The new school year means new beginnings, and for many of us it also means a new living space.
Just like clothes are an expression of yourself, so is your home. It is where you spend majority of your time and keep possessions. I just moved into a new house a few weeks ago so I’ve been experimenting with decorating and have some new tricks up my sleeve. Whether you’re living in a dorm, apartment or house, I’ve discovered seven tips on how to get the most out of your tiny space.
1. Concentrate on focal points
The best way to make a tiny space feel large is to concentrate on one focal piece per room. Instead of scrambling a bunch of knick-knacks together focus on one piece of furniture. It will catch the eye creating a stronger look and a bigger space.
The "greenhouse effect." Photo by Gabrielle Nelson.Fill your home with fresh flowers and plants. Plants bring life to your house, literally. The easiest ones to maintain and some of my favorites are succulents and cacti.
3. Color brings mood to a room, chose wisely
Painting can give a whole new feel to a space. Most of us are renting and the idea of painting is not very practical. Instead of painting walls, paint your furniture. Give it a fresh look and feel. Spice up white walls by hanging curtains and tapestries. Remember to stay color conscious and maintain good vibes in your nest.
Old pieces of wood with decorative hooks. Photo by Gabrielle NelsonLighting is everything in a room; get creative here. Use Christmas lights and colored light bulbs to give a festive feel. Invest in tea-light candles. They’re cheap and set a relaxing mood for nights that need winding down. If you are lacking windows and natural light, hang mirrors opposite any windows you have to make your space as bright as possible.
5. Reduce the clutter
Get rid of everything you don’t need! You may say “I might need that someday,” or maybe you’re holding onto things for their sentimental value. Follow the one year rule, if you haven’t used it in over a year get rid of it. I guarantee you won’t even remember and the amount of space it will free up will be worth your while. But, if you’re a sentimental person (like me), the one year rule won’t work on some objects. In this case find an attractive storage solution, like cool glass jars or wooden crates.
Bed creatively made into a couch. Photo courtesy of tumblr.com.Find decorative door knobs/hooks to update almost every piece of furniture in your home. You can also use them for dressers, cabinets, and even DIY projects like a new jewelry holder.
7. Get creative with furniture
I once had a friend that made a couch out of an old twin bed she had lying around. It made a great cozy couch and easily turned into a bed when friends visited. Get creative and use what you already have.
You can contact me at Gabrielle.M.Nelson@asu.edu.
