As NYC interior designers, we know a thing or two about designing small spaces. Many people feel that there is little you can do to make an apartment feel designed. But they are so wrong! Today we wanted to share some of our favorite tips for designing apartments, and combat some popular myths about apartment interior design. Take a look!
Apartment Interior Design Tip 1: Dark Colors Do NOT Make a Room Look Smaller
This is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to apartment interior design. So often we have clients who want to add in color, but are scared that anything other than pastels and neutrals will make the room smaller. This is not the case! In fact, dark colors can draw attention to features of the room. Tall ceilings, wall height windows, and even accent lighting can all be accentuated when they are against dark colors. In our clients' Tribeca penthouse, they wanted a contemporary, moody feeling throughout, and we used a variety of textures and colors to do this.
Apartment Interior Design Tip 2: Take Advantage of Vertical Space
The next biggest tip I have for designing apartments is to utilize your vertical space! When working with a small apartment, the walls are your friend. Include some beautiful built in cabinets and shelves to accommodate for extra storage. Try to keep as much off the floor as possible when it comes to storage to allow yourself and your family more breathing room. If you have beautiful books or dishes, display them rather than hiding them in a closet somewhere! Sconces are a great way to add light to your home without using up valuable table or floor space too.
Apartment Interior Design Tip 3: Keep in Mind Elevator Size for Transporting Furniture
This is something people forget when designing their apartments all the time. Elevators! Elevators are a big hurdle in the moving process. Make sure you know the size of the elevator and the size of your doors when purchasing or moving furniture. That sofa may be gorgeous, but if it doesn't fit in the elevator or through the front door, it's not much use to you. This is one of the first steps we take when working with our clients during the design process.
Apartment Interior Design Tip 4: Removable Wallpaper
Last but certainly not least, removeable wallpaper is a wonderful option for apartment designs. Whether your apartment building has restrictions on adhering wallpaper to the wall, or you just want the flexibility to change it down the road, removeable wallpaper can bring such beautiful patterns and color to a space without the long term commitment. We love using wallpaper in our projects to bring bold patterns or even subtle texture to a room.
Even though there are many myths about decorating a small NYC apartment, you can still add so much color and life to it without sacrificing space. With the right team, you can maximize your space and turn it into the colorful dream home you've always wanted. If you're ready to start designing your NYC apartment, you can contact us here to schedule a consultation. Until next time!
