Moving into a Smaller Ottawa Apartment

So you’ve  decided to move into a smaller Ottawa apartment. Maybe it’s your first  apartment, maybe you’re moving in with a partner, or maybe you’re downsizing  from a larger apartment because you don’t want to take care of a big space  anymore. Whatever your reasons, there are hundreds of great smaller apartments  in the Ottawa area that have just as much character as the bigger ones – they  just need a little creativity to make them “WOW!”

If you’re  moving into a bachelor apartment or a one-bedroom apartment, there are many  affordable tricks you can do to make your apartment look and feel bigger.  Remember, you don’t have to compromise to turn your apartment into a home.  Below is a list of decorating tips for your smaller Ottawa apartment.

Top 5 Decorating Tips for Smaller Apartments:

Your  apartment’s clutter!

Let’s be  honest, some people can do this better than others. Living in a smaller space,  like a bachelor or one bedroom apartment, means that you need to start  considering what items in your life are necessary, and which are not as  necessary. Do you need your entire porcelain doll collection to be on display?  Maybe. But in that case, you’ll need to make some compromises with other  things.

Clutter makes  spaces look smaller. When you already have a small space, more clutter only  brings the walls in closer. Work out ways to get collections out of view,  organized behind doors, table skirts, or on shelves. With things neatly  arranged and out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and  open.

Consider  your colours.

Colours make a  difference! Whether it is the colour of your furniture, the colour of your  walls, or the colour of your carpets, colour can completely change the feel of  your apartment.

Dark, warm  tones make an apartment feel cozy and intimate. Therefore, light, cool colours  make a space feel open and airy. To best open up your small apartment, select  soft tones of blues, yellows, and greens.

Choose colours  that are in the same colour family. Cool colours and delicate warm colours on  most surfaces give the room a more open look.

Let  there be light!

Your bachelor  or one bedroom apartment will look larger if it's well lit, either by natural  light or artificial lighting. Get rid of heavy draperies and open up the  windows to let the light of the outdoors into the apartment.

Not to  mention, if you open your apartment windows up to let in natural light, you’ll  get some much needed Vitamin D…which will also make your living environment  feel healthier.

Mirror,  mirror on your walls…

Have you ever  walked into a restaurant or bar and thought to yourself, “Wow, they have  another room over there! This place is huge!” Then it dawns on you, “Oh, it’s  just a mirror.”

It’s okay, it  happens to the best of us. The truth is, mirrors are an excellent way to make a  small apartment seem bigger. You might not like the look of a mirrored wall,  but you have to admit that it always makes a room look larger.

Your small  apartment should use a large framed mirror on a wall. Alternatively stand an  over-sized framed mirror against a wall. You'll get the same apartment-enlarging  effect as a mirrored wall, but with more style. The space and the light will be  reflected for a more open feeling.

Bigger  is better!

Believe it or  not, having larger furniture and larger wall fixtures in your bachelor or one  bedroom apartment can actually help to make your apartment appear larger!

Use a few  large, simple pieces of furniture or accessories in place of several smaller  pieces, which would make a small apartment, look cluttered. With open space and  large blocks of colour, the apartment will appear to be more calm and  comfortable.

If you’ve made  the move to a new bachelor or one-bedroom Ottawa apartment, consider all these  options as a way to enlarge your space. Not only will your guests feel more  comfortable, you’ll feel right at home in a more open livable space.