San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
BEYOND THE MURPHY BED
Clever ways to maximize space in a studio apartment Making the most of a studio apartment means thinking beyond the obvious. An example: using the vertical wall space as storage. If you ever walked into an apartment and saw a bicycle attached to a wall, there’s a good chance it was to free up the floor space!
There are plenty of other ways to make small digs look and feel bigger. Check out these tips below:
Create a floor plan
Before you employ any of the following tricks, draw up a floor plan. They’re not just used by architects and interior designers— anyone who’s creating a new space needs one too. It’ll help you figure out things like how wide a table you can get and if Grandma’s rug will fit.
Use floor plan software to be most accurate. Take traffic flow into consideration when creating a plan so the layout makes sense for everyday living.
Say goodbye to stuff that’s cluttering up closets
Decluttering is a quick way to gain space without changing a room’s footprint. Take a look in your closets—and your cabinets, drawers, and shelves too. If you’ve been holding onto things like clothes you’ll never wear again or old magazines you’ll most likely never read, it’s time to take action. Donate and recycle as much as you can, and put the rest in the trash. When you see how much space is freed up, you’ll be glad you purged.
Get multipurpose furnishings
When one piece of furniture can serve several purposes, it’s a winwin situation. Major manufacturers have items that can do double- and triple-duty like an ottoman that can be used for seating, storage (the interior is hollow), and as a coffee table. There are also sofas that convert to beds (hello, Murphy!) and coffee tables that flip to become dining height.
Hang items on walls to create more floor space
With the proper fasteners, you can mount TVS, furniture, sports equipment, and more on your walls. The floor won’t be as crowded, giving the illusion of a bigger space. Ask at your local hardware store which mounting devices work best for your particular item.
Think monotone
If you’re going to paint the walls, keep it to the same color for the entire space. The look will be cohesive—using several colors would chop up the apartment rather than elongate it. Light colors often look best in tight quarters.