If you live in New York City, chances are you have a small apartment. You're lucky if you have a living room and a bedroom as opposed to a studio. Figuring out how to arrange your furniture is especially tricky because space is so limited. Here are a few general tips:
- Keep it minimal. Don't overcrowd with a lot of furniture.
- Multipurpose pieces. Each pieces should serve more than one function because space is at a premium. The dining table could act as a desk for example. Use a laptop to avoid requiring a desk for a large desktop configuration.
- Use small-scale furniture. This will make the space feel larger.
- Be clever with storage. Build shelving near the ceiling for infrequently-used books. This could run along the perimeter of the room, creating a nice library-type effect. Bowls, vases, etc., could go up there too.
- Select furniture that has storage. A coffee table that holds things is a good option. Maximizing on the amount of your items that are stored in something will decrease the feeling of clutter.
- Be creative with what is considered "furniture." In my New York apartment, I used a great-looking curtain as a headboard. I mounted it to the wall above the bed, and defined the bedroom space with it. It took up virtually no room, and was a good looking solution. Paint could also accomplish this.
- Make sure circulation is free and easy. Don't have pieces blocking your path, because that will make the room feel more cramped.
