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It’s a rite of passage to make use of as little space as possible. When I lived in my first studio apartment – all 450 square feet of it – I quickly learned the clever space planning isn’t optional, it’s essential. Between the four small apartments I’ve lived in and helping friends transform their cramped spaces, I’ve tested every trick in the book. Try some of my refined tips to make your apartment look larger and save storage simultaneously.
Furniture can make or break the space in your apartment. I learned this the hard way when I bought a massive sectional for my second apartment, which was a whopping 500 square feet (clearly a big step up from my 450-square-foot apartment). I couldn’t even open my closet door fully!
Choosing furniture is just as important as selecting the apartment itself. Pick wisely, and you’ll have a completely different feel to your space.
Lofting my bed was the single best decision I made in my first studio apartment. When you loft your bed, you open up 30-50 square feet of usable space underneath it (including the wall space). I placed a desk and small bookshelf under mine, essentially creating a cozy home office that I wouldn’t have had space for otherwise.
You can place a couch, entertainment center, or even a workspace underneath. In my 450-square-foot studio, the lofted bed let me combine two room types into one. I bought a basic loft frame on Amazon for $150, and it paid for itself in functionality in the first month!
Pro tip: Make sure you have at least 3 feet of clearance above your mattress. My first loft was too high, and I hit my head sitting up in bed. Not ideal.
This may seem like a small detail, but furniture with visible legs transformed how spacious my apartment felt. Furniture that goes all the way to the ground makes a space look much more visually cramped. I’d say my apartment felt 20-30% smaller before I swapped my solid-base furniture with pieces that had 6-inch legs.
The visible floor underneath draws the eye across the room and creates airflow (meaning it’s better for cleaning too). When I added legged furniture to my second apartment, I constantly had guests saying it felt bigger than 500 square feet.
If you plan to have guests, your apartment might be a little too cramped for more than one person to sleep comfortably. I bought a $650 pull-out couch from IKEA, and it hosted 15+ overnight guests during a 3-year span. You instantly have a second bedroom without dedicating floor space to it 365 days a year. This is especially helpful for those of you with a studio apartment like I had.
Having a pull-out sofa conserves floor space and save your guests’ backs (please say goodbye to the air mattresses that deflate by 3AM). My pull-out couch meant I could host family or friends without anyone sleeping on the floor. It’s an excellent way to maximize space while having an extra bed tucked away.
One of the main struggles of a small apartment is not having enough space for the things you’ve acquired over the years. In my first apartment, I had boxes stacked in corners because I didn’t know any better. Rather than give it all away or let it linger, you just need creative ways to keep clutter out of sight and out of mind
No, you don’t have to put one of those bulky filing cabinets in your apartment. Plenty of file organizers can be stuck on the wall in a cascading way. You can use these folders to store important papers, like necessary class syllabi and tests, lease information, tax forms, and more. You won’t have an excuse to keep cluttered documents all over your apartment any longer!
A rolling cabinet can easily fit into any cranny or gap in your kitchen. If you have plenty of materials but not enough space to store them, this cabinet can easily go between your fridge and a cupboard. You can use it to hold essentials, like spices, vinegar, or flour. You might find that cooking is easier and more fun without crowded cabinets!
Who doesn’t love blankets? While some blankets make for good decoration, they and other soft things like excessive throw pillows can take up too much room. A storage ottoman can function much like a coffee table: it can hold your remote and let you prop your feet up. Stuffing soft goods inside for whenever you need them is just a bonus.
It might be hard to throw away the items you’ve acquired over the years, and you shouldn’t have to feel like you need to declutter often. Just be careful about buying unnecessary items that will just add clutter rather than style or utility. I’ve made plenty of decorating mistakes in small spaces, so learn from my errors.
Darker paint might make a room seem smaller. My first apartment was an odd charcoal gray – it felt like I was living in a cave! A lighter color does the opposite: it brightens your room and opens up your space. When I repainted it a soft cream color, the room felt 40% larger (I had three friends also confirm it felt much bigger).
If you want your apartment to appear larger, make sure you stay as close to white as possible. White and paler colors seemingly increase your space by making it appear larger. When in doubt, paint it a nice, neutral cream color. I’ve used Benjamin Moore’s “White Dove” in two apartments, and it’s worked perfectly both times.
Pro tip: When renting, be sure to get permission before painting your apartment. Some landlords may not let you, and it could be costly if they take part of your security deposit in exchange.
Blackout curtains might be helpful, particularly when trying to get healthy sleep, but they’re not practical for every room in your apartment. I made the mistake of putting them in nearly every room of my old apartment before and, believe it or not, it felt very dark. Sheer curtains allow light to stream in, making your apartment seem sunny and open.
I switched to sheer curtains in my living area for about $20, and the difference was immediate. The lighter fabric looks wispier and takes up less visual space. In my bedroom, I layer sheers with blackout curtains – sheers for the day, blackout at night.
If you want to change something about your apartment but can’t commit to something as permanent as paint, reassess the curtains you’re using.
Mirrors are great decor because they can be hung on the wall and serve as a replacement for art, and they don’t take up as much space as bulkier furniture. They can also allow guests to look at themselves, which could contribute to their overall satisfaction with your place. I hung a 36×48 inch mirror in a narrow hallway, and it made the space feel twice as wide.
A mirror can have a similar effect as a window in that it draws light in and creates the illusion of more space. If you have a blank wall, you should add a large mirror and admire the space it seems to create.
To make your small apartment look bigger, the three most effective strategies are (1) painting walls light colors, (2) hang larger mirrors to reflect natural light and create depth and (3) choose furniture with visible legs to create visual flow. Light and visual openness are your best tools.
Multi-functional furniture is the best way to add storage to a tiny apartment. I’ve used storage ottomans, a lofted bed, rolling slim cabinets, and wall-mounted organizers. I was able to add around 50 cubic feet of storage without making my apartment feel more cramped using these methods.
I fully recommend you loft your bed in a small apartment, assuming you have the space. You should aim to have at least 3 feet of clearance between the top of your mattress and your ceiling, otherwise it’d be uncomfortable. Measure your ceiling height and shop around for some basic loft frames with this in mind. The only downside I’ve found to a lofted bed is climbing up and down a ladder when tired, but it’s well worth it for the space you gain.
At first glance, it might be challenging to decorate your apartment in a fashionable way that makes use of the limited space you have. Before you move into a new apartment, make sure to go through your things and question whether you should bring them with you. The less stuff you bring, the less you’ll have to worry about storage. No matter what, you’ll feel prepared with plenty of space-saving tips at your disposal.
Note: This article was first published on September 1, 2021, and was revised on August 28, 2026 to reflect the most current information.
