Apartments in NYC can be beautiful and worth the price, but sometimes, they’re much smaller than anticipated. Small apartments can be daunting, but you can make it work if you make some smart decorating decisions. So to help you make the most of your new apartment in the Big Apple, here are a few important tips to keep in mind.
Utilize Natural Lighting
Apartments, in general, may not have the best natural lighting, especially a smaller space—so it’s important to make use of the natural lighting you do have. If you do have large windows that let in light, utilize sheer curtains to allow more light in and position furniture around the window. And when you’re adding light to your space, consider mounting lights to the walls and ceilings if possible to avoid taking up space on the floors. You can even add candles and smart home lighting devices for more light options, too.
Minimize Clutter
First things first, it’s time to declutter—if you try to move into a smaller apartment with all of your current belongings, you may find yourself lacking space and dealing with a cramped living area. So, consider going through your belongings and getting rid of items you no longer need or want. Doing this will leave you with more space for your items and you’ll be able to live in an organized, visually pleasing space. And to help keep you organized, make sure you’re investing in the right tools.
For example, if you have a bunch of boxes full of photos, consider going digital with photo storage—digital photo storage space is endless, allowing you to utilize cloud storage to keep all of your digital images safe and organized. Using digital photo storage devices will help you free up valuable real estate in your apartment while ensuring you have easy access to your precious memories online.
Keep Colors Bright
While a dark room can be elegant, dark walls can sometimes make a room feel smaller. So to avoid making your space seem smaller than it is, keep your color choices light and bright. Choose pastels or even white for the walls and keep the furniture light, too. You can bring in dark colors through rugs, accent pillows, and other decor pieces to break up the brightness.
Consider Furniture Purposes
Buying furniture can be a stressful experience since there are so many options to choose from. But you should be sure to buy your furniture from a reputable seller to ensure it’s high-quality. And when it comes to choosing your furniture, think outside the box. Is there an item that can be used for more than one purpose? Or can you re-purpose a piece of furniture into something new?
When you’re looking at the “tables TV stands and entertainment centers” category, look for a piece that will fit into your space and serve multiple purposes—console tables or cabinets with shelves can offer more storage space than those without and can add not only aesthetics but useable space to your living room. Overall, be smart when choosing which furniture you want in your apartment.
Place Furniture Carefully
Once you have the right furniture pieces, it’s important to place them properly. You may decide to cram furniture against the walls and in corners, but that can actually make the area look smaller—so keep some space between furniture and the walls to keep the area more open. Additionally, don’t be afraid to utilize wall space for furniture. You’d be surprised at how much bigger space can feel if you mount storage cabinets or nightstands to the wall instead of keeping them on the floor.
Decorating your NYC apartment can be a “trial and error” process, but keeping these tips in mind will help you get started in making your new space feel and look like home. If you live in the city, be sure to check out the NYC quick draw while working on your apartment decor.
