10 Easy Hacks For Rented Spaces
Need more breathing room without any permanent renovations? These no-fail tips will help you multiply your home's dimensions, minus the hassle of construction
Living in a small, rented space can be tricky—not just when it comes to decorating, but even when it comes to planning the layout of your furniture. Using few pieces can make the space seem lacking, but having too many can make it seem even smaller. Here are some fool-proof tips you can apply in creating the look of your small space—to help you make the most of the area you have and make a place you can call your home.
1. Go see through
Using translucent furniture, made of either plastic, glass, or plexi, will keep a tight space from looking too stuffed or too cluttered.
2. Opt for open
Consider using open shelving instead of traditional cabinetry with doors. This will look much lighter and still hold everything you need in one place.
3. Nix the tables
Not every living room needs a coffee table. Keep your seating area cozy and intimate using occasional chairs, plants, pillows, or other small-scale accessories instead.
4. Make use of doors and walls
Adhesive hooks are great alternatives to screw-in fixtures, and more practical for renters. Space them strategically on doors and walls to hang everything, from hats to jackets to umbrellas. You may event allot a specific hooks for each family member.
5. Do two things at once
A bed doesn’t have to be the only piece of furniture in a bedroom. Create two zones in your boudoir by adding a loveseat at the foot of your bed, which will instantly give a place for both sleeping and lounging.
6. Wall up
Set your dining table against a wall to add a good three to four inches of space to the room. If you have guests over and need more seats for dining, you can always pull out the table to make way for extra chairs.
7. Maximize height
For spaces with high ceilings, invest in bunk beds or custom-made loft-style furniture that can free floor space for other functional activities.
8. Be friends with double-duty furniture
Pretty poufs are multi-purpose accessories that can be turned into extra seating, coffee tables, or even functional footstools. Choose ones in striking jewel tones or upholster plain ones in textured fabrics to add visual interest to your space.
9. Invest in length
Expand your workspace in a cramped area by setting up a longer-than-standard desk against a wall. This will create enough room to set up a functional workstation, as well as space to store your things.
10. Look up and down
Create storage above head and above ground to store as much as you can in a limited amount of space. This will work whether you are having custom-made furniture pieces built or are stacking your own modular shelving units against a wall.
This article originally appeared as “10 Temporary Space Solutions For Renters” in the October 2011 issue of Real Living Magazine.
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