If there's not enough room...

The bare necessities of life – food, clothing, and shelter are something human beings have constantly strived to accomplish since time immemorial. The need to put a roof over one’s head has, in particular, compelled many to work hard and earn enough to afford a good house for themselves and their family. Still, every house needs a personal touch to transform it into a home.

People dream of owning a place they can call home, and decorate it according to their tastes and preferences; regardless of how spacious or confined their abode is.

However, there are various constraints that some individuals face while decorating small apartments. It can be especially confusing for 1BHK owners, who have to constantly adjust to their surroundings and make just enough space within that area for basic amenities. Although interior decoration within small apartments is not a difficult task, it is important to utilise available space in a way that it gives the appearance of a large room.

With an emphasis on ways to compensate for the single bedroom, let us explore how people living in 1BHK homes can make use of available space to beautify their home:

Pick the right furniture

One of the most important aspects of living in a small or 1BHK apartment is to invest in practical furniture that can serve its part while not taking too much space in the apartment. You can opt for multi-functional furniture that come with in-built storage, allowing you to effectively utilise the space available without any hassle.

Choose light & solid colours

It is important to choose the right colour for your apartment as it plays a key role in transforming the ambience of your home without much effort. Pick curtains in light, solid colours or as they can help you in making your room appear big and bright. However, make sure that whatever colour you choose goes with the overall decor of your apartment. These days, many people are even opting for white ceiling or floors to make apartments look bigger and well-planned.

Create a clutter-free zone

Prior to decorating or redecorating, it is important to first de-clutter your space to remove any unwanted items. Start by organising every object into piles of things you feel are multi-purpose, and things that are just useless junk. Consider an open floor plan instead of dividing your home into sections, and go vertical instead of horizontal. Add shelves to your walls to reorganise your things in a way that it appears tidy and in perfect order.

Decorative mirrors

Mirrors are another great addition to any small apartment as they help in creating the illusion of spaciousness. Apart from its general usage, decorative mirrors can also give your apartment an edgy and chic look. Whether you buy one at a flea market or from an online e-commerce platform, make sure that the design blends well with your overall interior design.

Rugs, mats & carpets

Small yet decorative carpets or rugs can significantly upgrade the look of your apartment by giving it a luxurious touch. Be it your living room or bedroom, carpets with beautiful motifs can add that extra zing to the overall interior decoration of your home.

Wall cabinets for smart storage

Another great idea for utilising space in small apartments is the addition of wall cabinets, which can take care of storage without taking up much room. Such cabinets can either serve as a mini pantry to store foodstuff and other ingredients or can be used to keep clothes or other essentials.

Space-saving utilities

For additional storage or effective utilisation of space, you can invest in space saving storage utilities like foldable step ladders, bins, buckets, multi-purpose racks and baskets. Such utilities can go a long way in helping you save space in your humble apartment, and in the process, make your life significantly easier.

(The author is CEO & co-founder, TidyHomz)