Not everyone has a large one. Pint-sized can still be fun and functional. I am not ashamed to admit I have a small unit. My downtown L.A. studio is a mere 325 square feet, and I’ve learned to maximize this small living space. Follow these tips to make your unit appear larger than it really is.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Proper placement is key. Mount the mirror in the room where it will trick the eye to think it extends further than it does. (By the way, on the ceiling above your bed does not count.) This adds perspective and makes the room appear deeper. The great thing about mirrors is that their purpose is twofold. They not only aggrandize a room, but they also do wonders for the Narcissus in each of us.

The less patterns the better

Fashion stylists advise their Napoleonic clients to dress in one hue because it elongates their body. The same applies to selecting a color scheme for your cozy place. Stick with a monochromatic palette. Maintaining colors within the same spectrum unifies a space. The more crazy patterns and colors you have, the more it visually cuts up the room—the eye does not know where to focus and the room ends up looking compartmentalized.

Dual-Purpose Furniture

Seek out furniture that is kills 2 birds with 1 stone. A modern couch by day becomes a comfy bed by night. What appears to be a coffee table doubles as extra drawer space underneath. Is it an ottoman or a storage compartment? It’s both! This kind of space-efficient furniture is prevalent in Europe and Asia, but as people are downsizing in this economy, the market for dual-purpose furniture has exploded in the States as well.

Fiat Lux

Flood the room with light. Leaving the windows uncovered as much as possible lends a lofty, airy feel to a space. If you are not lucky enough to have a sun-drenched apartment with dramatic windows, then strategically placed light sources ought to do the trick. Consider recessed lights, uplights and downlights. Some misguided people think dark is romantic or moody. This ain’t Twilight—this is your shoebox apartment. Dark = Claustrophic. Let there be light!

K.I.S.S.

Keep it simple, sister! Fight the tendency to over-decorate. Some people think plastering every square inch will cover up the fact it is tiny, when in fact all it does is underscore what space you lack. Cramming all your impulsive Crate & Barrel purchases into your small box of a space only makes your home look like a glorified U-Haul. Bumping into things is a constant reminder of cramped quarters, so be mindful to clear a path for easy flow (Besides, it’s just better feng shui, too.) De-cluttering all your silly bric-a-brac will help create a larger aesthetic. You want the eye to see large, clean, flat surfaces so your place looks more open. A sparsely decorated wall is not a bad thing.

Pick One Showstopper

Because your space is limited, try to have one key piece be a strong focal point to break up the monotony—and be discriminate about what key piece to showcase. It just takes one pièce de resistance in the room to make it go from being one step above a walk-in closet to a fantabulous designer studio. Find a strikingly unique piece that makes a statement, like a fabulous blow-up photo of your favorite city, a vintage mid-century baby chandelier or even a piece of furniture you made yourself. A well-selected showstopper isn’t just a furniture piece—it is also great conversation piece!

There you have my tips for your bite-sized abode. Hopefully I’ve converted some you of size queens out there! Bigger ain’t always better, and it’s not how large your unit is, it’s how you use it!

Herman is a real estate expert on air and online whose unique brand of humor, insight and advice can be seen at habitatforhermanity.com and on Twitter @hermanity.

Phot Credits:

First Photo: Herman’s LA apartment via

Other Photos via Small Place Style.

Posted by Michelle Lesser at 18 July, 2011

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