Small Space Living Tips To Instantly Double Your Space

Do you feel like your room is closing in on you because it's so small?  Trust me, I feel your pain! Decorating a small space is not easy, let alone small space living.

You see while growing up as a kid, my bedroom was in the kitchen.

We (me, my mom and two sisters) lived in a tiny studio apartment in NYC so I know a little something about living in a small space and making it work. We defaulted to small space living tips back then without even knowing it - survival instinct is what I call it.

Maybe your small space situation isn't as bad as mine was when I was growing up, but what you have now is what we didn’t have back then, guidance. Guidance on what to do with a small space so I’m here to help make your lack-of-space-situation just a bit more bearable because living in a small space is hard, but not impossible.

Let’s get to the tips…

Small Space Living Tip #1: Use Double Duty Pieces

Make your money stretch and save some space while you're at it by buying furniture that can be used for more than one purpose.Some pieces that can be used in more than one way are:

• an ottoman as a side table that also works as extra seating or group two together and create a coffee table

• a console table that also works as a work station

• a bar cart that can be used as a side table (you can get one with three shelves: top shelf to use as a side table and the other two shelves can be used as an actual bar cart for your liquor)

Get in the habit of seeing things differently.  Just because you spot a credenza doesn't mean that it has to be used as one - those can also work as a TV unit.

Small Space Living Tip #2: Transparent Furniture Pieces

Or clear pieces as I like to call them, are the best because they serve a purpose without taking up a lot of visual space in your room.  They pretty much are there, but not really there so they don't clutter up your room.

You can find so many kinds of clear pieces nowadays like side tables, chairs, tables or even coffee tables.

Small Space Living Tip #3: Raise Your Curtains

Make your room seem taller by hanging your curtains about 3 inches from your ceiling.

I bet you'll notice the huge difference this will make in your room.  Oh and while you are at it, make sure that your curtains are long enough so they can reach the floor.  If they don't, just get some fabric and sew or use iron on tape to add some length to your curtains.  You're welcome!

Small Space Living Tip #4: Get The Right Sized Furniture

Select furniture that fits well in your small space - it's what we in the decorating/design work call scale.  I can't stress how important it is to buy furniture that is the right size for your room especially when you are tight on space.I'm going to share a cool decorating tip with you because I'm cool like that and I like to share.

When you are out shopping, make sure that you take along some measuring tape.  While we are on the subject, go ahead and grab it from your toolbox and drop it in your purse now (or pick one up at the 99 cents store).  This way you'll have it handy.  Who cares if people look at you sideways when you bust out your measuring tape at Homegoods.  This way you'll know for sure that the piece will fit in your room.

I do it all the time!  It's such a time saver and really minimized the many, many f bombs that I would drop whenever I would bring home a piece that was way too big for my room.

Small Space Living Tip #5: Use Mirrors

They are the best for making your room seem bigger because they bounce off light throughout your room and who doesn't want their room to have light?

There are many ways to use wall mirrors in your room: hang them horizontally/vertically, lean them up against the wall or group small mirrors together similar to a photo wall gallery.  There are so many layouts that you can play with like these 6 easy layout ideas to help get you started.

Small Space Living Tip #6: Revamp Your Ceiling

Don't forget that 5th wall aka your ceiling!

Make it pop with color, wallpaper or a pretty stencil.  It will clearly demand some attention, leading your eyes to the ceiling as soon as you walk into your room.  It's a good old trick for taking away the obvious...that your room is tiny.

Small Space Living Tip #7: Make Them Look Up

If you're scared of trying the last tip, you can always get a pretty light fixture instead of sticking with the one that came with your apartment.

Just make sure that you know the height of your ceiling so that you don't get something too tall for your room because if you do, you won't be able to walk under it.  Oh and if you don't have a connection for a light fixture, that's okay, you can find pluggable ones like this one from World Market.

Which small space living tip will you be using in your small space? Share by leaving me a comment below or simply share this post with your crew!