Showing posts with label apartments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apartments. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Beautiful and clever small closet ideas

In older homes and small apartments it's hard to find great storage and closet space solutions. Don't let the words wardrobe and armoire scare you though! There are some seriously great designs to choose from that give you the storage you need.


When it comes to hanging your clothing, if your space is lacking a built-in closet, a stand-in wardrobe can be just as effective.  By adding in shelving, baskets, shoe racks, drawer units and even pin-boards for outfit inspiration, you have a custom closet solution tailored to your personal needs.
via bhg


There are simple, modern, sleek ones that let you close all the doors and not notice any clutter. Most of these have great options for how you can stack and shelve things as well!


We have a very, very small linen closet in our home that could really benefit from a treatment like this.
via Pinterest 

 We've all seen the closet-turned-home office - I still like finding a good one!
via Pinterest via Modern Home Decor

via CasaSugar

Don't neglect small accessories - they need a designated place too. Having these guys piled up in a corner or shelf can really make or break the feeling of chaos.  Clear acrylic boxes or no-frills baskets are a good way to organize small items if you don't have a drawer.


Your walls are your best friends when you live small.  Hang as much up as you can and save precious surface, drawer, and rail space for items that can't go on walls.

via Pinterest via Place of My Taste


A simple traditional look with more storage necessities than you could ask for! Although this lacks hanging space it can be a great addition to a small closet, or a place to organize craft supplies.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Small Spaces: Defining a space

More and more people are choosing smaller spaces to call home. They tend to be more efficient and don't take as much time to clean ( a big perk for me), and are easier to maintain. Sometimes it's hard to define a certain area or space as it's own but all of my tiny NYC apartments have allowed me to try out almost all of these ideas. Here are some of my favorites.

400 square foot area with a Bedroom Nook designed by Fitzhugh Karol for a tiny Brooklyn, NY apartment.  This is similar to the bedroom in the closet pinned earlier. It is airy and bright and using a captain's bed with drawers for storage.

For me, feeling like I had a little privacy while sleeping was crucial. Creating a foot board that creates some privacy for the bed is a great way to define the bedroom space. I also love the entryway table they used against to the foot board to create a real wall look.

Several things I like:    a) Curtain as a room divider    b) Curtain isn't completely drawn so you can still see a bit of the bed, but still have some privacy    c) dining/social area so close to the bed = great use of a small space    d) rug under the table & chairs also defines the two spaces      design is mine : isn't it lovely?: INTERIOR INSPIRATION : AT HOME IN NYC.

Looking for a not so permanent solution? A rod with a curtain can do the trick. You can keep it open and airy or close it off for privacy. A sheer or semi-sheer curtain is important to help filter light through though. 



On the topic of light, it's important to choose window treatments that will allow for maximum light to come through.  Make sure when you open the curtains you'll be able to pull them completely to the edges of the windows.  Also make sure you have proper ambient lighting to prevent dark shadows which will make the room seem smaller.

great way to break up a space

A very budget friendly solution is to purchase an open bookshelf like the one above to use as a wall space. The fact that it doubles as storage is really important since small spaces tend to lack storage space. This is one of my favorite tips and I've used it in the past.  You can find similar, inexpensive modular shelving at Ikea.  Mine has held up well over the years.

Small Apartment With Great Storage in Pastel Tones http://decor8blog.com/2014/03/11/small-apartment-with-great-storage-in-pastel-tones/
via decor8

Consider raising up a space! This creates a ton of storage space and puts one part of your space above the rest. This is a great solution if there's not enough square footage to create storage otherwise.