Real estate prices in urban areas are known for being incredibly high. For the same price that could afford you a five bedroom house in a rural area, you might be able to get a one bedroom apartment in a city like New York or San Francisco. Because of this unavoidable fact of real estate, many people that crave a life in an urban environment are forced to make do with living quarters that are…well… unglamorous to say the least. Thankfully, interior design experts have compiled a list of sweet tricks for the urban home designer. If you read closely, you can transform your little city closet into a lovely place to live!

1. Emphasize the pretty, hide the ugly. It is important, when trying to work on a small space and within a small budget, to work with what you have. In other words, emphasize the good things about the apartment and cover up the less-than-beautiful elements. For instance, if paint is peeling off of the molding or the walls in some places, then cover them up. You can paint over the rough spots, or hang things like posters, tapestries or other art to decorate over the peeling. If your apartment has other unfavorable features, like old linoleum tiling or stains on the floor or ceiling from water damage, try strategically placing furniture or carpets over the damaged areas. Additionally, remember to highlight the GOOD features of the space. If there are hooks to hang pots and pans from in the kitchen, then use them. If there are built-in shelves, or an antique fridge, bathtub, or stove, then let those elements shine through unobstructed in a room.
2. Use the light to your advantage. If you’ve gotten yourself a small place in an urban area, then your access to natural light has a chance of being limited. Often, tall apartment buildings block the light from windows of neighboring buildings. Also, rooms in small apartments are small (duh!) so they often have only one small window if any. That being said, use the natural light you DO have access to in order to make your apartment feel larger and lighter. Make sure you arrange furniture in rooms so that it blocks the least amount of possible natural light. Also, be aware of where the light hits on the walls and place bright and colorful objects there to maximize the reflection of the light.
3. Create stylish storage space. One of the biggest problems of a tiny, urban apartment? Not enough storage space! If you have loads of clothes to hang, and minimal closet space, then it’s time to get creative with the way you store your wardrobe. Keep the closet space for the bulkiest items, like heavy winter coats, and for the rest, get yourself some metal, heavy-duty clothing racks and hang your stuff out in the open! This idea is especially good for colorful and interesting items of clothing, like fun blazers, dresses and flannel shirts. This will solve the problem of closet space, and also add it’s own fashionable aesthetic to a room.

With these simple, yet effective interior design tips, you can make the most out of your small, city living space. That way, you can enjoy all of the excitement of your life in the big, bad city, and still feel like you’re coming back each evening to your very own cozy, little home.