Tips to Creating Livable Luxury in your Apartment or Small Space

Living in New York City means a lot of space is hard to come by, so I wanted to share some of my favorite tips for creating livable luxury in a smaller space. Just because you decide to live in a small space, doesn’t mean you can’t live large. I’m a little interior design obsessed so I’m going to share some of my favorite tips plus some things I’ve learned from other interior designers. Let’s get started!

How to Make a Small Space Feel Bigger To Help Create Livable Luxury 

1. Mirrors

Mirrors have long been used to make a smaller space feel larger. Not only do they help brighten up a room by reflecting light, but they also help to reflect the physical space around them to make your room feel bigger. When it comes to choosing your mirror, the larger it is, the better. Just watch out because a super ornate frame can actually distract from the mirror itself, so consider featuring a mirror with a thinner frame. You can also try placing your mirror directly across from a light source so that it makes things feel even brighter.

2. Find the right size pieces for your space

If you try to squeeze a huge sectional or a clunky side table into a small space it’ll make it feel even more cramped. If a piece of furniture is touching the boundaries of a room, it is probably too big. You want to feel like you can move around in your space. To create a sense of spaciousness, simply leave a little space between your furniture and the walls around it.

3. Choose furniture that is lower to the ground

Similar to how smaller pieces of furniture can make a smaller space feel roomier, furniture that is lower to the ground can also make things feel more spacious. If you don’t want to sacrifice the extra inches of couch space, you could consider buying a couch that is longer, but lower to the ground. This will make the ceilings feel higher, which will make the space feel bigger. 

4. Stick to lighter colors

If you can think back to your high school physics class, you might remember that white reflects light while black absorbs it. You feel nice and cozy in a candlelit room filled with maroons and dark blues, but a room decorated with light blues and whites and filled with natural light will help create the illusion of more space.

5. Create movement 

You can create movement in your space by playing around with vertical and horizontal lines. If you’ve ever worn a striped blouse with vertical lines, you might know that it helps make you look slimmer, while a blouse with horizontal lines will have the opposite effect. You can use the same idea when decorating your home. To create vertical lines, choose tall vertical pieces like thin bookshelves or a long vertical mirror. This will help your ceilings feel higher. For horizontal lines, consider adding in some shiplap or striped wallpaper. Any piece that causes your eye to move around a room in an intentional fashion will enlarge a space. 

How to Create Livable Luxury in a Smaller Space

1. Focus on the hardware

The fixtures that stay with your home when you leave it behind play a big part in the overall luxury of your home. A redone kitchen or bathroom can add tons of value to an outdated house. While a kitchen or bathroom remodel isn’t always in everyone’s budget, simply changing out the hardware can make a big difference. By incorporating new, trendy features such as antique brass towel hooks, new lighting, or a glass-bottom shelf, you can bring in a true feeling of luxury. When in doubt, West Elm usually has some great options. 

2. Add greenery

A little bit of greenery can go a long way in a small space. A bouquet of tulips on your kitchen counter or a fiddle leaf fig tree in your living room can really add a special sense of luxury. Not only do the plants add color, but they make great statement pieces. If you don’t love your kitchen, you can attract people’s eyes to a beautiful bouquet instead. Don’t have a green thumb? Fake plants also work!

3. Reupholster or recover your own furniture 

Whether you have a little one running around your apartment as I do or pets, it’s likely your furniture has taken a little bit of a beating over the years. Whether your furniture is stained or just looking outdated, getting it reupholstered or recovering it can really help. The great thing about a high-quality cover is that you can take it off and wash it, so you won’t have to worry about any future stains. 

4. Splurge on the little things

You might not have the budget to redo your entire apartment, but adding small high-end touches can add some luxury to your small space. Things like vintage glasses on your bar cart or a high-quality lamp can immediately draw the eye and make your space feel more luxurious than it really is. Touches of marble and natural wood are also known to help create livable luxury in a smaller space.

5. Add texture, shapes, and patterns

You can create more visual interest in your space by adding in more textures, shapes, and patterns. You don’t want to go too busy and make things feel cramped, but a few vintage books stacked on your coffee table alongside some unique decor pieces can bring any living room to the next level. 

How to Create Livable Luxury in a Smaller Space That You're Renting

If you’re renting your apartment or small space, you might not be able to change as many things as you would like. But there are a lot of temporary fixes that you can enact even if you’ll be moving out in a few years. 

1. Temporary wallpaper

Fun wallpaper has been a growing trend in the last few years. While you used to have to commit to your wallpaper, temporary wallpaper is a great way to take advantage of new trends without the commitment. If you’re looking to refresh a new space, temporary wallpaper works wonders as an office backsplash or accent wall.

2. Update your entryway

An entryway often goes unnoticed in an apartment because it is usually quite small, but by adding a small floating shelf and even a little mirror, you can add a whole new space to your home. You can even hang a set of hooks where you can hang things like keys, hats, and purses. You might also consider a small hanging plant or a place for shoes. Updating your entryway can help with creating livable luxury in a smaller space because you step into luxury as soon as you walk in.

3. Peel and stick tiles

Similar to temporary wallpaper, peel and stick tiles can add a ton of luxe to any bathroom or kitchen. With a variety of styles, you can add your own touch to any rental space. If you have a smaller budget, consider choosing a smaller area like right behind your kitchen sink. 

4. Throw pillows

If you don’t love your couch, adding a few high-quality throw pillows can instantly make it feel more upscale. You can also add them to your bed and you’ll be surprised how your apartment will start to feel more like an expertly-furnished hotel than your home. 

5. Revamp your bed

Have you ever seen a bed in a magazine and wondered how they get it to look so cozy? Since the bed is the focal point of any bedroom, making it look like it came out of a magazine will make your whole room look like it belongs there too. The first thing you have to do is make sure your boxspring and frame are covered. A bed skirt and an extra-large comforter should usually do the trick. Next, make sure to add 2-4 decorative pillows in addition to your two sleeping pillows. Finally, layering a bunch of quilts and blankets will also add luxury to any bed. 

Some Final Touches to Create a Space of Liveable Luxury

By now, your small space is probably looking pretty good. But if you have already done everything to make your space feel magnificent, I have a few more things to share to make your space feel extra special.

1. Choose the right scent

While this doesn’t have to do with your decor, the scent of your space can completely influence the environment. If your space smells stale or like whatever you cooked last night for dinner (this delicious Creamy Jamaica Pasta Skillet definitely spiced up our kitchen last night), some luxurious candles can help revamp any space. Think of how the smell of salty water and sunscreen transports you instantly to the beach. Choosing the right scent for your space can help create livable luxury in a smaller space by making you feel like you're someplace new. 

2. Personalize your space

If you love spending time in the kitchen, consider adding granite countertops or custom lighting. If you enjoy your morning coffee, maybe your high-end espresso machine will be the focal point of your living space. When virtual school became a thing, I knew I had to add a homeschool room to our apartment. No matter what, adding those personalized touches can help make your apartment feel even more special. 

Whether you choose to completely revamp your space for total luxury or just add a few luxurious touches, know that your space can be whatever you make it no matter how small it is.

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