12 Ideas for Living in a Small Apartment: Life Hacks from New York

In this studio in New York, a married couple named Renata and Roman lives. The couple decided to show their home to the world to demonstrate how they managed to live comfortably in a small space.

Do Not Do a Full Renovation

To increase the space, Roman demolished the wall between the kitchen and living room. They also updated the flooring and whitewashed the walls. They did not change the kitchen cabinets, just replaced the doors with new ones. Fast, simple and budget-friendly.

Make the Space Multi-functional

"Our kitchen-dining area is a place for work, rest and entertainment," says Roman. And indeed: when there are only a few rooms in the apartment, one has to adapt the dining table for work and plan everything down to the smallest detail.

Create Your Own Kitchen Storage System

You can take an existing system as a basis, but still customize the space to suit your needs. For example, Renata finds it convenient to store cups and plates by stacking them inside each other. All spices are kept in small tin cans.

Buy a Round Dining Table

A round table does not take up much space and visually is not as noticeable in the interior. In addition, it allows more guests to sit around it: compact stools were prepared for them in the corner of the room.

Add Artistic Elements

This is the easiest way to bring life into the interior and not clutter a small space. Imagine how boring it would be without paintings in this apartment.

By the way, they don’t have to be expensive. Most of the paintings were created by the owners themselves.

Use Empty Walls

Hang on the walls everything you can. For example, this foldable chair takes up no space and also serves as a mirror for Renata.

And the Space Under the Bed

Under a queen-size bed, there was enough space for storage. To keep items dust-free, they packed them in boxes with handles — easy to take out.

Another life hack: a stack of books next to the bed replaces a bedside table for the couple.

Find Additional Storage Spaces

Since the apartment has high ceilings, the couple decided to use the space above the ceiling. They set up a spacious shelf for storing bedding and off-season clothes. The shelf is not noticeable in the interior: it’s covered by a roller curtain.

Keep a Small Ladder at Home

When you need to climb up to the loft or get books from a top shelf, a small wheeled ladder comes in handy.

Organize Open Storage Systems

In the small bathroom, there was no room for cabinets, so Roman and Renata used the door: they hung hooks for towels. Many shelves appeared on the wall.

Plan Storage Under the Sink

The couple found this cabinet in a vintage store and adapted it for under the sink. But you can simply buy a regular sideboard and store household chemicals in it.

Use Glass Boxes

Renata works in a store, so glass boxes at home serve as display cases. She stores her jewelry in them. Convenient: everything is visible but protected from dust.

Photographer: Kate Siers