9 Genius Tips on How to Make a Small Apartment Feel Bigger
Feeling cramped in your apartment? Wondering how to make a small apartment feel bigger without spending a ton of money or doing a complete makeover?
First, I’m just going to validate your feelings and say that it’s completely understandable that you feel this way.
Having limited square footage in your living space can make you feel boxed in and super overwhelmed. And who has the budget to go all out on decor?!
Luckily, there are solutions to make your small apartment feel bigger (without a huge price tag).
With a few smart tweaks like layout choices, affordable design changes, and strategic decor placement, you can create a space that feels bigger, brighter, and more open—without knocking down any walls.
This post will walk you through practical and renter-friendly tips that can help your apartment feel more open and spacious.
Here’s exactly how to make your small apartment look and feel so much bigger — without knocking down any walls.
How to Make a Small Apartment Feel Bigger
1. Declutter First: The Easiest Way to Add Instant Space
If you’re wondering how to make a small apartment look bigger, the answer lies in decluttering. A clutter-free and organized space automatically feels more open.
When you’re engaging in a declutter process, focus on removing what you don’t love, need, or use regularly. It can be an eye-opening experience to see how many things actually take up unnecessary space.
If it feels too overwhelming to declutter your whole apartment in a day, try to break it up into more manageable tasks.
For example, you can declutter by room—bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc. Or you can make it even more approachable by focusing on a category to declutter.
Instead of tackling an entire room, focus on categories like clothes, books, or junk drawers.
To make this process easier, use baskets, bins, and hidden storage solutions to keep visual clutter out of sight.
✅ Pro Tip: If you’re short on storage, under-the-bed bins or over-the-door organizers are total lifesavers in small apartments.
2. Choose Light Colors to Brighten and Expand Your Space
If you want your apartment to look bigger, then you need to stick with light neutral colors throughout your space like white, cream, beige, or soft grays.
Light colors as a foundation for your space can make your apartment feel more open due to the reflection of light.
With dark colors, like black, light gets sucked in. This can make your space feel smaller. However, with light colors, light can be reflected and “expand” throughout your space, making it feel bigger.
You can add pops of color through textiles or wall art instead of heavy furniture or wall colors.
✅ Pro Tip: If painting isn’t an option, opt for light-colored bedding, curtains, or rugs to create the same open feel.
3. Let Natural Light In to Instantly Make Your Apartment Feel Bigger
Another key way to make your apartment feel bigger is to let natural light in. Let all that beautiful sunshine into your space! You can do this by not blocking windows with heavy furniture or thick blackout curtains.
Instead, use sheer curtains to let sunlight flow freely. To further enhance the light in your space, add a mirror across from your windows to bounce light around the room.
✅ Pro Tip: A large mirror can visually double the space when placed strategically.
4. Simplify your Furniture to Minimize Visual Space
When it comes to furniture, less is more. Try to avoid bulky furniture. Instead, opt for low-profile, slim, or leggy pieces. These slimmer furniture pieces can help your space look less cluttered.
Furniture with exposed legs helps to keep things light and open. I love a good sectional, but if you want your space to feel bigger, try to avoid oversized sectionals that overwhelm the room.
Instead, get a medium sized sectional (or whatever works best for your space) and use a round coffee table. These two furniture pieces help with flow and take up less visual space.
5. Go Vertical with Storage & Decor To Maximize Wall Space
Vertical is the way to go if you want your space to feel more open. Opt for using your walls as a place for storage—think floating shelves, wall hooks, or over-the-door organizers.
Vertical storage not only makes your place look taller, but it also adds more space on the ground since you’re not using additional furniture to store items.
Vertical decor can also help to elongate your space. To maximize the illusion of height, hang tall sheer curtains 4-6 inches above the top of the window frame.
✅ Pro Tip: Don’t forget vertical space in closets! Hanging organizers or command hooks add tons of storage in tiny areas.
