26 Tips To Make the Most of Your Mini Apartment

Although the Spanish cadastre indicates that the average size of houses in Spain is 144.3 meters, the truth is that this is just that: an average where the mini-apartmentsof 35 m2 in the center of the cities and the houses on the beach. They mix with cortijos or large chalets.

In addition, the amplitude of a dwelling is not only something that refers to the measurable space. The distribution or lack of storage can increase the feeling of narrowness of any place.

Making the most of natural light, choosing folding furniture and storage systems that occupy all the height are some tricks to get open spaces that improve our quality of life.

Our collaborators of indecortrends have made a compilation of tricks and tips to optimize small houses and to get more spacious or better used environments:

1. Mini-kitchen for great chefs

In the space normally occupied by a wardrobe, you can have everything you need for a person to cook. In this case it is a kitchen inside a cabinet with a shutter that, when not in use, is completely hidden. The table to eat is an essential element, do not give up on it.

2. Take advantage of any gap No

matter how small, a house always hides corners and wasted spaces, like that hole that is behind a partition or load wall, or the triangular space left by a sloping roof (in the image). Choosing bespoke furniture is the perfect option in these cases, sometimes even the only one. It's not usually cheap, but in the long run you'll be glad you invested in it.

3. Compact furniture

They are the best option for mini kitchens. If you extend the upper cabinets to the ceiling, you will gain at least 30 cm of additional storage space.

4. A desk on the wall

It's an ingenious way to work or study without taking up too much space. A drop-down board is something very easy to install if you're a handyman.

5. Textiles in the bedroom, always in soft tones

In terms of decoration and textiles, avoid strong shades. Opt for soft tones, such as white. This will give luminosity to the bedroom and, consequently, a greater sense of spaciousness.

6. Intelligent stairs

What better way to save space than taking advantage of the gap provided by the stairs? Those in the image have inside drawers that make the room, in general, look larger and more orderly.

7. A sliding table

Some kitchens incorporate sliding tables with which an additional space is obtained for, for example, ironing. Something like this can also be used for lunch or a desk. When not needed, the table can be easily removed, clearing the environment.

8. Do not give up looking for appliances

If you live in a small house but have certain particular features, old or industrial style, invest in retro appliances   or with a striking aesthetic that make the space more attractive. They occupy the same as standard ones. Do not let the lack of space impoverish the aesthetics of your home.

9. Removable drawers

Opt for storage modules that make it easier to have the countertops cleared, where you can store objects that you do not want to have in sight, such as toiletries in the bathroom. Installed in the kitchen, they will serve you as a pantry.

10. Well-used corners

Corner furniture is a great bet. These original storage solutions allow you to take advantage of a space that otherwise would be empty. They are especially useful for storing kitchen utensils.

11. Multipurpose headboard

Furnishing a bedroom of small dimensions is not an easy task. If it is necessary to equip it with a double bed, it could be that it fits tightly across the width of the room and leaves us little room for a few bedside tables. In such a case, a good solution is to resort to a headboard with a shelf that, at least, allows to put on it some book, the mobile or the alarm clock.

12. Hide the bed

In dwellings of a single environment, the most difficult part of the distribution is usually finding the place for the bed. If possible, it should be placed in an area that is not the first thing you see on entering. Being voluminous, it is convenient to look for its location at an angle at the end of a route; in this way it will be easier for you to make it independent and will not hinder the operation of the space.

13. Row distribution

In the case of narrow but long plants, this type of distribution will help the environment win in visual order and not mix the functions. It will be necessary to group all the areas of use along one of the walls, so that the circulations are clear and fluid.

14. Sliding doors, always

A swing needs almost a square meter of free space around to open and close; a few valuable centimeters that can be earned for the interior of a small bathroom by using a sliding model. The designs in which the sheet is hidden inside a double partition are the ones that make the space even more profitable, since they make it possible to take advantage of that wall to place some element of the equipment, be it the shower, the toilet or storage modules.

15. Elevate the day area

In this other example of a small house, the living room has been raised about 60 centimeters to hide the bed below. Very smart!

16. Do not give up comfort no matter how small your room is

In minimal spaces, you must prioritize those elements that are absolutely essential according to your needs. At least, you will need to cover the space for the seats, with a fixed piece as a sofa or  chaise longue . Decántate for light furniture and take advantage of the verticality of the room: always think of cubic meters. The height will provide you with an extension that you should exploit to the fullest.

17. A glass cube

In the same way that a kitchen of very small dimensions can gain a sense of spaciousness by opening it to the dining room, a way to enlarge a bathroom is through its integration with the bedroom. One way to do this is to completely replace the walls of the toilet with transparent screens, which isolate it from the bedroom but without closing it, as in this proposal. So you can also benefit from the natural light that the bedroom receives.

18. Optical Illusions

Although smooth and clear surfaces are those that give more space to any space, another alternative is to coat the walls with geometric patterns that generate optical games, thus achieving a sense of depth that deceives the eye with nonexistent volumes. This effect will be further enhanced by adding a generous floor-to-ceiling mirror, such as the one next to the toilet on the right side, to the tiles or wallpaper with this type of drawing pattern, a maneuver that visually doubles the space .

19. A removable column

A good idea is to take advantage of a gap of just a few centimeters inside a partition, like this one that separates the bedroom from the bathroom, to put a removable column. Completely hidden in the carpentry when it is closed, you will convert the distributor into an improvised dressing area by simply adding a standing mirror, which will also help to visually expand the space.

20. Nap corner

A colorful hammock suspended from the ceiling - or the loft, as in this case - will provide an enviable siesta or relaxed moments of reading without taking up much space: Because not everything happens to install chairs and tables.

21. A receiver as god sends

No matter how your entry: never leave things on the floor. If you do not have enough space to put a table, use wall shelves or hang some baskets to leave the mail and other objects. If you have to store shoes and boots in the entrance, place a tray for boots or a shelf for shoes. Always keep the floor clear.

22. Recessed surprises

They are a perfect resource to gain space in transit areas or in gaps between columns. The proposals made to measure are the ones that best take advantage of the useful space: They adapt completely to it, however irregular it may be, and allow customized solutions, such as this folding bed that converts a minimum space into an improvised guest room with a screen.

23. Dare with an ingenious storage system

A common problem that occurs in small homes is the lack of storage space in the kitchen. How would you like to cover the front of the kitchen with this perforated workshop-type board? In it you can hang the different kitchen utensils by hooks, which also allow you to modify the arrangement of objects with a simple gesture. This type of boards are usually used in workbenches and workshops, so they are a very cheap and accessible resource.

24. The secret office

Inside a closet you can hide a small workstation that serves as an office. The only thing necessary is to put a folding or retractable shelf as a desk to have room for the legs. The same cabinet shelves can also be used as shelves.

25. A trunk on the terrace

If you take advantage of every last corner, do not forget the terrace. The work benches with space to store not only offer many seats to sit, but also a great capacity to store mattresses, cushions and other useful accessories in outdoor meals, as well as items of little use.

26. To top it off ... A tree house!

Nothing better to take advantage of the square meters of garden and, incidentally, to have an extra space for children. If you have an outdoor area, assess whether you can build an additional room in it. It can be from a cabin for children to an office.