Finding an affordable place to live in Canada’s housing market can seem daunting. So if you’re already choosing to live small or are opting to downsize to reduce the financial strain, we have some tips on how you can make small apartment living feel like home sweet home!
Furniture for small spaces
Whether you're navigating the challenges of a cozy apartment, a compact studio, or living with roommates in student housing, we understand the importance of making every square inch count.
Living in a small space doesn't mean sacrificing comfort or style; it's all about strategic planning, clever organization, and innovative solutions. In this blog, we'll explore a range of tips, tricks, and hacks to help you optimize your space, from multi-functional furniture to ingenious storage ideas for small spaces.
Transform your small space into a functional, inviting haven that maximizes every corner and crevice. Let's dive in and unlock the secrets to successful small-space living!
Multi-functional Furniture
One of the best ways to maximize space in a smaller apartment or condo is to buy furniture for small spaces—so many furniture companies, such as Ikea, specifically design furniture for small spaces. The best thing about small space furniture is that it can often serve multiple purposes. This way, you can enjoy one space in many ways, such as relaxing, studying, working remotely, and entertaining with the same furniture.
Foldable and Collapsible Items
One of the best ways to maximize space and limit things feeling too cramped and cluttered is to choose small space furniture pieces that can fold away or collapse to take up less space. One of the ultimate examples of this is a Murphy bed. This allows you to sleep comfortably at night but tuck the entire bed away during the day.
If you like to entertain but don't need a lot of seating on a day-to-day basis, selecting folding chairs or stackable stools is a great solution. Due to a small space, don't compromise on socializing or enjoying your friends and family! Tables perfect for small spaces would be ones that have a folding attachment that can make the table larger. Tables that offer leaf extensions are also an excellent option for making the table large or small to meet your needs, with the extension being stored under the table top when not in use.
Utilize Hidden Storage Furniture
Hidden storage is the ultimate way to get the most out of your small space. Hidden storage is when furniture holds storage space that can be out of sight and out of mind. For example, a storage ottoman is great to use as a coffee table, footrest, entry hall seat, or bench, but when you open the lid, you can store shoes, blankets, kids, or pet toys!
When moving into a small space, opt for a bed that comes with built-in storage. Some beds lift up to allow for things to be stored under the mattress. Other bedframes have drawers built in, allowing you to store loads of clothing, linens, shoes, or whatever you need to tuck away.
Suppose you already have a bed frame lifted off the ground. In that case, you can find storage bins explicitly designed to slide under the bed. If you have children, this is an ideal way to store their seasonal clothing, toys, books, or anything they might not reach daily.
Maximize Closet Space
Closets in a small space are often the most important areas in the home. Organizing a closet to maximize how much you can store in it can make or break living small. Do some research and look for closet organization solutions that can help you store a multitude of items.
Maximize Vertical Space
Use vertical space by installing shelves, hooks, or hanging organizers in common areas and bedrooms. When hanging things up and getting things up and off the floor can reduce the feeling of clutter.
Amazon offers a lot of affordable closet storage units where you can insert cubbies or shoe storage solutions. Using Command clips or hooks on the back of closet doors is also a great way to store mops, brooms, backpacks, coats, and more.
Minimize Clutter
One of the best ways to make your space feel more serene and cozy when living small is to try to limit the amount of 'stuff' and clutter. When selecting small space decor, remember that less is more. Small space decor can include simple things that offer multiple purposes, beauty, and functionality, for example, throw blankets, plants, tea towels, or a simple wall calendar.
Open storage like bookshelves can quickly become a catch-all for random decor and clutter. Closed storage units help to keep your small apartment looking clean. Behind solid doors, you can store all sorts of things, from seasonal decor to dishes, books, candles, toys, and more, without having to look at them all the time.
A great way to keep your small apartment clutter-free is whenever you buy something new, get rid of something old. If you buy a new book, donate an older book; if you buy new shoes, get rid of a pair that is just collecting dust in the closet, etc. There are endless storage ideas for small spaces on apps like Pinterest that are definitely worth checking out!
Create Visual Space
A great trick that interior decorators do is to try to create an illusion that the room is larger when decorating a small space. A great way to do this is using mirrors. Mirrors reflect light and often make the room bigger and brighter, creating visual space.
Opting to use light-coloured paint or decor can help make the room feel larger, brighter, and clutter-free. Dark colours can sometimes cause a stark contrast and make a space feel cramped. Light-coloured furniture and decor can help the room seem airier and lighten up the entire home.
Live cozy and maximize a small living space
In conclusion, living in a small apartment is about maximizing every square inch without compromising comfort or style. Throughout this blog, we've delved into various strategies and techniques to help you achieve just that.
If you’re looking to move into your first apartment, searching for student accommodation, or a larger apartment that will fit the whole family, Boardwalk has you covered! We have apartments for rent ranging from studios to 3+ bedrooms and townhomes for rent. We can help you find an affordable apartment, no matter how much space you need, big or small. Get in touch with the Boardwalk team today!