For us city dwellers, we often sacrifice spacious apartments for a convenient location. Not only are living spaces smaller, but city located apartments will usually result in us paying more expensive rent or a higher mortgage, which leaves us with the challenge of furnishing a small apartment on a budget. However, small doesn’t have to mean boring. Read on to discover our top tips for creating a stylish apartment using affordable items that you can find in stores such as IKEA.

 

Create the illusion of space 

There are plenty of tricks that designers use to create the illusion of more space in small surroundings. Each element of the design process, from the paint color to the type of furniture selected contributes towards the overall impression and ambiance of a room. Take some time to carefully consider the following tips.

 

1. Lighting solutions on a budget

You don’t need to splurge on a fancy chandelier to make a big impact with your lighting in a small space. You can change the entire mood of a room simply with new lampshades or light bulb covers. If you’re renting and budgets are really tight, even adding some cute string lights around your apartment can create a sense of warmth and coziness. 

 

An uplighter highlighting paintings or favorite objects will add a flair of drama to a room, and for space-saving ideas consider wall-mounted lamps to create more floor space. Even if you’re renting, there are some incredibly stylish and affordable battery-powered wall lamps available online, no wiring required.

 

Another affordable lighting solution is to take a trip down to your local IKEA Marketplace and stock up on scented candles to create Scandinavian-inspired hygge moments during the wintertime. 

 

2. Wall colors that trick the eye

While the obvious choice may be to opt for white walls to make a small room feel bigger, there are other colors you can try that will create warmth and still give the illusion of more space.

For example, in the interior design book Decorate, designer Rita Konig says this about the paint color for her small apartment: “One of my favorite colors is a pale grey. It is always bright and clean and is a great foil for many other colors. I often combine it with pink and green to create a very soothing and warming scheme.”

 

Surprisingly, it can also be possible to incorporate dark walls into a small space when done correctly. Speaking in an interview with Elle Décor, Caroline Grant of Dekar Design says, “it sounds counterintuitive but if you paint a room dark and then put light furniture in it, it tricks your eye into thinking the room is not only bigger but has more natural light.”

 

3. Choose furniture styles wisely 

Eleanor doors in Earthy Sand on a Besta in walnut with Sara legs and Marlen knobs.

Creative furniture purchases can really help to maximize space in a small apartment. Floating shelves give the impression of more space, as do other pieces that appear to float, such as beds, sideboards, and desks. Going vertical with storage solutions is another idea that won’t eat into your precious floor space. 

For an affordable but stylish floating storage option, a quick IKEA hack to the Besta sideboard transforms it into a chic design piece by removing the legs and attaching a Norse Interiors custom door fitting. Choose from a range of beautiful designs and colors to include the sleek minimalist Rosa design, or for a modern nostalgic feel, check out the Marie doors with their parquet patterns.

  

4. Create space with mirrors 

A cost-effective way to maximize natural lighting in a small apartment is by adding a mirror to the space, particularly in dark areas or hallways. The great thing about mirrors is that there is such a huge variety to choose from when it comes to style and shape, whether you seek out a vintage treasure at a flea market or opt for a more modern design in a homeware store, you’re sure to find something that fits well with your preferred design theme.  

 

5. Stylish storage ideas 

White Astrid fronts on a white Malm dresser, with black Ingrid pulls.

 

Minimizing clutter is key to creating more space in a small apartment on a budget. If you can’t bring yourself to take a leaf from Marie Kondo’s book and embrace the minimalist life by throwing out every item that doesn’t “spark joy,” then storage units are the solution for you. Investing in multi-purpose pieces is an effective method of furnishing a small apartment space.

Norse Interiors has a range of custom-made, stylish components that can be used to upgrade affordable IKEA pieces, such as Malm dressers and nightstands. Our range of drawer fronts includes the minimalist Astrid design with its clean and simple lines, while the Joan design features an upscale pattern of repeating arches.

 

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You might also like How to create more space in your home.