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Everyone who's ever lived in New York City has, at some point, had the smallest bedroom—or living room or bathroom or closet or studio apartment—EVER. (But really, in one apartment, I could open the fridge from bed.) And we hear that itty-bitty living spaces exist outside the Big Apple too. If your home is, um, less the spacious, here are nine easy tricks to make it feel a little less cramped and cluttered.
This dog just CAN'T with the drapes and the covered furniture legs.
Don't Crowd The Walls
Mix-and-match photo galleries are on-trend right now, but in a tight space, a cluster of many objects creates visual chaos. Although it probably goes against your instinct, consider hanging one outsize piece of art (or, better, a mirror—see below) instead of lots of smaller ones.
Keep the Walls Light or White
It's no secret that lightly colored rooms seem more spacious, whereas dark ones tend to feel cavernous. Combat the stark hospital feeling by choosing an off-white or an ultra-light gray or pink.
Keep Windows Bare
Let the sunshine in. Rooms that are flooded with light will naturally feel more open and airy. If you need privacy, choose blinds instead, since they can be rolled or strung up almost entirely out of the way.
Show Off Your Legs
Look for couches, chairs, and tables with visible legs. Anything with a tablecloth or a cover that touches the ground will block your line of vision. When the legs have a little room to breath, the space will feel more open.
Shove Your Dresser or Bookcase Into a Closet
If you can downsize your dresser and/or bookcase to versions that will fit in a closet, that's one less thing creating an obstacle in your floor space. If the closet isn't an option, consider hanging a high-up shelf about a foot below the ceiling for extra shoes or linens, or bulky goods, books, or sweaters.
Create Clear Pathways
Speaking of floorspace, make sure you can get from point A to point B without having to weave around a stumbling block, like a table. If you can't walk around freely, it's time to look for smaller furniture.
Shop for Smaller Furniture—or One Statement Piece
A smaller couch will take up less room. No surprises there. But if you have a petite couch paired with a pint-size arm chair and a precious little stool—plus, a coffee table—your living room is going to feel like a garage sale. If you can't sacrifice the seating, go bigger with the couch—yes, really—and place a narrow table (like this one) behind it. Then have Salvation Army pick up everything else.
Hang Mirrors
To give the illusion or more space, hang a mirror. Bonus points if you can hang it across from a window, which will make the room feel more light.
Seek Out Lucite or Glass Furniture
A small coffee table is great, but small coffee table—or desk or dining room table—made from glass or Lucite will give a more spacious feel than a clunky wooden or metal piece.
