20+ Unique Diy Small Apartment Decorating Ideas On A Budget

Years ago, the idea of having a nice pad meant having a large one, but times have changed and we have entered the era of the small, cool apartment. This is especially true for bachelors and those who have day jobs that are situated far away from the family home.

Why is small beautiful? For those who lead busy lives (and who doesn’t nowadays?), small apartments mean easier and less time-consuming cleaning and maintenance. The rents are usually lower, it’s much easier and cheaper to decorate it exactly to your tastes, renovations are less of a pain, and it’s better for the environment. You need fewer lights, less power for cooling or heating, less water to use for cleaning, and therefore you positively domino into a smaller and smaller carbon footprint lifestyle.

Small doesn’t necessarily mean spartan though, and today’s compact and cool apartment can be just as comfy, and with just a little effort you’ll come home with a smile on your face every time!

Step one, and this is a biggie, is something of a personality tweak for the better. In fact many personality improvement courses start with this golden piece of advice, namely: Get Rid Of The Junk. It’s almost zen-like in its simplicity, but the effect, if you even try to achieve it, is life-changing. Do you really need all that stuff? Really, think about it. Most of the things we cling on to is exactly that: junk. Of course what we really want out of these things are the memories they hold, but even that can be done better with a journal. Get a nice notebook and a pen and start writing your memories down, or start a blog. Take every piece of junk (or memory-thing) that you own, write about it, and then toss it or sell it. Your life’s baggage will be so much lighter, you’ll have a journal to be proud of, and your apartment will have all that extra space.

Next, focus on small furniture. If you’re still in the process of completing your necessary pieces, think simple, small, light. Stacking chairs, a folding extra table, even a bed that folds into a sofa is good, does double duty, and saves space. If you want pizazz, go for color, not sprawl. As with anything, be deliberate about each item you plan to bring into your space. There’s really no hurry so try not to buy on impulse – not only will this get you furniture that fits and which you like, but you’ll save money as well and be well on your way to being “junk-free.”