With the recent boom in urban living, more and more amazingly luxurious homes are becoming increasingly tiny! When you live in a 500 square foot apartment in Manhattan, you are paying for the neighborhood as much as anything else, but that doesn’t mean that you want to live in a cramped and unpleasant space. This is where the micro-living trend comes in, and whether you want to live in your own tiny space in a major city or you just want to make use of the space that you have, take a moment to learn some tips to help you cope with the small space.
Love it or Toss It!
When you live in a small space, there is no room for anything that you do not love. Go through your possessions, and unless it makes you smile when you look at it or it is very useful, it should get tossed. This is something that is very difficult for many people. After all, we love to hang on to things that show where we have been. Bring in a friend to keep you honest, and stick with the rule. If you don’t use it or love it, toss it!
Double-Duty
When you are dealing with a very small space, you need to make sure that as many of your items do double-duty as you can. There are plenty of videos out there that show people transforming desks into benches and using hydraulics to raise and lower their closets, but the truth is that you don’t have to go that far. Instead, consider choosing a futon instead of a couch. This way, you have some automatic sleeping space if necessary. If you buy a piece of furniture, consider choosing a model that has some hidden storage; ottomans are great for that.
Prioritize
When you are invested in micro-living, you need to be honest with yourself. What do you love to do in your space and what do you feel comfortable skipping out on? For example, think about the way that you eat. If you are someone who eats all of your meals at home, you likely want to keep a small table of some kind to use as a dining surface. On the other hand, if you are someone who goes out for two out of every three meals, you will find that you can skip the table and go for something else instead.
Go Up
When you live in a very small space, floor space is at a premium. Everything that takes up space on your floor needs to justify itself. However, you might be surprised to see what doesn’t need to be on the floor. For example, consider install shelves attached to the walls, or a flat screen television that has been secured to a mounting bracket. When you go up in your home design, you are giving yourself more space to work with.
Do Decorate
Just because your space is small does not mean that you have to keep it plain. While a lot of clutter will make your space look tighter, you will find that some decorations in the right place will stop it from looking dull. Start with paint and use it to add color to your walls; a simple accent wall can give your home a lot of style. Hang tapestries on the walls to give the place texture or use a fun slipcover to give your couch or futon a new look.
Byline: This post was written by Karen Stults, a freelance home improvement and lifestyle blogger.
