Apartment Choice

Collect this idea When you walk through the door of your small apartment , do you feel that your space is as inspiring as the ones featured in our post 30 Best Small Apartment Design Ideas Ever Presented on Freshome ? If not, this is the post for you. We’ ve gathered dozens of examples of space-saving furniture for your small apartment to enhance your living space, organize your belongings and give your home the modern edge you’re after. Here are the four categories of space-saving furniture we cover: We also have some ideas for color accents to make your space your own. Before you add any furniture to your small apartment , take a weekend to organize and clear your place. Go through your closets and cabinets, and donate or discard anything you don’t need or haven’t used for some time. Once you’ve sorted all your stuff, give your apartment a fresh paint job or a good wall and surface scrub to freshen it up. Starting with a blank canvas is liberating. Now it’s time to personalize! H...

Japanese company Snow Peak , includes white Take bamboo chairs and the Campfield Futon couch , which can also be transformed into a bed, two chairs and a side table, or even a storage shelf. -- AP photo" /> Folding furniture, made by the Japanese company Snow Peak , includes white Take bamboo chairs and the Campfield Futon couch , which can also be transformed into a bed, two chairs and a side table, or even a storage shelf. -- AP photo It’s not always enough for a couch to be a couch. Sometimes, especially when space is tight, it helps if the couch can double as two armchairs and a coffee table, and even storage shelves, as is the case with one Japanese camping couch popular among city dwellers. The multifunctional Camp Couch is made by the upscale Japanese brand Snow Peak , which recently opened boutiques in Portland and in the trendy SoHo section of New York. Although its $749.99 price tag may be steep considering other camping goods, some clients see it as inexpensive c...

Name: Melissa and James Lawrence Location: Vredehoek, Cape Town, South Africa Size: 1184 square feet Years lived in: 2 years, renting Cape Town- based interior designer Melissa and her husband James didn 't want to invest a ton of money in this home since they are renting it. But because Melissa is in the interior design field , they knew exactly what could to be done to enhance the space and in a cost effective way. They've been able to cleverly add their own touches to their rental apartment , creating a space that feels like home. The first task was to tackle the flooring, which was originally dark brown and in a poor condition. The light whitewashed floors that you see now required a lot of work, but the result is a brighter, more contemporary look they both love. Melissa and James love entertaining so updating the kitchen was a must — and the space needed a major overhaul and some serious TLC. The cupboards were originally a mix of dark wood and grubby white, an...

The   Insider Picks   team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. Room Essentials/target/ Business Insider The Insider Pick: Futons are versatile space-saving pieces of furniture that double as a couch and a bed. If your dorm room or first apartment has limited space, adding a futon is an easy way to add seating and a sleeping space for guests. We've rounded up five great futons for less than $600. The Hudson Futon is our top pick because it works equally well as a pull-out bed and a couch.  Dorm rooms and small apartments are the perfect spots for a futon. After all, living spaces for college students are typically very small, so having a two-in-one piece of furniture is extremely beneficial. Plus, the dorm room with the futon is the one where people hang out. A futon may be perfect if your student is a little shy and nervous about heading off to school. Conversely, if your stu...

Name: Sarah Location: Georgetown — Washington, D.C. This is the third apartment I've lived in post-grad. I love living alone—it allows me to truly highlight my style (plus, I'm a bit of a neat freak!). I currently live in a one-bedroom apartment in the heart of Georgetown. Although I grew up in the Washington, DC, suburbs, this is my first time living in the area since high school. After college, I lived in NYC and Philadelphia, and I'm loving being back in DC (and especially in Georgetown!). I had fun decorating each apartment, but this is a place I hope to stay in for years (a long commitment for a 20-something!). What's special about this apartment? You'd never guess, but I purchased 95 percent of my furniture off of Craigslist! The only things I bought for full price (aka, from a store) were my bed, headboard, couch, and front console table . Everything else has been the result of successful scavenger hunts ! I'm all about decorating with style, but as a...

Sarah Lyon has lived in many gorgeous places, but her most recent move was back to a familiar landscape — the beautiful and bustling Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., a quick trip from her family’s hometown in Maryland. As a successful writer, blogger, and higher education professional , you’d think Sarah would barely have time to keep her apartment clean and entertaining-ready — but that’s certainly not the case. Now that Sarah’s in her first non-studio apartment, she’s combining her old favorite finds with some amazing new pieces to create the home of our dreams. Check out Sarah’s amazing artwork collection , her enviable Craigslist finds , and her totally relatable girl -crush. Name: Sarah Lyon, Communications Associate and Blogger Age: 25 Square Footage:  650 Rent or Own : Rent City, State: Washington, D.C. Congratulations on a big move! You’ve moved several times after graduating from college. What brought you to each different city? Although I went to college in rural...

A studio apartment is a great option if you're living on a strict budget or in a city with a flooded real estate market . While decorating a single- room living space can present unique design challenges , there are easy and inexpensive ways to create a beautiful, restful space you can call home. By using a few simple design strategies , you can find room for all of your everyday activities without feeling like you're drowning in a tiny sea of clutter. Go Big on Neutrals When decorating a studio apartment, consider neutral, light colors, which tend to make a room feel larger than it actually is. Selecting lighter tones for walls and larger furniture pieces will also add a sense of unity and structure that will anchor the space. To add inexpensive drama without making the room seem closed in, consider an accent wall that highlights a unique wallpaper pattern , bold paint color or oversized poster or painting. If you want to add bright hues to your neutral color scheme , ...