I’m a decorator, and here are my 16 foolproof tips for making the most of a small apartment

When choosing colors for a small apartment, always consider white or the lightest possible shades, both for walls and floors, and of course for furniture or textiles. White rugs and curtains can do you a lot of good!

Choose furniture that is versatile, such as a dining table that doubles as a desk, a pouf or coffee table with hidden storage, or a stool that can be used as a seat when you have visitors, as well as a stool that can double as a side table every day.

The flow of light is crucial. Leave a few centimeters between the sofa and the wall, or in this case, the bookcase; behind the dining room chairs… Seriously: your living room will look bigger.

Are you looking for ideas to make the most of every centimeter of your small apartment? These 7 tips are perfect.

Choose furniture with visible legs, such as an armchair without a skirt or a coffee table with stylized legs. They provide more visual brightness, giving you a feeling of spaciousness.

Light is a great helper for visually expanding space. If you don’t want to or can’t throw away partitions, pair them with glass enclosures or partitions, whether iron or wooden, which will divide the space and, in turn, bring light from one room to another. They are my favorite!

Opening up the kitchen is a star addition to a small apartment, adding area, light and a feeling of spaciousness. If you don’t want to open it, plan a glass enclosure with sliding doors, they are by far the most space-saving.

Choose light-colored furniture to make your small kitchen look larger. If possible, match them with light-colored floors. And, very importantly, choose a white or light-colored countertop, as it is the surface that reflects the most light. Strengthen it!

It is best not to fill the kitchen with tall furniture. Use open shelves and showcase-style furniture with glass doors so you can see inside. You have to be more organized to provide more visual brightness.

If you are short on space in your kitchen, don’t hesitate to opt for small or compact appliances. There is a 40cm (rather than the standard 60cm) oven, dishwasher and washing machine, as well as a hob that is only 30cm. It’s also a good idea to choose a multi-purpose model, such as a microwave or washer-dryer.

Benches are a great addition to small dining rooms. On the one hand, because they allow the table to be moved closer to the wall, thus gaining an additional 40-50 cm of access. On the other hand, because they give more play when seated, three people can sit comfortably in the same space occupied by several chairs.

One tip for enlarging a small room is to light the ends of the room, since we are lighting what we see most often and it helps the sense of space if we emphasize the ends. Here, the decorator installed two twin lamps on the side table, enhancing the overall lighting in the living room.

If you have a small patio or balcony, light it up – you can mix lights with plants, which is a great trick. This way it will become part of your living space. If you see it in the dark it’s like it’s not there, the end of the room is a window or exit door and it doesn’t extend outside.

The bed doesn’t necessarily have to have a headboard on the main wall. Dare to look for different formulas and try different positions until you get smoother steps that make better use of the space. Here, decorator Begoña Susaeta has designed a wall-mounted headboard that becomes a glass partition to separate the bed area from the dressing room.

Maximize storage space in your small bedroom. In a recess of only 25 cm you can place some shelves as bookcases, use the underside of the bed with drawers or an appetizer with a capacity equivalent to a large wardrobe… In short, do not give up even a centimeter of useful space for storage.

Think vertically and take advantage of the height of the room, with closets to the ceiling, so you can use the trunk to store other season or rarely used clothing. If you have a built-in wardrobe, you can add translucent or fabric windows to the doors for a very stylish look. The room will appear darker.

When decorating your bed, avoid very obvious prints. It’s best to choose smooth, light-colored bedding. If you want to add a bit of color, use fabrics with stripes, plaids, or pretty little flowers.