Living in an apartment can be demanding. With limited space, you have to fit in all your furniture, fixtures, personal belongings, and other home living essentials. However, in your efforts to do this, you tend to cram the entire apartment, making it look messy and crowded. In consequence, the usable space in your living area is reduced, making it uncomfortable for you to move around and perform your daily routines. Ultimately, your apartment does not become the home you want it to be.

Hence, it is important to allocate adequate space in your apartment for you to work effectively and live your day-to-day life comfortably. If you are in the dilemma of making the most of your small apartment, then it is time to do something about it. Here are some smart and easy tricks on how to increase living space in your apartment.

Give your bed more functions

Without a doubt, the bed is one of the largest single furniture in your apartment and certainly takes up plenty of floor area. To maximize the space occupied by your bed, think of ways of using the space underneath it. A practical approach is to make the space an additional storage option. Set the bed as high as possible so you can store your suitcases below it. Fill your suitcases with off-season clothes and other personal stuff which you do not frequently use.

You can also opt for storage boxes, especially when your bed does not have that much space underneath. These storage containers come in various width and depth so make sure your boxes will snugly fit below your bed. You can place in them some clothes, trinkets, and numerous little items.

Another clever way of recreating your bed is to custom-make one that will be just the right size inside your bedroom but with built-in storage underneath it, much like a bed with drawers. If this is too much hassle for you, you can scout in your local markets for one with such kind of built-in storage. The difference is that you can only choose among the sizes available.

Lastly, you can opt for a bunk bed with the sleeping area on the top level while the lower portion serves as a desk or couch. This is not really stylish because it has that college dormitory look. However, if your space is really tight and you are after for more functionality, then this will be the perfect solution.

Invest in high shelving

A very effective way of maximizing a small space is to go vertical. Instead of spreading across, design your apartment in such as a way that eyes will be drawn upwards towards the ceiling, creating a sense of depth and height in your room. Therefore, invest in tall furniture and other fixtures that will create such an effect. If you love bookshelves, find one that will run from floor to ceiling. With plenty of open shelves, you can store as many items as you can, such as books, travel souvenirs, and many others. Similarly, if you are searching for a chest of drawers, make sure it is a tall one. With the same amount of square area, a chest with more drawers will be more functional that ones will less number.

Hang some cabinets

Do not waste the area just below the ceiling. Other than your underneath bed storage and bookshelves, you can have more storage options by mounting wall cabinets just below your ceiling. Just make sure this is installed high enough so you will not bump your head into its edges. If this is a closed cabinet, you can put in there things you want to keep but may not use too often. If it is an open shelf, you can display there some framed photos, additional books, and decorative items.

Be creative with your closet

When your bedroom is too small, the bed and closet might be fighting for space. You will either struggle with opening your closet door when you have a good size bed, or you might just settle for a small bed in order to use the closet. If this is the case, you may want to consider removing the closet door and replacing it with a curtain. In this way, you can easily have access to the items inside and be more fun and playful with your curtain choice.

Lastly, maximize the space inside your closet. Compartmentalize the entire closet space, especially when you are not fond of hanging clothes. At the lowest level of your closet, you can place your shoes and footwear. Use a rack that is at least two levels high in order to properly arrange your shoes. In the middle level of your closet, place everyday apparels such as your underwear, socks, and work clothes. For the uppermost level, neatly arrange your clothes for special occasions.

Increasing usable space in your apartment is not a difficult venture. With the right wit and creativity, you can certainly make more room in your space so that it feels really like home.