7 Stylish Small Space Decorating Ideas I Stole from StreetEasy

Ask any New Yorker if they’ve ever browsed StreetEasy “just to take a peek,” and you’ll likely be met with a resounding yes. Like Zillow functions for house hunting around the country, StreetEasy’s a goldmine for those in the process of finding an apartment to rent or purchase in New York City’s five boroughs and parts of New Jersey. While I’m not personally looking to move at the moment, I do like to see what’s out there every now and then — not to mention, I find it super fun to poke around the site’s listings and see how other NYC residents decorate their spaces. As it turns out, virtually peering into other people’s apartments has actually been pretty inspiring, particularly for

I’ve been known to go wild for apartments with exposed brick and beams (when I stumbled upon such a place while living in DC a few years back, you can bet I moved myself in right away). When you live in a space with prominent architectural character, it’s a good idea to choose your furniture and accessories accordingly to keep things looking cohesive. Found a place with a brick fireplace, dark beams, and fancy moldings? If you want to highlight their beauty, this is probably not the place to bust out clashing colors or ultra-modern furnishings. On the other hand, vintage pieces and more subdued tones will let those handsome features shine. Let the living room pictured above serve as a reminder of that.

Work the space in between your windows.

When you’re short on space, you have to get creative with your furniture layout. You may not think you have room for a bookshelf, but maybe you just need to think beyond the obvious spot for placing it. Case in point: A tall, narrow shelf blends in perfectly between the windows in this Lower East Side living room. I probably would’ve just hung a mirror or a piece of art there and squandered this storage potential. The bookshelf is a winning solution though; as a bonus, it could make for an excellent plant shelf, parked right by all that nourishing sunlight.

Store your books sky-high.

Speaking of bookshelves, take a look at the eye-catching display in this apartment. If you have tall ceilings and own lots of books, why not install shelving near your roofline to make an artistic statement that packs plenty of storage? Just be sure to keep a ladder or step stool on hand in order to access that read you’re eyeing.

Place your sofa on a diagonal.

If your living room is curved or rounded in shape, and there’s no obvious wall on which to place your sofa, try floating it slightly off the wall at an angle instead. The setup pictured above is still nice and welcoming and looks ultra-sophisticated at the same time. Flank your sofa with side tables and accent chairs just as you would if it were pressed up against the wall, and you’re golden. I probably would’ve started panicking and Googling half-moon sofas had I not seen how well a traditionally-shaped piece can look in this type of space.

Statement sofas can work in smaller spaces.

Worried that the green velvet sofa you’ve been eyeing will just be too bold for your living room? Well, think again, because the space above truly shines with the addition of such a colorful piece. In fact, this room proves that you can go vibrant with a sofa and keep everything else neutral to easily enjoy the best of both worlds. A statement sofa really can put the exclamation point on a living room, no matter the space’s size.

Make your mantel about more than just candlesticks.

Okay, I’m back with yet another book hack, but as a voracious reader, I’m constantly intrigued by how other city dwellers with large novel collections go about stashing all of their favorite titles. I love the idea of stashing a row of books on a mantel. This move instantly adds a cozy feel to any space and can serve as a conversation starter when guests come over. Notice how this mantel features vertical stacks on each end, which double as literal bookends. Genius!

Add a decal to your ceiling.

Who says a wall decal can’t go on the ceiling? I probably wouldn’t have thought to do this right away, but the oversized purple circle in this studio apartment’s living room is pretty groovy. Of course, you could also achieve the look with paint, but a decal is more rental-friendly and is less time-consuming to install.