Popular Science | How to Make a Small Apartment Feel Spacious

The most unavoidable topic in small apartment decoration is "how to make the space appear larger?" "Appearing larger" refers to visually increasing the sense of space, making the entire house look bigger. Today, Xiaoye will share her experience on how to make a small apartment appear spacious and comfortable. Here are 5 tips to share with you.

1. Unified overall style, enhancing the effect of spaciousness.

For small apartments, avoid complex decorating styles. Consider Scandinavian, modern minimalist, or natural wood styles, as these are all suitable for small spaces, aiming for a simple and bright overall feel. In contrast, styles with intricate lines like European or historically weighty Neo-Chinese styles will clash with the limited space.

They all share a similar approach: they don't require elaborate decorations, focusing instead on aesthetics and practicality. Their color schemes are sophisticated and simple, visually conveying a sense of simplicity, openness, and transparency.

2. The spatial layout is compact and the circulation is reasonable.

Small apartments often have very limited space, making open-plan designs more suitable. Removing partition walls to create an open kitchen, combined with a combined kitchen and dining area, integrating the kitchen island with the dining table, significantly saves space. On one hand, it allows for better space sharing and optimizes space functionality. On the other hand, it makes the room appear more spacious and airy.

Opening up the living room, dining room, and balcony makes the space feel more spacious. For other spaces, if the walls are not load-bearing, replacing solid walls with glass partitions is a great option. Glass partitions save space and allow more natural light into the room. In the bathroom, wall-hung toilets and wall-mounted vanities can create a cleaner and more refreshing look.

3. Avoid complex color schemes; keep it simple.

In home design, it's best to limit the number of color schemes in a single space to three or fewer to avoid a visually cluttered feel. For small apartments, light colors can be used as the main color scheme (white, beige, and natural wood tones are all good choices), with other colors used as background and accent colors. The overall effect should be warm-toned, but dark elements should be avoided as much as possible. Utilizing the natural colors of natural materials, such as wood flooring and marble, can also create a natural and comfortable atmosphere.

In addition, small apartments generally don't have great natural light, so good lighting is crucial for them. A bright and airy room gives a sense of spaciousness. Families with the means should consider installing floor-to-ceiling windows, which are both stylish and bright.

4. Custom-made cabinets to make the best use of every space.

Using flat, unadorned doors and handle-less cabinet doors avoids the cluttered feeling caused by too many open shelves, while also reducing housework. A closed, floor-to-ceiling cabinet makes the best use of every inch of space, making the entire space feel spacious and aesthetically pleasing.

Our Da Wang Ye No. 1 solid wood planks can be used to build a cabinet from floor to ceiling, offering exceptional stability and resistance to warping, making them ideal for custom-made tall cabinet doors. Multiple colors are available, featuring a subtle natural wood scent, suitable for varying humidity levels in both northern and southern regions. We can meet the needs of various styles, including Neo-Chinese, Modern, European, and Light Luxury.

5. Focus on soft furnishings over hard furnishings, and pay attention to storage design. 

The simpler the hard furnishings, the larger the space appears. Some people think that if you don't put effort into the hard furnishings, your home won't look good. But that's not true. Soft furnishings are the source of beauty. Hard furnishings just take up space and are large but useless.

Small apartments should avoid being cluttered, so it's crucial to plan storage space effectively during the design phase. We recommend choosing cabinets with a simple, floor-to-ceiling design; these not only offer ample storage but also create a cleaner look, making the room appear larger and more spacious.

These are some tips from Xiaoye on "how to make a small apartment appear spacious and comfortable," and I hope they can be helpful to you.