Small Spaces: 12 Tips for Owners of Tiny Apartments

Daria Elnikova has been involved in interior design and architecture since 2007. After graduating from an art school, she enrolled at Kazan State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering to study "architect-engineer". In 2013, she founded her own Architecture and Design Studio, whose goal is to improve people's lives through design and architectural solutions.

1. Light Tones

Small rooms are best decorated in light and soft tones: all shades of white and pastel palette visually expand the area and add air, making the space feel light and elegant.

2. Trendy Hues

The current trendy blue-green color also does a great job of expanding space due to its optical effect: blue shades expand the room, visually enlarge it and literally "spread" it out.

3. White Classic

Remember white color. This color can be found not only on walls and ceilings, but also on flooring. A light floor adds even more lightness and volume to the interior – exactly what all tiny apartment owners aim for!

4. More Gloss!

Glossy suspended ceilings are an ideal choice for small spaces. The gloss on the ceiling visually adds volume to the room and increases the height of vertical surfaces.

5. Lighting Scenario

Avoid chandeliers! For lighting small spaces, it's best to use recessed lights around the perimeter of the ceiling. Thanks to them, even a very low ceiling no longer feels oppressive.

6. Optical Illusion

High-quality wallpaper or a painting with perspective can also add a sense of spaciousness. Decorate one wall in the room with it – preferably the one facing or diagonal to the entrance. You'll see, a small space instantly transforms.

7. Minimal Accessories

Many cute-to-you trinkets and accessories clutter the already small room space just as much as bulky furniture – extra photos, figurines, and vases should be kept out of sight.

8. Layout Rules

Furniture in a small space should be placed along the walls to avoid dividing the room into even smaller zones. Built-in appliances and transformable furniture help free up space significantly.

9. Openness

Natural and artificial lighting suits small spaces well. Glass items, furniture, and mirrors add light to the interior. If the room's purpose allows it, consider replacing doors and partitions with glass ones.

10. The Magic of Reflections

Using mirrors visually expands any space. Imagine: order a cabinet with mirrored doors, create a wall gallery of small framed mirrors, hang a mirror in a window frame – and you get an extra window.

11. Lightness of Living

Window treatments for small rooms should be light and semi-transparent. Such fabrics visually expand the space, creating perspective (a sense of depth extending into the distance).

12. New Technologies

Poured 3D floor or light tiles can also help add visual volume to any room. The main rule: the more light, the freer and cozier the space feels.