My S.O. and I often joke that our apartment might as well be a treehouse. Stacked on top of two other units, it comes with sweeping views of local pinewoods, but it’s also about as cramped as a one-room wooden box. Cute in theory, but not exactly comfortable.
As you can imagine, I’ve learned to be strategic when styling our small apartment. Here are some tried-and-true decorating tricks I’ve picked up from my favorite designers. ICYW, our little treehouse is already looking a lot better.
1: Versatile Color Palettes
If you have permission to paint your rental’s walls, there are two things you should know: 1) I’m totally jealous and 2) Off-white isn’t your only option. Though lighter colors make a space feel bigger and more open, darker shades work just as well by blurring a room’s lines and edges.
For example, check out the two bedrooms above. Where Lauren Geremia painted the walls a crisp white to create an open and airy aesthetic, Joe Human used navy pinstripes to make a soothing, sleep-inducing space. Although they’re different, both hues work wonders in a small apartment.
2: Apartment-Sized Staples
Nothing captures the struggle of small-space living quite like Ross Geller shouting “Pivot!” over his new sofa. Instead of heaving and squeezing a standard sectional into your living room, choose furniture that’s already fit to scale. Many major retailers like West Elm and Pottery Barn have stylish lines designed specifically for apartment-dwellers.
And when you want extra sitting room for your five closest friends? Make like designer Sarah Wittenbraker above and pair your sweet apartment-sized sofa with two gorgeous, space-appropriate armchairs.
Low-level furniture is another savvy solution for renters. By keeping your sofa close to the ground or forgoing a traditional bed frame, you’ll create the illusion of taller ceilings. You’ll also have more wall-space for artwork or to showcase skyline views, like designer Caitlin McCarthy did in this cool, midcentury-inspired loft.
If curtains aren’t already at the top of your home decor must-haves, they will be after this read. Not only is it tres chic to layer your space with floral fabrics a la designer Jessica McClendon, but hanging them a hair higher than the window gives the room more height and dimension.
That said, when you’re strapped for square footage, it pays to have dual-purpose pieces on deck. In this eclectic bedroom from designer Allison Lind, a vintage trunk works overtime to display pillows and store linens, while a shelf over the bed doubles as a nightstand for odds-and-ends. The result? Every inch counts.
Claire Esparros for Homepolish
Apartments tend to be linear and boxy, so tossing a few curves into the mix will definitely draw visual interest. We suggest investing in a round coffee table, nightstand or a beautiful modern dining set like designer Justin DiPiero did. Bonus: They take up less space than square pieces.
Another way to avoid cramping your space’s style? Opt for minimalist furniture. Thanks to their barely-there design, Lucite desks and floating shelves offer great functionality without the visual clutter. We love how designer Barbara Vail used both to create a workspace that blends right into the walls.
