A small apartment can be a real asset for city-dwellers. They are often quite close to the place of work, have a much shorter commute to places of interest, and, most important of all, they have a significantly lower financial burden or impact on your budget. However, your small apartment’s irreplaceable cozy charm is, more often than not, the cause of mental agony — unless one knows how to utilize the limited space with carefully planned-out decor.

Small apartments are often perceived as mere functional units. Often the design aspect is completely shoved out, but in reality, a studio apartment can be a great place to utilize the mundane, everyday items that serve a dual purpose of function as well as decoration. Finding the right balance between minimizing the clutter for an efficient dwelling and filling it with just the right number of things that fit your needs is the key to giving your small apartment a spacious feel. Using everyday objects to highlight your personal aesthetic works on multiple levels.

Here are five ways you can improve your small apartment and transform it into a spacious home.

Clean out the clutter

While this may seem like a no-brainer, you would be amazed at how many people put off the task. Incidentally, the concept of “Spring Cleaning” has become so deeply entrenched that people living in small apartments often forget or miss the opportunity to de-clutter their homes during the fall.

Demarcate spaces

Studio apartments often do not have walls that separate the sections. The open concept of living might work for a few months, but it does get boring or even overwhelming to the eye over time.

A lack of definition to the space can be remedied using simple demarcation tools. While coat and shoe racks are one of the simplest and most common techniques to separate living areas, erecting a buffet between the kitchen and the dining area is also a great way to enhance efficiency. You can also consider some unorthodox objects like artificial trees that can be conveniently placed around the house.

Use different types of off-beat illumination techniques

Even simple lighting techniques can be quite glaring in a small apartment. The luminosity of modern-day products can be harsh and hurt the eyes. You can reduce the glare and bring in much-needed warmth by simply thinking of unorthodox objects to spread the glow and achieve the required level of intimate illumination.

Who says it’s only the winters that justify the presence of a tree within the house? Using artificial trees made for the season can be a nice and warm surprise that not only decorates and illuminates your apartment, but also enhances the seasonal spirit. Companies like Treetopia make artificial trees that work for all seasons, hence you are not restricted to bringing one in only during the Christmas season.

Use everyday objects as part of decoration

Small apartments necessitate limited objects and utensils, but that doesn’t mean they have to be drab and boring, mandating a closet for storage.

Try purchasing some great-looking cutlery or other tools that you use every day. These objects can then be placed decoratively in your apartment. Buying dual-purpose furniture can also free up a lot of space which once was wasted.

Go vertical

While demanding a little elbow grease and planning, thinking vertical instead of horizontal is a great way to use the walls, which would otherwise go to waste. Instead of floor cabinets, go for wall-hanging ones. In fact, removing cupboards and replacing them with shelves can open up many spaces that would previously appeared cluttered. An added advantage of vertical storage is a clean floor, as dust tends to accumulate in the nooks and crannies and the space between the bottom of the storage and floor.

Featured photo credit: Apartment decoration via il6.picdn.net