5 useful tips for decorating and organizing small spaces

Do you ever find it difficult to decorate and organize your small apartment or house?  There isn’t much room to work with and it can often be daunting to find furniture and storage that will work in small spaces.  Luckily, it is possible to efficiently make use of those small spaces and have an organized, well laid-out, and stylishly decorated space.  The following 5 useful tips for decorating and organizing your small spaces will make your life a whole lot easier and less chaotic!

1. Ditch the coffee table
   I know you’re probably thinking to yourself, “that big gorgeous white oak coffee table would look AMAZING in my living room”, and yes, I’m sure you’re right, but it’s time you ditch that idea and start thinking smaller.  Sure, having a grand coffee table is everyone’s dream, right?  But it will take up all your valuable space!  Optimizing the use of the minimal space you have is crucial.  Think about using end tables and smaller coffee tables instead.  Not only will this free up a lot of space, but they’re also much easier to move around when redecorating and reorganizing.  This concept of going small can be applied to your other furniture as well!  Instead of a 5-person couch, go for the comfy yet practical love seat and an armchair; instead of a 6-foot entertainment center, go for the small and practical, entertainment center!
2. Room dividers
   Room dividers are especially handy when designing a studio apartment.  When you’re working with one big room, it’s nice to create the illusion of multiple rooms and room dividers do a great job doing just that.  You can place one by your bed so that are becomes your private sleeping space.  If you don’t like the idea of a free standing room divider, you can also hang a curtain, or any type of drapery, from the ceiling to create the same illusion.
3. Light and bright
   Small spaces can be made to look more spacious by keeping your colors light and interior bright!  You may not be able to paint the walls in your apartment, but, don’t let this stop you; use light colored furniture to create the same effect.  Using natural and artificial light to brighten up your space also makes it seem more spacious, especially with a light-colored interior that reflects light (as opposed to dark colors that do the opposite).
4. Go vertical
   When it comes to your bookcases and shelving, make sure you use all the vertical space you can.  Since it’s difficult to use your vertical wall space for anything else, it’s best to use it for storage purposes.  If you’re concerned about not being able to reach the top shelf, just find a cheap-o stool from the thrift store or use a chair that’s nearby.  Not only is tall shelving a practical use of space, but it can also be quite aesthetically pleasing!