good choice, with a lighter feel than a traditional nightstand.
• Consider dual-purpose pieces. This stainless steel table (above left), from a restaurant supply store, is wide and long enough to function as both dining table and desk.
• Try replacing heavy doors with draperies. The owner of this apartment used a floor-to-ceiling drape for her closet. She also replaced some interior door panels with frosted glass to create a more open feeling.
For more small-space tips and to see the full sildeshow of this pretty little apartment, click over to Better Homes and Gardens.
(Images: Shawn Gilliam/Better Homes and Gardens)
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Comments (8)
Ooh, I like the frosted glass on the door a lot! *wagging tail*
ooh, 600 sq feet, just the size of apartment I'm looking for.
i loved this profile in the magazine. still have the copy. (how could i not love it? look at her bedding and sofa pillows. plus all the light.)
Lady J - can you tell me what issue (month/year) this spread appeared? thanks!
sept 2008
Have to disagree about using curtains instead of closet doors. It looks to me that the curtains intrude into the room more than regular doors. Also, if you have doors that open you can store so much on the inside of the door and put a mirror on the outside. Finally, the last thing you need in an apartment is a huge, almost floor to ceiling, dust catcher. If you have no door, I'd rather use a shade to mask the closet.
i have that kind of closet picture with upper storage and would gladly get rid of the sliding doors. they block access, make it stuffy in there and are ugly as sin. i use floor to ceiling curtains over them. it makes the hallway feel a bit cramped but looks divine.
I like painting the closet door to match the wall. It helps make the space feel bigger. I agree that a curtain is a waste of possible storage space. With all the organizers you can hang on the back of a door, I would never want a curtain. I don't even care for sliding closet doors.