In the Greater Boston Area, you are likely to find some strange living spaces and most definitely some small living spaces. It’s important when you live in an area with such an eclectic collection of housing to take advantage of small space hacks and general functional decor.
Generally speaking, there are two kinds of small space hacks in this world: those you can do in a rental and those you cannot. Renters and homeowners alike can benefit from small space hacks in different ways. So we have compiled a list of them. The list is primarily split into two; if you rent an apartment vs owning a home.
When you rent an apartment you have much less latitude in what you can do but there are still lots of great options. When you own the property you are afforded much greater latitude on expenditures and design work. The key is to understand what you can do and what you can do in the future when you own your own home. When you own your own home, the sky is usually the limit, based on how much money you can spend, and if is a sensible financial investment.
Impermanent Solutions (suited for renting)
- Embrace the art of mirrors. Hanging mirrors in a room or at the end of a hallway opens up the space. It makes it feel bigger and more open.
- Use storage as furniture. A trunk makes a great coffee or side table and you can store anything you want inside without it becoming an eyesore. There is nothing like clutter to make a space feel smaller.
- Speaking of clutter, declutter by putting storage baskets under tables. Organize your things to make your space feel bigger.
- Color can also play a huge role in how big a room feels. Choose a complementary color palette with 2-3 colors to keep it simple. Just as with clutter, too many colors can make a space feel cramped. Brighter colors open spaces as well, so keep that in mind.
- This one is slightly more invasive, but well worth it. Chop a folding table in half and attach it to a wall. That way it can fold up and it won’t block a large amount of space when it is out. Just don’t use anchor screws if you’re renting and check your lease to see if you are able to put holes in the walls. You can DIY with this project here.
- In this area, you are likely to find many loft spaces. These are like a blank slate for you to make your own floor plan. In big open rooms, create another room with a room divider. You can use a folding divider, found at many thrift stores and Pier One locations or a piece of furniture like a bookshelf. Some people even hang curtains from one wall to another. The possibilities are endless.
- Ladder shelving is all the rage right now and it’s perfect for a small space. As usual, Pinterest is the best place to get ideas for creative ladder units.
- Wall Magnets for knives in kitchen help give you more drawer space and a little bit of a different looking backsplash. Just hang up the magnets and stick your knives or other metal utensils to them.
- When you encounter low ceilings, you can make the space look bigger with low furniture. Have you ever tried a futon? They do great in spaces with low ceilings and they are great for your spine health.
More Permanent Solutions (tied to home ownership)
- Let’s start with the exterior. Your window to wall space ratio can affect how big a room feels. More window means a bigger looking room. You let in more light and there is more scenery to take in outside. In the city and in the suburbs though, this is a tricky small space hack to use. You don’t exactly want your neighbors seeing every little thing you do.
- You can also install shelving pretty much anywhere in your home. Put shelves in the corners to avoid awkward furniture taking up floor space. Wall to wall and ceiling to ceiling bookshelves are highly popular as well. It creates a multitude of space for you to store anything, it does not just need to be books. Adding shelving will cut down on the amount of furniture you need to store items, which opens up the floor space.
- You can also literally open up the space. Create multipurpose rooms instead of smaller rooms for individual purposes. Take down walls if necessary. Fewer walls means more open spaces. You can use sliding doors instead of walls so that you can open up or close off an area of a multipurpose room or install glass walls just to make the space feel more open.
- If you are in need of storage space, you might consider redesigning pieces of your home to add storage. You can add drawers in each of the steps on a staircase or a shelving unit or closet under the stairs. Think of spaces that are largely unused and creative ways to add unseen storage!
- Another storage option is to create a storage wall. This is similar to installing wall to wall and ceiling to ceiling book cases, but instead of adding cabinetry to the wall, the cabinetry is the wall.
- You might lack places to sit and eat or just sit in general. Create a cafe window by attaching a shelf and putting bar stools in front of it. You’ll feel like you’re sitting at the local coffee shop!
- Embrace high ceilings with lofted spaces. Add a loft bed or reading nook. Underneath you can create an office, a walk-in closet or any other space you want. It will give your small space another dimension to enjoy.
- Last, but not least, skylights and natural lighting make rooms look bigger. Add skylights to brighten dingy spaces and open up a room.
The possibilities don’t end here! There are tons of ways to make awkward, small and unique spaces work for you and feel like home.
