How To Optimize The Space In A Flat
How To Optimize the Space in a Flat
Flats can be a great living space for college kids, bachelors, bachelorettes, and couples who have yet to take the dive into parenthood. But with flats, often there are many unusable angles and of course, tight on square footage. Which can make decorating and furnishing these spaces very difficult. Often times, those who purchase or rent a flat also want to incorporate a working space within the apartment. Here are some tips below that will help maximize your space.
Use Furniture Wisely
Your furniture should always incorporate some sort of storage. Choose a bed with pull out drawers underneath. Select ottomans that include compartments for storage as well. For better traffic flow, designer Ken Fulk suggests to “use two small round tables instead of one big coffee table.” Choose tall shelves that extend all the way to the ceiling. When it comes to storage, think vertical.
Remove Unnecessary Walls
If you are having a difficult time fitting your furniture with certain angles, see if you can remove a wall. This provides for an open plan area that may benefit you if you work from home. Make sure the wall is safe to remove before you begin demo.
Anchor All Monitors To the Wall
You can easily remove the need for excessive tv stands by simply anchoring all television and computer monitors to the wall. This can also help reduce shoulder and neck tension by having the monitor up higher from where it would normally sit on your desk.
Create Zones
Sometimes with a smaller space there tends to be less of a dedicated area such as a living room. You can create zones by placing seating in a particular fashion, such as placing a seat and small table by a window to create a window seat. Don’t be afraid to get creative with it.
Image courtesy of http://www.houzz.com/floor-to-ceiling-curtains
Floor to Ceiling Curtains
These work great to trick your eye in believing there is more space than in reality. This works for window treatments as well as bathroom shower curtains. Use large, chunky rods and long curtains to pull off this wonderful effect.
Built Ins, Built Ins Everywhere
Adding built ins and wall storage throughout the flat is probably the best tip we could provide. Use them in your kitchen to hang up utensils. They can serve their purpose in every area of your space, and will provide you more area to store books, knickknacks, and any sort of bobblehead collection you thought you had to get rid of.
Avoid Unitaskers
Trent Hamm with The Simple Dollar says it best, “Unitaskers are devices that only perform one very specific task. Instead of having an item for every possible use, look for single items that can do many, many things. Instead of buying a set of bowls, buy two fairly large bowls. Instead of buying an entire set of pots and pans, stick with one skillet and one pot and see how that works for you. Unitaskers take up space and are rarely used. Avoid them and only buy stuff that you can use for lots of things.”
Prioritize What You Purchase
Living in a flat will certainly help you master your craft in prioritizing what to buy. Ask yourself if you really need to make this purchase. And if so, is there anything you can get rid of to make room for in the space. This is not only a great philosophy in home decor and furnishings, but also with life in general.
Do you have any other tips you’d like to share? Leave them in the comments below!
