Small City Spaces

Small city spaces are notorious for being bare and cluttered but with a little imagination, one can turn it into a green paradise. Hanging plants in planters can spruce up a bare window or wall; you can also use rectangular pots. Most spices do well in pots and other containers such as old basins and lavatories; place them in an area near the kitchen so you get your favorite spices and herbs saving you a buck from the grocer. Window sill is a great space for plants for they get the necessary sun and air for good growth. Water herbs as needed which won’t be often, for most herbs hate water laden soil which kills their roots which are prone to rot. If you have no view, say a patio surrounded by walls of a unit in front of the view, you could ask your neighbor if they wouldn’t mind you using some of their greens and cutting back a few shrubs to allow their garden to complement yours.

If often take out of eat out, don’t get a range with an oven you won’t have a use for. Choose small countertop units which can be placed on a counter-top with the shelves underneath free for storage of other stuff. Doors are often left with some space behind them where a lot of stuff can be stored wisely with the use of door organizers that have several pockets for placing books and other small stuff that would otherwise eat up precious space. Install wheels under heavy stuff such as beds and heavy tables to allow you easy moving around to get at those hard to reach areas. Fold-up tables that you can stow away if not needed are good for the space underneath can be used for other purposes. Get furniture that you can roll under each other to free up space if you need them. Say a side table that fits easily under the center table or a folding table you can store under the sofa.

This makes sense for most small rooms do have high ceilings. This allows you to get stuff hung on the walls leaving most of the space underneath free for use. Hanging cabinets and displays takes out the clutter from already precious counter-tops. When choosing electronics goods, opt for compact appliances, say a flat screen TV which would be a good investment in such a small space. Decorating is a good way of diverting attention away from the small space, say artwork and pictures placed together on a wall collectively and highlighted by lighting that can greet your guests taking their mind off the small size of the space. Opt to get rid of stuff frequently, like that side table you are using which you haven’t used due to all the pictures you’ve placed on them. Get glass shelves that are fastened to the wall and allows light to pass through. Arrange the pictures and other display items on them allowing you to free up the space occupied by the side table you can give away or throw out.

Most people think that a small space deserves small furniture for maximum utilization of the available area, not really. The choice of getting several small pieces of furniture will tend to make a room look a lot smaller and cluttered so choose key pieces and complement them with smaller ones to augment their use. Also consider getting multifunction furniture, say a sofa that has storage underneath and can also turn into a bed for guests should you choose to have them. Lighting also plays a big part in making a small space look even larger so choose lighting that is bright that illuminates all the nooks and crannies of the place (not too bright though for too much light can be stressful to the eyes)

Give old stuff new lives by giving them a splash of color or re-finishing them. A table you bought last year might make a good antique piece if you know how and it’s probably banged-up anyway. Get any hard object such as keys and locks and take a whack at your desk making sure they are well distributed (you can use anything hard as long as you don’t hurt yourself by using it). After a whackin’, get some sand paper and sand off ant sharp edges that might have resulted in your whacking session so you don’t get splinters. Get a fine artist brush and some dark wood stain and stain in those cracks and crevices that you’ve just made. Let the stain dry and get hold of some semi gloss varnish or natural varnish and give it a few coats. You now have an antiqued table that is sure to make you smile (even after whacking it).

In cities where space is a premium, if you live alone, try giving the room a look that reflects you. If you are the happy type, try bright vibrant colors and if you are the passionate type try darker, richer shades that reflects your character. Remember, your imagination is the limit so play around to get the look you do desire to achieve. Don�t have much for new furniture, walk around the block and look for garage sales and thrift store where you can get stuff that still works but at half the price. Weekend markets where all kinds of stuff are sold is a good place to get theme pieces that will accent your space. An antique lamp, a brass candle holder you fix onto the wall whatever you might fancy you can get in them, just remember the limited space you have for a good buy might just find it’s way back to the place it came from. If you own stuff you don�t like, get rid of it for it acts as a sort of reminder of how much you hate it everytime you see it.

No problem for the weekend interior designer that is you. Try to use multifunction furniture that serves a multitude of purposes. A single sofa-bed that turns into a couch and recliner would be a good addition. Try small desks and hanging cabinets so your space down below can still be used. Old room, give it a splash of new paint and try replacing hardware (cabinet handles, Door handles, etc.) with modern ones to give them a sudden modern look. Try furniture on casters that you can move around easily so if you ever decide on changing the look of your room it becomes a breeze to do so.

One sure way to maximize space is canvas closet dividers/organizers that hang from the ceiling. They come in all configurations with bag cubicles, and other space for lots of other stuff. You could even get one with closing flaps to prevent dirt from entering your clothes and other stuff. For a more durable look, you could opt for wooden screw on organizers that come in kits complete with fasteners, wall hangers, and shelves and other hardware that allows wasted space to be divided into several smaller and more useful spaces. Wood is more durable and will last a lot longer than canvass but it will also cost more.

Ever wonder what’s under the corner of your counter top that goes on a right angle? Well, if the drawers and other storage space all face in the same direction, then there’s nothing there. If you want to use that square meter or so of space that is wasted, try to look for corner Suzan’s. Remember that round thingy’s in the middle of the round family tables of old; they were called lady Suzan’s for they allowed everybody on the table to reach everything on that round table that swivels around. Now add a couple of layers and you have a corner Suzan that would fit most corners with an angled door.

Living in a small space, like condos and flats may be convenient, but keeping the clutter to a minimum is challenging. The small space means you have limited space to keep your belongings, and they might end up spilling out everywhere. It doesn’t mean you have to be resigned to a messy home, however. Here are some tips to control clutter: