home decor ideas for small homes

The Top 10 Tips for Furnishing Small Apartments

Just because you live in a small-sized apartment doesn’t mean that you have to settle for boring, pint-sized furniture.

One common misconception most people have when furnishing small apartments is that all the focus should be on functionality.

An apartment that is short on space doesn’t necessarily have to be short on style. The key is to find the right balance between style and functionality and choose furnishing that highlights your personal aesthetics.

Follow these 10 decorating tips to ensure to create a beautiful space called your home:

1) Invest in multi-purpose furniture

Make the most of the limited space you have by investing in furniture that will do double duty. From the bedroom to living room, you can have multi-purpose furniture throughout your home.

Our top tips:

  • Consider a dual-purpose bed that can be folded into a sofa when not in use
  • Buy a coffee table that can double up as a bookshelf
  • Use a hollow ottoman for storing small things

Whatever furniture pieces you select, make sure that they are easy to use and are appropriate to your space.

2) Ditch the edges

Instead of having end-to-end furniture pieces, go curvy.

Given that most apartments are box-shaped, adding curves will leave a lot of empty space in corners, making the apartment look larger. Go for round coffee tables, a chair with a curve, or a curved sofa set.

home decor ideas for small homes

Add rugs that are either curvy in shape or are adorned with spirals and dots.

3) Go vertical with storage

The best way to utilise space is to go vertical with storage. Tall, narrow storage systems not only provide a lot of storage area but it also give the room a leaner, spacious feel.

A large entertainment centre extending from the ceiling to the floor is a great option that can also double up as a great room divider between the bedroom and the living area.

home decor ideas for small homes

You can also place two vertical almirahs or bookshelves on either side of the doorway or have fold away furniture for flexible use.

4) Play with curtains

You don’t have to be restricted to those run-of-the-mill curtains.

Simple patterned curtains in natural hues make your space appear larger. Create height by hanging the curtains from floor to ceiling or by hanging them outside the window. You can also have them flow from a cornice if you prefer hiding the curtain rod.

5) Add depth with layers

If you thought layering is only for large spaces, you can’t be more wrong. Adding layers can bring the required depth to your small apartment.

Layer your bedding with blankets and add multiple pillows and cushions to add depth to your bedroom. However, it is important to note that layering is not only about piling one design element over another, but also about creating contrast.

home decor ideas for small homes

Select pieces with varying materials, patterns and different textures.

6) Use lucite tables and chairs

Lucite tables or chairs give the feeling of openness, making the space look free and airy while being fully functional.

home decor ideas for small homes

Tables with transparent glass tops also serve the same purpose. However, it is better to choose non-coloured glass tops instead of dark-coloured glass, which might make the space appear smaller.

7) Choose a light colour palette

It is no secret that darker colours make a space appear smaller while light shades have the tendency to make the space appear airy and larger.

home decor ideas for small homes

Try to keep the shade of your interior light. When choosing your palette, focus on using light, brighter shades, and then add a contrasting colour to keep things visually interesting.

8) Use lights creatively

Adding lights is the simplest way to make a home feel warm and spacious. Add multiple lights in different areas of the home to create interest and generate the feeling of space. Use white LED lights and several lamps all around to create a warm glow in the house.

home decor ideas for small homes

9) Scale it down

Furnishing a tiny apartment is all about scaling. Unless you are someone who prefers making a statement with a huge dramatic couch, a moderately sized sofa set will make your living room appear larger.

home decor ideas for small homes

Settle for multiple pieces of small furnishing for different corners of your apartment instead of larger furniture pieces. Scaling it right can make all the difference.

10) Give life to all the ‘dead spaces’

Look around your apartment and identify all the spaces that aren’t currently being used to their fullest. From unused corners to blank walls, from balconies to staircases, challenge yourself to rethink unused spaces to your advantage.

You can purchase a corner storing unit to make it your home bar or convert the staircase into multi-level storage units. Use the top shelves of the cupboard to hide winter clothing in summer or vice-versa.

There is no limit to the ways you can use all the ‘dead spaces’ in your home.

Don’t go by the rules of how things should be in a small apartment. It’s your home, and you define the rules!

33 Comments

  1. Use multi purpose furniture, storage doubles as foot stool or ottoman. Add color that provides tranquility, blues, greens. Have inspiring pieces that connect with who you are. Go with one beautiful piece instead of many.

  2. Awesome, thanks for the good information, you mention every information regarding equipment. I like what you said about using a bigger space and the positive decoration waves. your hard work is highly commended. I am glad you read your article because it helped ensure to create a beautiful space is the best way for us. Thanks!

  3. Great article. Thanks for sharing this amazing piece of information. I just love the tips that you have shared these are truly good ideas for bedroom.

  4. My sister just bought a house and she is so excited about starting to add her style to it. I found it interesting when you said that adding lights can make any home feel cozy. Thanks for sharing this article, I will suggest to her to look for items online that she can use to decor her house.

  5. I have recently added a small coffee table in the corner of my small living room and it helped. the second tip “Ditch The Edges” is totally worth it.

  6. This is very helpful. The prices in the standard project range are within my budget. I am planning to decorate a two-bedroom townhouse in Washington I wonder how much I should budget for my daughter’s room. How much should I budget for the assistance from an interior designer?

  7. I didn’t know that lucite tables or chairs can make our space look free and airy. My husband is thinking of redecorating our living room to make it look bigger. I will let him know about using lucite tables and chairs to change the appearance of our living room.

  8. Cheers!
    I enjoyed the whole blog with the curiosity to know more. Really it’s fantastic with full of knowledge. Especially, the use of curtains and bedsheets to add a new layer to the gesture of home decor is really adorable.
    Thanks for such precious tips you shared with us.

  9. I loved how you mentioned that choosing lighter colors make space seem bigger. My husband and I are wanting to look into finding some home decor to get for the new home that we plan on moving into in a couple of weeks, and we want to make sure that we can choose the right stuff for it. We’ll make sure to keep these tips in mind as we search for home decor to get!

  10. Thanks for providing us so remarkable tips. found them so awesome and also will keep them in mind – for decorating our home. So if there is any new idea in your mind or come up in the future, be sure to notify us. I will be waiting for your response.
    cheers…

  11. This is truly a great read for me!! Once again, thanks for the quality articles you post on your blog!!

  12. This is a fantastic read for me!! Thank you once again for the high-quality content you provide on your page!!

  13. I simply wanted to write down a quick word to say thanks to you for those wonderful tips and hints you are showing on this site.

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