Home tour: make the most of a compact apartment
How do you make living in one room work? With intelligently planned storage and an all-white decor, that’s how! Style and PR consultant Dria shows us how she has maximized space in her NYC studio: “With a little thought, you can make any room feel more spacious. And being able to live in my favorite area of Manhattan makes up for it.”
“I wanted to create an all-white atmosphere to brighten things up, and really play off that to make the apartment feel a little bit bigger,” says Dria. White walls help to open up the space and create a stylish, edited look. Add color with accessories, textiles and flowers – things that are easy to change or update to match the season or your changing taste.
ELVARLI Side unit
“It was the high ceilings that really sold the apartment to me,” says Dria. “I wanted to maximize them, so I designed a custom closet that uses the full height of the walls.” Smart storage doesn’t mean that everything has to be within easy reach; think outside the box and build upwards instead. Top shelves are a great place for seasonal clothes or things you don’t use all the time – in small apartments this can save on valuable floorspace.
“It was the high ceilings that really sold the apartment to me,” says Dria. “I wanted to maximize them, so I designed a custom closet that uses the full height of the walls.” Smart storage doesn’t mean that everything has to be within easy reach; think outside the box and build upwards instead. Top shelves are a great place for seasonal clothes or things you don’t use all the time – in small apartments this can save on valuable floorspace.
UNG DRILL Frame
“When I found this space, I loved how the mantle and the fireplace were already here – they help give the place its homey feel,” says Dria, who has used her apartment’s permanent features to create different zones. “On moving in, one of the first things I did was map out where I wanted my bed to be – I had to be strategic with where I was placing the bigger items of furniture.”
“When I found this space, I loved how the mantle and the fireplace were already here – they help give the place its homey feel,” says Dria, who has used her apartment’s permanent features to create different zones. “On moving in, one of the first things I did was map out where I wanted my bed to be – I had to be strategic with where I was placing the bigger items of furniture.”
MICKE Desk
“I went from a really big place to a small space. If you settle in and you don’t sort out your storage first, you end up living in clutter for so long,” says Dria. “The high walls definitely help open up the space and make it feel homely. I took advantage of putting up as many shelving units as I could, like the one that fills the wall above my desk.” (You can check out some of Dria’s more inventive storage ideas over here.)
“I went from a really big place to a small space. If you settle in and you don’t sort out your storage first, you end up living in clutter for so long,” says Dria. “The high walls definitely help open up the space and make it feel homely. I took advantage of putting up as many shelving units as I could, like the one that fills the wall above my desk.” (You can check out some of Dria’s more inventive storage ideas over here.)
