The Best Interior Decorating Tips for a Tiny NYC Space | New York City

We’ve rounded up the best interior decorating tips to make the most of your tiny NYC apartment!

Get Rid of Clutter

First things first: you need to get rid of clutter.

While lots of clutter makes any home feel messy, it can truly overwhelm a small space. Here are a few tips to help you cut down on clutter:

Edit your possessions with a critical eye. If you don’t love or need something, get rid of it.
Contain paperwork in files or baskets.
When shopping, choose quality over quantity. Your home will feel more luxurious.
Hang one large artwork rather than many smaller pictures.
Keep accessories to a minimum.

Make the Most of Every Square Inch

One of our favorite interior decorating tips for New York apartments is to make the most of every last corner of your space.

Multipurpose furniture is your friend! Use a storage trunk as your coffee table, store your TV on a dresser instead of an open table, or use a small table for eating and working.

Take advantage of empty spaces, too: hang shelves; incorporate over the door hooks, shoe organizers, and wire storage systems; and stow decorative storage boxes under tables or beds.

Choose the Right Scale Furniture

In a tiny apartment, choosing furniture that fits your apartment’s scale is vital.

One mistake many people make is having too many small pieces of furniture. It just looks cluttered. Instead, choose a few larger items, like a love seat instead of a bunch of chairs.

Look for furniture with slim, rather than oversize, silhouettes. Consider acrylic, too. It’s chic and takes up very little visual space. CB2 has a great selection.

Pick the Best Colors

When it comes to interior decorating tips, there really are no right colors. However, it’s important to be conscious of the effect color has in your home.

Light colors will open up a space. This is especially important in NYC apartments that are often long and narrow with few windows. Keep your furniture and paint colors light, then add color through accessories.

Conversely, dark colors have a tendency to make rooms feel smaller. There’s nothing wrong with choosing deeper shades for your New York apartment though. They can actually make a small space feel extra cozy or even create a jewel box effect. Just be aware of the effect your color choices will have.

Use Furniture to Divide a Small Room

Do you live in a studio or need to make a small room do double duty? Use furniture strategically to divide your space into separate areas.

Visually separate living and sleeping areas with a screen, partial wall, or an open book case that provides storage while allowing light to travel through the whole room. In an especially tight space, place your couch at the foot of your bed and add a rug to create separation.

Embrace Height

While you can’t go out, you can probably go up. It’s possible to make any room seem larger by emphasizing height.

Start by painting your ceiling the same color as your walls for a seamless look. Make windows appear larger by hanging curtains from floor to ceiling. Purchase a couple tall bookshelves to draw the eye up and save floor space. Take advantage of vertical space in your kitchen by hanging a slim rail to hold a dish rack, pots, utensils, and more.