How To Survive In A Small Living Space

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Living in a small home or apartment can get a bad rap. But the truth of the matter is that million of people in cities worldwide live in smaller than average spaces, and they make it work. It's all about how you choose to design and organize the space. Read on to see how. 


One of the biggest advantages of living in a small space is that it makes you think carefully about what you buy and what you hold onto. If there is not much space, to begin with, you are unlikely to want to fill it up further with items that are not necessary to your everyday well being.

That's when living in a built up area can really help, because you have access to cheap rubbish collection services. This means you can get rid of your old and unwanted items with a minimum of hassle.


Another benefit of living in a small home is that it keeps decoration to a minimum. A coat of paint on the wall and some furniture of your choice can transform a small space at little cost to you.

Small spaces have the benefits of feeling really cozy too. Use shades of grey's along with a warmer color to make the most of the space, while giving that comfortable and warming feel.


Smaller places can seem very dark and cramped, though. This is particularly noticeable for people that have moved from rural areas to a city like New York.

This is because in cities all of the available space is used up for accommodation, whereas in the country people have a bit more room to spread out. Many properties are old and not much thought was given to the amount of light that would be able to enter these buildings.

The best way to deal with this is to paint the interior a bright white, which is best at reflecting the light. If you own the property, you can maximize the light that streams in by having the windows enlarged or installing a skylight.

If you are renting use high watt daylight bulbs and cover the window with voile instead of a curtain. This will grant your privacy, but also still let in a good amount of light. You can also use strategically placed mirrors to make a space seem bigger and brighter. Try a mirror over the mantle piece or directly opposite a window for maximum reflection potential.

Making The Best Of The Space

Lastly, while living in a compact environment can be fun in your youth, when you settle down and start a family it can cause you some hassle. You will either have to move out of your current lodgings. Or find some way in which to accommodate an extra growing person.

The best way to do this is by making sure that you are on top of your organization game. Pick items like cribs and strollers that fold down when not in use. Choose slightly darker sofas and wall colours that are easy clean or don't show marks easily.

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Quote to Live By

"Not all those who wander are lost."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Carpe Diem

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