Tiny Homes | Inhabitat New York City

6 Fun Ways to Spruce Up Your Tiny Apartment for Spring

With our hectic schedules, it's pretty easy for spring cleaning plans to morph into a spring Games of Thrones marathon. But for those of us who live in tiny apartments, taking a day or even a few hours to spruce things up can make a world of difference. You probably already know the obvious things you can do - like wiping your windows and beating out your rugs - but we've rounded up a few other tips for how you can brighten and freshen up a small space in time for the warmer weather. Click through our gallery to see them all!

10 Transforming Furniture Designs Perfect for Tiny NYC Apartments

Lilliputian living is not at all new for New Yorkers, but with Mayor Bloomberg's adAPT NYC pilot program, we might be seeing even smaller spaces in the future. The good news is that designers have been coming up with some truly clever transforming and double duty furniture designs to help us make the most of our tiny apartments. From a babushka-style 2-in-1 chair to a vertical garden that doubles as an exercise machine to stairs with hidden drawers built right in, click through our gallery to see a selection of 10 pieces of multi-purpose furniture.

6 Clever Tips to Make Your Tiny Apartment Feel Larger

Photo credit: Wei Chang

Judging from the popularity of our articles on tiny apartments, it's no secret that many people have embraced the idea of downsizing...but that doesn't necessarily mean it's easy. Whether you've lived in a tight urban space for a while or you just recently decided to make the switch to small-space living, there are certainly challenges (ranging from where to store all your stuff, to how to accommodate extra guests, to just feeling like you have room to breathe). After living in micro apartments ourselves for some time, we've come up with some smart tips and tricks for making your smaller home feel larger. If you've been feeling a bit cramped lately, read on for some ideas that can give you a little more livable room.

NYC Getting More Micro-Units, Sends Out Another Request for Proposals for Tiny Apartments

It seems that NYC’s new micro-apartment trend has already taken off before the first unit has even been built. The Department of Housing Preservation, the Citizens Housing Planning Council and NYC Development Commissioner Matthew Wambua just announced a new

New York City Population is Highest It’s Been in Over 60 Years

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg announced that New York City’s population is the highest it’s been in over 60 years, with more people moving in than moving out for the first time in decades. According to data derived from the US Census Bureau, 161,000 more people

Tiny 432 sq. ft. Lower East Side Studio Maximizes Space with a Few Simple Tricks

Even though it only offers about 432 sq. ft. of space, this $319,000 studio apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side maximizes style with a few simple tricks. Taking a page from our own guide to making tiny apartments look larger, the home's previous owners (or some very good stagers) set it up with bright pops of color on a light background, minimal clutter and furnishings, and a mirrored wall that bounces lots of natural light back into the space. Click through the gallery to see more images of this cozy NYC abode with views of the city.

MicroGreens: Bernheimer and LevenBetts’ Tiny Apartment Concept Boasts a Vertical Greenhouse

Designed for the adAPT NYC micro apartment competition, Bernheimer Architecture and LevenBetts' MicroGreens is an apartment building that combines small spaces and urban farming. The draw of the complex, which was conceptualized with the help of David Leven and Stella Betts, is that every unit has its own edible garden as well as access to a shared vertical greenhouse. MicroGreens also emphasizes how community and social living can be achieved, even in tight living quarters.

Tiny Upper West Side Apartment Transformed into a Sexy New Space With Smart Storage

Sometimes tiny apartments can be intimidating, so calling an expert in can help maximize space without sacrificing style - and that's exactly the premise behind the new SpacesTV series, “Thank God I Hired a Designer.” Adrian’s historic Upper West Side apartment hadn’t been renovated since the 1950s, so he enlisted designer West Chin to help create a cozy and welcoming space by incorporating innovative storage solutions into the design aesthetic. We think the result is both elegant and functional - step into our photo gallery to see more!

nARCHITECTs’ adAPT NYC Micro Apartments Feature Convertible Furniture and Multi-Use Rooms

Last week, Mayor Bloomberg awarded nARCHITECTS, Monadnock Development LLC and Actors Fund HDC as the winners of the adAPT NYC micro-apartment competition. Their tiny dwelling proposal will be the basis for fifty-five mini units at Kips Bay on 27th Street in Manhattan. The one and two person households will not only be affordable, but give residents the feeling of expansive space with higher ceilings, ample windows, and terrace access.

Jonathan Rose’s Micro-Apartment Complex Balances Tiny Living Spaces with Ample Communal Areas

As Mayor Bloomberg announced the results of New York City’s adAPT NYC Competition last week, the team of Jonathan Rose Companies, Curtis+Ginsberg, Grimshaw, Scape and LifeEdited shared in the excitement of being a finalist. Their submission entitled “CO: Compact, Connected, Complete” proposed a 60-unit apartment building full of micro-apartments of 303 square feet each. This submission was one of many that took on the challenge to create more housing units for one- and two-person households in light of the space restrictions and urban density of NYC.

See How This Tiny West Village Apartment Uses Double Duty Furniture to Maximize Its Small Space

Believe it or not, product photographer Michelle James’ tiny West Village apartment was a welcome downsize from her 1,500 square foot condo in Los Angeles. Feeling like a slave to her LA space, she chose the 311 square foot mini-one bedroom so she wouldn’t have to spend weekends cleaning. By filling the apartment with bold colors and innovative storage solutions, James was able to create a modern and comfortable home in the heart of one of New York’s most expensive neighborhoods.

325 sq. ft. Micro Apartment Coming to Museum of the City of New York as Part of Small Living Exhibit

An example of the kind of transforming furniture that might be included in the exhibit. Photo: Resource Furniture

With life expectancy at an all-time high for New Yorkers and the loss of hundreds of homes after Hurricane Sandy, there have been some serious concerns about where and how we're all supposed to keep living here together. Interest in smaller dwellings as a solution had already been growing since before the storm, and now the Museum of the City of New York has announced an exhibition exploring the possibilities of tiny apartments entitled Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers. In addition to offering insights into New York City’s changing demographics (especially the growth of single adult households), the exhibit will allow visitors to step into “LaunchPad”, a 325 sq. ft., fully-furnished apartment outfitted with transforming, space-saving furniture by Clei and Resource Furniture.

Buy This 180 Sq. Ft. Manhattan Penthouse for Just $125K

Would you be willing to live in a tiny, 180 sq. ft. apartment if it meant moving to one of the poshest nabes in Manhattan for just $125,000? Douglas Elliman Real Estate recently dropped the price of what Curbed calls "Manhattan's most adorable penthouse" from $375K to $125K, and we're curious to see how fast it goes. To be fair, the luxury lilliputian property also comes with a terrace that isn't included in the 180 sq. ft. count, but on the flipside, the maintenance fees are a whopping $1,717/month.