Living Well in Small Urban Spaces

The big city is filled with lights, entertainment, and a lot of opportunities. One place where the opportunities aren't as vast in a large city? Housing. In most large cities like San Francisco, Chicago, and New York housing is wildly expensive and painfully small. Still, a humble abode isn't such a bad thing-especially when it comes to living well. Whether a small space is your home all year round or just your home for the school year, there are quite a few ways that you can make your small urban spaces pop with color, personality and function. 

 

Divide to Conquer: The secret of living in a smaller urban space lies in its division. Just because the only thing that you can afford is a studio or tiny 1-bedroom doesn't mean you can't set boundaries within your new home. Divide up one large space with curtains that are mounted to your ceiling providing you privacy when you need it most. You could also utilize open bookshelves (on which you can store much more than books) to divide up your studio.

Make Furniture Work Overtime: When it comes to small spaces, dual-purpose furniture can make a really big difference. That's why, when you're not working with a lot of space, choose pieces of furniture that can work overtime for you. Perhaps a table can serve as both a kitchen island and a place to eat your meals. Maybe a stool is hollow and you can store extra items inside, de-cluttering your space.

Choose Clean Lines: Don't get carried away with frilly pillows and overstuffed furniture. When it comes to small spaces, clean lines are in. This modern, sleek look helps to create a sense of flow that small spaces don't otherwise have. Stools, couches, coffee tables, and much more are available with straight edges and they're worth the investment for your small urban space.

Make Use of Mirrors: Mirrors are the decorating secret that no one talks about. Because mirrors reflect light, they can actually help to brighten your space and make it appear larger than it actually is. Placing an oversized mirror on your walls will help to enlarge your space and they'll make your room look great in the process.

Utilize Your Cabinets and Drawers: If you have underused drawer and cabinet space, get creative. Your drawers and cabinets can be used to not only store items, but also to help you charge technology and de-clutter. For instance, install a kitchen charging station or a bathroom powering station, such as a Docking Drawer, into an underused drawer. It will keep you plugged in and your countertops clutter-free!

Clear Furniture Can Open a Room: This is a fun one. Clear furniture helps open up a room because you can see right through it. What's more, a huge variety of clear, classy furniture is available in today's market. From glass-top tables to ghost chairs that pack a strong decorative statement, this daring idea will make your urban space appear to be twice as large.

Just because a space is small doesn't mean you can't make it a home that you love. Need more ideas? Here are more tips on making the most of a tiny space. Plus, learn how to make the most out of a small bathroom.