Now, don’t get me wrong—small is, of course, relative. When we first moved into our current London flat, it felt palatial. It might be because our first-ever apartment together in Manhattan had a sink so tiny that you had to bend down and wash your face directly next to the faucet to avoid spilling water everywhere. Or it could be because, in our last-ever NYC apartment, the center of the wall separating the living space and the bedroom doubled as a TV stand that rotated 180 degrees so you could watch from… literally anywhere because it was an alcove studio. Or is it because, in order to get a (very standard sized) sofa into the London flat just before this one, we had to hire a professional to come take it apart on the sidewalk and reassemble it inside our living room? Whatever the reason, I know this much is true: we’ve always valued location over size, and that comes with a few sacrifices. It’s also made us self-appointed pros when it comes to thinking creatively on how to make the most of a space. Whether you’re downgrading because you want to live on a smaller scale or because your budget means it’s a requirement, I turned to three actual experts who gave me some insight and advice on things to look for when assessing a small apartment of your very own. Lauren Riefflin agrees. “Be creative and take note of spaces that may be underutilized by existing tenants. A common example is the front entryway, which could potentially transition into extra storage.” Molly Franklin adds to this, noting, “a foyer can serve double-duty as a mini office or reading sanctuary.” If the space does have high ceilings, then Franklin suggests using them to your maximum advantage. “High ceilings, foyers, and long entryways also are important to create a sense of space in a small apartment. With less square footage, vertical space matters. An entryway with high ceilings can become a gallery for beloved art as well as provide room for functional storage nooks.” You can also consider how to upcycle pieces you (or family and friends) might already own.
