How can I decorate effectively in a small apartment?

How to go about decorating your apartment depends a good deal on the space itself, and smaller apartments or studios often require a special approach. Here are some things that might make the task a bit easier:

• Mirrors can make the place look significantly larger.
• Opting for smaller furniture can help make more space.
• Consider putting some items in storage to make the apartment more livable.
• Take advantage of empty space for storage, such as under the bed.
• Utilize some organizing pieces, such as a bookcase or shelving unit to maximize vertical space.
• Add rods, shelves and cubes to your closet space to free up the living area for decorating and keep it from looking cluttered.
• If you are painting, add a darker color to one wall (often called a focal wall) to give the room more depth and style.
• Keep the overall color of small apartments light to make them look bigger.
• Use angles when placing furniture. It can help prevent areas from feeling closed off and give a more open, airy impression in your space.
• Buy "double duty" pieces of furniture that have storage built in. Look for things such as footstools that have a removable top and coffee tables with drawers in them.