New Yorkers think about apartment design all the time, especially since so many of our dwellings have, well … quirks. Finding an apartment to buy or rent can be hard enough, but then trying to design a workable living space around those quirks can be really challenging. Babies’ “nurseries” in the bathroom, shoes in the fridge or oven; we make do because we love it here. Following are some of the ways we can make do.

No Guest Room

Nothing bites like your parents or besties coming into town and they can’t stay with you because you’ve got no space. Simple solution: get an air mattress.

No … wait! Seriously! Today’s air mattresses are not the tacky, uncomfortable stuffed garbage bags of yore. They are comfortable, easy to inflate, and super easy to tuck away in a closet when not in use. If you haven’t got a lot of money to spend, but you don’t want your guests to suffer for it, head over to Amazon.com and pick up a good-quality air mattress like the extremely popular Intex Pillow Rest Raised Airbed. It’s even got a built-in pillow for last-minute guests. Twin versions go for $30, and queen beds can be had for as little as $44. If you’ve got a bit more money to spend, treat your guests to the Serta Raised Air Mattress w/Never-Flat Pump for $200. Throw on some sheets, duvets, and cozy pillows, and you’ll have an extraordinarily cozy bed that you’ll probably end up using long after your guests have left.

No Closet Space

You love your apartment, but you hate that there’s no place to hang your gear. You’ve got the “store your clothes in pretty containers” thing down pat, but you need a place for the stuff that needs to be hanged. You’ve got several options to overcome this apartment design flaw.

1. If you’ve got a gorgeous wardrobe that you don’t mind showing off, get a chrome clothing rack to show off your Prada, Miu Miu, and Stella McCartney. If you’re handy, you can make one yourself, or you can buy one. It can be as simple as a horizontal bar, or you can make/buy one with multiple hanging levels and shelves.
2. If you’re not the “exposed clothing” type, you can easily buy a closet or have one built, and both options are a lot less expensive than you think. If you’re living in a rental or you’re not planning on staying in your for home long, you’ll want to check out affordable closet systems from places like Ikea or The Container Store. With Ikea’s Pax closet system, you can mix and match wardrobe styles, sections, and heights to find the combo that fits your space and style. You could also find a local carpenter like the ever-popular Myk Henry of Visualpower who can build you a closet to spec.

Not Enough Light

Lack of lighting is a major issue for people whose apartment windows back onto walls, are too small, or don’t get a lot of natural light. If your apartment is too dark, brighten it up by doing the following:

1. Dark-colored walls may be “the thing,” but avoid them if you’ve got a room with scant natural light. Painting your walls white is an instant fix.
2. Increase the number of reflective surfaces in your space. Mirrors are excellent tools for increasing the sense of light and space in a room, thanks to their reflective qualities. One trick designers like to use is to hang a large mirror opposite the window in the room. The mirror will reflect and double the amount of light that enters the room.

Image Source: Flickr/Seth Werkheiser

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