Creating a Liveable Home in Your New, Smaller Space
Posted on 10/12/2013
When it comes to living spaces, size really doesn’t matter. What does tend to distinguish a great apartment from one you’re embarrassed to invite your friends to for tea, however, is the way it’s organized. Small accommodations tend to be avoided on the reasoning that it’s difficult to make them functional, comfortable, and well-designed. In fact, people usually assume that they have to sacrifice one of these qualities to establish the other two in such limited space. This, conversely, never has to be the case, as long as you’re willing to make the necessary organizational and decorative decisions.
To ensure functional living in a smaller apartment, you need to use the space to your advantage. Once you’ve set up the furniture and stored your things, you should ask yourself a number of questions. Is it easy to walk around in? Would guests be able to converse in your living area without having to strain their necks? Do you have easy access to your spices while standing by the stove? These are only a few of the things one has to consider when setting up a living space. The most important factor in making a place functional to live in is convenience. If you have to move the coffee table to get to your recliner, get an extra roll of toilet paper from a cupboard in the bedroom, or look over your shoulder to watch a show on your TV, you should probably try making some changes to your place. All of these issues can be easily rectified with a few small alterations to your living space, such as rearranging or removing certain furniture and reorganizing your kitchen drawers. As for the toilet paper issue, there are many decorative stands you could buy to hold an ample supply in the bathroom, preferably next to the toilet itself.
Comfort, on the other hand, tends to be rather subjective. If you’re someone who enjoys having guests over for any particular reason, it’s important to think about what is generally agreed upon to be a comfortable living space, which includes a number of key elements. Lighting, for example, plays a huge role in the atmosphere of a home. Too bright, and people can develop headaches or feel tense, while a place that’s too dark could cause people to strain their eyes, feel tired, or trip over unseen computer chargers. The best solution is for your room to have one main light source with a dimmer, so you can have the utmost control over the lighting and mood you wish to set. Another source of comfort controversy tends to surround discussions about carpets and flooring, and which is preferable in a small living space. As a general rule, your living room and bedroom should be carpeted if you live in an area that gets cold winters. Carpets can really establish a sense of comfort and warmth, as long as they’re thin enough that they don’t collect much dust and dirt.
Ironically enough, it tends to be easier to design smaller accommodations than large ones. While there’s no gold standard for how to properly decorate an apartment, it’s always best to be creative with what you already have. If you happen to have a collection of colourful scarves, place them over furniture or hang them on an exposed hook so that they can become part of the decor. Mirrors are a great addition, as they make the space look much bigger and will ensure that you’re always aware of any food in your teeth when you have company. Last but not least, any interesting bottles can make a dull place look quirky and cool, so don’t be so quick to throw out your next bottle of wine!
Follow this advice, and you’ll have a great looking, well functioning, and comfortable little abode in no time.
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