Are you renting a micro apartment? The real estate scene isn't what it used to be. Today, even micro apartments are becoming more and more popular, possibly even more in demand than bigger properties, especially among younger tenants. Who could blame them? Not only are micro apartments cozy and convenient, but they also benefit cities that are crowded and extremely dense. So if you're moving into a micro apartment soon, you're doing the city good. Now, it's time to decorate your small home. From multi-purpose furniture to many mirrors, here are some tips on effectively decorating your micro apartment.
What is a Micro Apartment?
Firstly, it's important to know what a micro apartment truly is. Generally, a micro apartment is defined as a small, one-room living space that's usually sized at around 150 to 350 square feet (14 to 32.5 square meters). Though it's usually a studio apartment, a one-bedroom can still be a micro apartment as long as it's less than 350 square feet. Many, however, would mostly attribute properties that are less than 210 square feet/ 20 square meters as true micro apartments. This is because they're considered absurdly small and almost inhabitable in their sizes, but people can and will still live in such places.
Figure Out Your Essentials
Now, when decorating or even simply setting up your micro apartment, you need to figure out your essentials first. The usual includes your bathroom, kitchen, and living/sleeping area, not to mention your all-important storage spaces. But depending on your specific situation and lifestyle, you might need more elements too. For instance, if you work from home, you'll want to have a desk somewhere in your micro apartment. If you're a chef or you love to cook, you'll want a bigger kitchen that may be at the expense of other parts of your home. Once you figure out what you truly want and need, it'll be easier to decorate and organize your micro apartment.
Go Vertical!
A good rule of thumb to always follow when decorating a micro apartment is to go vertical. Let's say you
moved to New York City, an infamously crowded metropolis, and you only have about 250 square feet/ 23 square meters to work with. The benefit of living in this city is that its apartments usually have higher-than-normal ceilings, allowing you to maximize the space provided by your walls. Hence, go for floating shelves, built-in racks, and more. Not only can they serve as more storage space for your stuff, but they also add to the various negative spaces usually left by bare walls.
Always Go for Multipurpose Furniture
Thank goodness for multipurpose furniture since it makes it easier for anyone to live in an apartment as small as 170 square feet/ 90 square meters. That's right! Some places are truly that small and they're even some of the most
luxurious apartments to rent in Paris, London, Barcelona, and many other major cities. So if you do get to live in such a space, go for furniture that you could use in different ways. The most common is a bed with storage underneath or an ottoman that can double as a coffee table when you have guests. You'll find that they're both convenient and even add a chic touch to your home!
Maximize with Mirrors
Let's say that you just signed a lease on a micro apartment in a
central London neighborhood. Do you know how small the flats here can get? There are rental properties as small as 75 square feet/ 7 square meters in London and they still cost as high as £90,000.00 to purchase. If you live in such a small flat, one thing you can do to make it look and feel bigger is to add mirrors. Place them near or against the window to reflect the light from the outside and make the space look way bigger than it actually is.
Prioritize Storage
When organizing and decorating your micro apartment, it's important to prioritize your storage. You may think you don't have a lot of stuff now, but when you move to a place as small as 350 square feet/ 32 square meters, you'll find that you'll need more storage for your clothes, knick-knacks, documents, and more. This is where multipurpose furniture comes in handy! Take your bed, for example. If you get one with storage underneath, you can store your bed sheets, linens, and even your luggage that you rarely use here. What's not to love?
Lean Towards Lighter Colors
What about the color of your micro apartment? What should you choose? Well, the rule of thumb here is to go lighter! Why do you think most apartments come in either white, cream, or beige? Even the most
luxurious homes in Los Angeles, for example, be they penthouses or full-blown mansions, make use of these neutrals. This is because they brighten up the space and maximize the natural light brought in by windows. And this is extremely beneficial for micro apartments in major cities. Additionally, lighter-colored walls never fail to brighten up your mood too.
You Don't Have to Sacrifice Decor
Last but not least, it's important to always remember that don't have to sacrifice decor in your micro apartment. Sure, the space is small and limited, but it doesn't mean you can't spruce it up! Go for a gallery wall, for example, to add color and character to your micro apartment. Colorful rugs and mats add a fun touch to the space too, especially if the walls are more neutral-toned. And if you have all sorts of antiques and other knick-knacks, you can always display them on floating shelves. This is where going vertical comes in!
Follow these useful design tips if you're about to move into a micro apartment. Just because your space will be small doesn't mean it has to look and feel boring! There's a lot you can do even with a limited space.
