Whether your Houston apartment is a budget-friendly student apartment or a luxury apartment with all the amenities, chances are that you wish you had more space. You've surely heard the usual interior design ideas for small apartments: use light colors, add mirrors, keep clutter to a minimum, and choose multi-purpose furniture. If you're looking for truly inventive ways to make a small space your own, consider these lesser-known small apartment decorating ideas:
Black or Dark Walls
Common interior design wisdom tells us that light colors reflect light, giving a bright, airy feel to a small space. On the other hand, dark colors make things visually recede—just what you'd like the walls to do in your small apartment. As this example from Apartment Therapy shows, black walls paired with black furniture and accessories give a feeling of depth and space, and make the furnishings fade from view. If you'd like to try this idea in your Houston apartment, be sure to read our tips for anyone considering painting their walls black. The most important consideration: Get your landlord's okay before you paint!
One Bold Accent Wall
If all black or very dark walls are too much for your taste (or more than your landlord will allow), you can take advantage of the power of dark colors by painting just one accent wall a dark, bold shade. The deep color will make that one wall appear to recede, giving the feeling of more space.
One Surprising Piece
Believe it or not, this Apartment Therapy post suggests that you can make your apartment feel bigger by decorating with one or two oversized pieces of furniture. The key here is the element of surprise. Any surprising interior design choice will catch the eye, distracting your visitors from the small size of your space.
See-Through Decor
Want to see more space in your apartment? The choice is clear. About.com Interior Decorating points out that any object you can see through makes everything behind it seem further away. Clear furnishings and doors also let you see more of your space, letting you to enjoy more of what you have. Try replacing an opaque shower door or shower curtain with a clear one, and consider glass-topped tables or clear cabinet doors.
Good Air Quality and Plenty of Light
Sometimes the most overlooked interior design ideas are the most basic, like this one from About.com: When decorating a small space, take care of the quality of the air and light. Small spaces can get stuffy and hold odors, so make sure your apartment is well ventilated. And your space will seem smaller if it's shrouded in shadows. Make sure your apartment is well lit, either by unobstructed windows or by plenty of lamps and fixtures.
Posted by Melanie Belasco Levy on 04/28/11