6. Choose Multi-Functional Furniture For Strategic Storage
With multipurpose furniture, you’re able to do more with less. It’s a godsend for saving space in your home and helping it feel bigger.
Look for furniture pieces that do double duty, like coffee tables or ottomans with hidden storage or beds with drawers underneath.
✅ Pro Tip: Use a utility cart to store small items that can move from room to room as needed.
7. Embrace Mirrors and Reflective Surfaces For An Expanded Space
Like I said before, to make your space feel bigger, you have to utilize light reflection. Using light colors as a foundational base is important, but adding mirrors can create even more depth.
A long mirror above your sofa can give the illusion of a bigger space. Or, you can place a mirror directly across from a window to maximize reflected light
Other ways to embrace mirrors throughout your apartment include mirrored trays, metallic finishes, or glass decor to add shine without visual weight.
✅ Pro Tip: A mirror behind a lamp doubles the light effect in a dark corner.
8. Keep the Floor as Clear as Possible
Try to free up floor space as much as possible to make your space feel bigger. For example, you can mount your TV to a wall, add a floating desk, or install floating shelves. Another way to free up floor space is to use an over the door shoe organizer.
The more you can see the floor, the bigger the room will feel.
9. Style With Intention: Less Is More
When decorating your apartment, focus on choosing a few statement pieces instead of cluttering every surface. For example, you can place one large art piece above your couch.
A statement piece can add the design and personality you desire in your space without making it feel overcrowded.
For added dimension, use textured accents like baskets, throw blankets, and pillows to add depth without bulk.
To make sure everything flows together, stick to a cohesive color scheme to create a streamlined look.
Common Mistakes That Make Small Spaces Feel Even Smaller
🚫Cluttering an apartment by over-decorating
🚫Having too many bulky furniture pieces
🚫Using dark or overly saturated wall colors
🚫Covering too much wall/floor area with furniture
🚫Not utilizing vertical storage
🚫Hanging dark curtains that absorb light
How to Make A Small Room Look Bigger: Before & After Inspiration
1. Dark to Light Transformation
source: pinterest
✨ Before: Dark bed frame, dark decor items, and beige walls.
✨ After: Crisp white or light grey walls, lighter-toned bed frame,, and sheer curtains hung high to make the room feel airy and open.
2. Light Tones and High Curtains
source: pinterest
✨ Before: Tan walls, dark wood doors, and no natural light flowing throughout the space.
✨ After: Crisp white walls, and sheer curtains hung high to make the room feel airy and open, lighter toned decor with pops of color.
3. Removing bulky, dark furniture
source: dear lillie
✨ Before: Bulky oversized furniture taking up floor space, vintage wallpaper.
✨ After: Light grey walls, a mirror dresser for extra brightness, and light-toned decor like soft pillows, and neutral lamps to create a relaxed, spacious vibe.
✅ Quick Checklist: Small Apartment Styling Do’s & Don’ts
Do’s for Making a Small Apartment Feel Bigger:
- ✅ Stick to light, neutral colors to brighten your space.
- ✅ Use mirrors to reflect light and create depth.
- ✅ Choose multi-functional furniture with built-in storage to maximize your space.
- ✅ Hang curtains high to make walls look taller.
- ✅ Keep decor minimal and intentional — remember, less is more!
Don’ts That Make Your Space Feel Smaller:
- ❌ Don’t over-furnish or block natural light with bulky pieces.
- ❌ Don’t use dark, heavy colors on every wall.
- ❌ Don’t let clutter pile on top of surfaces — use hidden storage!
- ❌ Don’t skip vertical storage (i.e. over the door organizers) — use your walls!
Conclusion: Small Apartment With Big Potential
You don’t need a bigger apartment—you just need the right layout and a few smart tricks.
Remember simple upgrades, such as a lighter coat of paint, mirrors placed strategically to reflect light, and using multipurpose furniture can make your small apartment feel so much more spacious.
Focus on creating a space that feels open, calming, and uniquely yours.
This post was all about how to make a small apartment feel bigger.