College apartments are famous for being tiny (though, if you lived in the dorms, you’re probably thrilled at the square footage).

The question is, how do you decorate a small apartment in a way that feels like home?

Here are a few tips to help you create the coziest, most aesthetic first apartment possible.

Storage, Storage, Storage

If your apartment doesn’t have much square footage, it likely doesn’t have much storage either. Creating storage spaces for yourself should be a high priority. Anything that doesn’t have a “home” will eventually end up stranded on your surfaces and countertops, making your apartment look cluttered. And cluttered spaces look even smaller than they are.

To prevent this, first, figure out what you’re working with. Do you have a reasonable amount of storage in your bathroom and closet? If not, you may need to come up with an alternative solution, such as a clothes rack in your bedroom or shelving in your bathroom.

Make the most of the space you do have. You can use wall space for shelving. Buy under-the-bed bins and use that space for storing seasonal clothes. Use the impossibly high closet shelves for holiday decorations, spare blankets, and shoes you rarely wear. These options mean you don’t have to purchase standing organizers that will eat up your precious floor space.

Bigger and Brighter

Brighter, lighter rooms tend to trick the eye into appearing larger. You likely aren’t allowed to paint the apartment walls, but the good news is that your walls are probably already a light neutral, like white or gray. Colors like this make it easy for light to bounce off, making your room look bigger.

Light-colored curtains and bedspreads can also help make your room appear larger for the same reason. Dark fabrics absorb light, which can make small rooms appear even smaller. Choosing a light bedspread and breezy, white curtains will make your bedroom seem bigger than it is.

Mirrors can also work wonders by making a room look larger. In addition to bouncing light around the room, mirrors imitate windows to our eye. If you choose the right frame, you could even mimic your existing window by placing your new mirror directly across from it.

Create Smaller Spaces

Most small apartments are limited in the number of rooms they have. This is especially true in studio apartments. Instead of having existing rooms separated by walls, you’ll need to create your own.

Some people love the open floor plan look, but it isn’t for everyone. If your studio apartment doesn’t feel cozy, try creating smaller spaces within your apartment.

An easy way to do this is to decorate with area rugs. Use them to designate where one “room” ends. For example, put your couch and other living room furniture on one large area rug. If you have a dining table, place that on a different rug, with a bit of regular floor showing between the two rugs. This will visually signify that these are two different areas, making your home feel less like one giant room.

Another great idea is to make the most of tall furniture. You can always arrange room dividers, bookcases, and tall potted plants to create “walls.” If you’d rather your bedroom be more private, situate it toward the back of the room and use tall furniture to separate it from the kitchen and living areas.

Try out these three tips for decorating your small apartment. It’ll look bigger in no time!

great tips for decorating a small apartment By Photographee.eu FILE #: 162738031