6 clever tips to make your tiny apartment feel larger

<i>Photo credit: Wei Chang</i></p>Judging from the popularity of our articles on <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=tiny+apartments">tiny apartments</a>, 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 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=tiny+apartments">tight urban space</a> for a while or you just recently decided to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/meet-the-tiny-house-family-who-built-an-amazing-mini-home-for-just-12000/">make the switch to small-space living</a>, 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 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=tiny+apartments">smaller home</a> 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.

<i>Photo credit: Wei Chang</i></p>Judging from the popularity of our articles on <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=tiny+apartments">tiny apartments</a>, 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 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=tiny+apartments">tight urban space</a> for a while or you just recently decided to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/meet-the-tiny-house-family-who-built-an-amazing-mini-home-for-just-12000/">make the switch to small-space living</a>, 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 <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/index.php?s=tiny+apartments">smaller home</a> 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.

<h3>LIGHTEN UP</h3> Professional interior decorators have been saying this for ages, but it bears repeating - lightening up your floor color can make your home feel more spacious and airy. Just like in fashion, darker colors are "slimming," and tend to constrict, which is great if you want to look thinner but most people don't want to create the same effect in their homes. Redoing <a href="http://inhabitat.com/interview-nuclic-founder-david-kim-shares-his-green-flooring-tips-with-inhabitat/">flooring</a> can be pricey and may not be an option if you're a renter, so a nice area rug would do the trick as well.

<h3>BE TRANSPARENT</h3> We all know that furniture that's too large for a space can make it feel smaller, but what if your furniture could look like it wasn't even there at all? Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/Furniture-/3197/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_nkw=acrylic">clear furniture</a> is a great way to add a needed coffee table or chair in an already cramped space without making it feel even more visually cluttered.

<h3>DOUBLE THE PLEASURE, DOUBLE THE FUN</h3> By now, you've probably heard us sing the praises of<a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/10-transforming-furniture-designs-perfect-for-tiny-nyc-apartments/"> double duty furniture</a> a million times, but it truly is a lifesaver in a tiny apartment. Just consider how much room you could free up by having a desk that doubles as a dining room table or even a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/diy-how-to-make-your-own-storage-bed-using-a-repurposed-ikea-bookcase/ikea-bookcase-storage-bed-hack-6/?extend=1">bed that doubles as extra storage space</a>.

<h3>VERTICAL HORIZON</h3> Expand your horizons by unlocking a world of storage you may not have ever thought about before - your walls! Vertical storage allows you to free up valuable space on your floor by mounting everything from your <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-bivi-bike-hook-provides-a-space-saving-storage-solution-for-cyclists/">bike</a> to your <a href="http://clossette.com/diy-how-to-make-a-tidy-jewelry-holder-display-wall-for-your-rings-n-things/">jewelry</a>. An added bonus with this is that your possessions can also double as objets d'art and they're a lot easier to find when they're at eye level.

<h3>SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS</h3> If you're ok with the amount of space you have, but wish your ceilings wouldn't look quite as low, a little paint might be all you need to make them look taller. In order to achieve the effect of a higher ceiling, simply tape off a portion of your ceiling about one foot away from where it meets each wall, and paint it the same color you have on your walls. The extra border will draw the eye up right from the wall to the ceiling, creating the illusion of a higher ceiling.

<h3>KNOCK OUT KNICK KNACKS</h3> While owning a shotglass from every destination you've ever traveled to is a feat to take pride in, having them all out on display may not be the best idea when you live in a small space. Keeping countertops and tables free and clear of objects creates sweeping sight lines that trick the eye into perceiving more available room, and the same goes for your floor. You might be surprised at how much bigger and better your home could look if you just donated a few pieces of furniture or other clutter.