Whether it’s because you live a tight budget or simply prefer the conveniences of apartment living (or both), a small living space can still have big style if you follow some simple guidelines.

Measure, Measure, Measure.
When furnishing a small space, it’s vital that you measure your room carefully – and never shop without a tape measure! Don’t rely on the measurements you may have seen on price tags – they could be off by an all-important inch or two.

Shop Every Department.
Who knows, the perfectly-scaled dresser for your bedroom may be in the children’s department. The petite dining table you need may be with the outdoor furniture. Apartment living requires thinking outside the box. Don’t let labels limit you – if it works for your space, that’s all that matters.

Think in 3 Dimensions.
Don’t just think about the “footprint” of your furniture – height is the most overlooked dimension in decor. If your space doesn’t have soaring ceilings, keep your furniture low and lean to ensure that your small space has an open and airy feeling. Even a small-scale piece can appear bulky if it’s too tall.

Pare it Down.
Bring high style into cramped quarters by shopping for simply styled, clean lined furniture. Your sofa doesn’t have to have arms – your bed doesn’t have to have a footboard. Apartment living is all about making a small space feel larger!

Refined Palette.
A small space benefits from a controlled color palette. Two or three pops of accent hues against a soothingly monochromatic color scheme will give your decor instant sophistication. And remember, monochromatic doesn’t mean neutral and boring – it can be bold and daring!

Big Art, Big Impact.
Don’t burden your walls with multiple, wimpy pieces of wall decor. A single large-scaled piece of art can actually give a small space a confident sense of self! Consider an oversized piece of vintage advertising art on a single accent-colored wall.

Move It!
Small needn’t be boring, especially if it’s constantly changing! Consider modular furniture that can be re-arranged on a whim. Furniture on casters allows you to re-configure the look of your room without needing an extra pair of hands to help.

“Remember, bigger is not necessarily better,” says Davis Remignanti. “With a little planning, your small space can be an exquisite jewel box, perfect for you because it’s uniquely your own.”

Source: Davis Remignanti, Lead Design Consultant at FurnitureFind.com, www.furniturefind.com