creating spaces

Here’s a guest post from Carolyn.

Small apartments are often called cozy or homey, but let’s face it. Some days a small
apartment just feels downright cramped. If you have to carve out a trail to each
room because you have so much stuff on your floor—stuff that can’t go anywhere
else because you have no storage space—I feel your pain. I can also offer a few tips
on how to open up even the most cramped spaces.

Utilize Hanging Space

Hanging space is a huge resource for anyone looking to increase the space in their
apartment without knocking down any walls. Look at spaces on your walls where
shelves can be put up. By putting things on the shelf, you can get books, magazines,
DVDs and other items off the floor. Sometimes clearing up the floor is enough to
give a room a new roomier feel. Bonus: Look into hanging storage units that can
be attached to the backs of doors. For instance, a shoe caddy that hangs off your
closet door will get shoes off the ground, freeing up space for boxes of clothes and
decorations.

Let There Be Light

Open the windows in your sardine-like pad. A well-lit room often looks roomier
than a dark room. The same goes with colors. Lighter colors tend to increase the
appearance of a room’s size. Don’t compartmentalize your rooms with multiple light
colors though. For instance, if your dining room is connected to the living room,
paint them both one shade. This will cause the area not to appear as two smaller
rooms ,but as one big one.

Get a Space Lift

Consider using your bed as storage space. If your bed does not come high enough off
the ground to fit anything under it, look into buying bed risers. These will raise your
bed by 6”-8” and will add more square footage of storage space to your home.

You don’t have to feel boxed in by your small apartment. Follow these tricks to open
up your place and find storage where you never thought to look.

In his role in the self storage industry, Mike James helps customers care for their
cherished belongings that must be put in storage. Mike goes to see his facilities
including a Miami self storage facility. He was also recently meeting customers and
staff at the self storage facility in Hialeah.