C&G’s Guide to Maximising Space in Apartments

Tips & Advice

House prices are going up, and the inner-city lifestyle is becoming more and more desirable. The result? Apartment living in Australia is on the rise. In today’s blog, C&G share our top tips on maximising space in apartments.

Get Smart With Storage

Storage is often neglected in the design of smaller spaces, particularly modern inner-city apartments. While you might find a place with a good size living area and bedrooms, it’s often the storage space that suffers – that’s where getting smart will benefit you. Look at the storage spaces you do have and find ways to make the most of them. Got a built in wardrobe? Source hanging organisers and stackable boxes to make the most of every inch. There’s often wasted space between clothes hanging and shoes being stored on the floor of the wardrobes. A multi-level shoe rack will double your floor space, and a hanging organiser can help you easily store foldable items like tshirts and activewear. In the kitchen, if cupboard space is limited, use hanging hooks and shelves to store your utensils and crockery, and make some into design pieces by hanging them ornamentally across a beam or wall.

Find multi-uses for storage items, too. Things like ottomans with storage inside, under-bed storage or hollow benches can give you extra space to store those lesser-used essentials. 

Choose Your Furniture Wisely

If you’re moving into a smaller apartment from another home, consider whether your furniture still serves a purpose. For example, is a king bed really necessary? Switching to a queen would save you 30 cm in width, while sizing down to a double would save you a further 20 cm.

Look into design theories when choosing furniture, and even seek the advice of an interior stylist if you need extra help. Things like selecting a couch with legs brings elevation to the space – not to mention opens up extra storage underneath. Try to find furniture that creates flowing lines in the space, rather than segmenting it into blocks. Being able to easily walk through the apartment’s space is a good sign that things are well organised and decluttered. 

Stick to a Colour Scheme

Have an idea of what the interior will look like before you begin furnishing. Not only will sticking to a colour scheme create the illusion of a more vast, curated space, it’ll help you make informed decisions in terms of things you do and don’t need. Flowing neutrals will be your friend, and use subtle pops of colour to accentuate hero spaces. You can also use mirrors to enhance light and elongate hallways and darker areas.

Declutter

One of the best pieces of advice for harmonious living in a small space is to just declutter. Be ruthless – don’t double up unless it’s necessary. Having less storage space might feel restrictive at first, but there is no better way to learn how to live with less than to have a small apartment. Do you really need to keep those shoeboxes? Will you ever read those books? Do those clothes reflect your personality anymore? Decluttering will make small-space living infinitely easier, mentally and physically!