6 Designer Tricks to Make Your Small Apartment Feel Big

Short on square footage? Try these designer-approved ways to stretch your space.

By: Kayla Kitts

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Often short on space and storage, small apartments can present a long list of challenges. Chicago-based interior designers Shea Soucie and Martin Horner of Soucie Horner, Ltd. know even cramped spaces can live larger than they really are. “To us, timelessness, elegance and luxury are musts — regardless of square footage,” Martin says. “The greatest luxury of all is to feel embraced by your surroundings, which is easier to accomplish in a small space anyway,” Shea says.

Read on for Shea’s and Martin’s space-stretching ideas:

Use Mirrors to Visually Increase Space

Contemporary Gray Entryway With Tall Mirror & Black & Pink Ottoman

Foyer Features Full Length Mirror & Tufted Ottoman

The floor mirror was specifically designed to reflect the study and to make the space feel larger. The tufted ottoman provides seating in addition to being a sculptural element.

From: Spazio Rosso, Inc.

Photo by: Sean Litchfield

Sean Litchfield

Utilize mirrors to bounce light, reflect views and instantly enlarge the feel of any space. Lean an oversize mirror against the wall opposite your front door to create drama and visually expand your entryway. Boost your kitchen’s glamour quotient by installing a mirrored backsplash, or line the insides of glass-front kitchen cabinets with mirror.

Opt for Sleek Furnishings

Living Room With Gray & White Rug, Chairs, Starburst Clock

Gray And White Midcentury Modern Living Room

Decked out in geometric patterns, decorative art and low-slung furniture, this living room lives in serious midcentury modern style. A starburst clock keeps time on the gray wall, while a sleek coffee table keeps a low-profile on the striped area rug.

Steer clear of skirted sofas and bulky coffee tables in the living room. Instead, opt for sleek furnishings with open bottoms and slender legs to create an airy mood.

Raise Draperies

Eclectic Living Room With Bold Chartreuse Drapes

Bright green drapes add a colorful impact to this white eclectic living room. The room also features a gorgeous white leather sofa, animal hide rug, and large deer sculpture.

Install drapery rods closer to the ceiling rather than the tops of windows. It’s a simple way to fool the eye upward and create an elegant illusion of height.

Go Double Duty

Transitional Brown Family Room With Storage Ottomans

Cozy Family Room With Storage Ottomans

Red and white ottomans serve as a coffee table in this cozy family room. Great for propping your feet up, they also open to reveal deep storage for throws, board games and more.

Choose furnishings that are multipurpose and boost functionality: nightstands with drawers; bookshelves that feature a combination of open display space and closed storage; and upholstered ottomans that can act as both coffee tables and extra seating.

Climb the Walls

Wainscoting Used as Bedroom Shelf

Too often, vertical wall space is underutilized. Line walls with picture rail molding to add instant architecture and display. Mimic a headboard and conserve precious floor space by affixing wood or leather panels directly to the wall behind the bed.

Use Deep Hues

Sheepskin Rug in Black Transitional Bedroom

Winter Bedroom Sheepskin Rug and Linens in Black Bedroom

Textile designer, Khristian A. Howell, says, "Put your feet first. A dramatic and easy way to change things up in a room is by bringing in a great rug. Sheepskin rugs are so wonderful for the winter months. They feel wonderful under foot, and bring lots of warmth into the room, while keeping a light airy feeling."

Embrace the idea of deep, dark walls. Chocolate, navy and inky green tones will make corners recede, creating the impression of more space.

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