Like most people, I love the idea of a big house with lovely open space but we seem to fill it with more ‘stuff’! A chic New York one-bedroom apartment for five years was the game-changer as they say in the US. We had to give away lovely furniture and decor to be able to accommodate what we had. Fast forward, and we bought a larger two-bedroom German apartment and for a while, loved the room to move. After two years, it felt as if we were rattling around the place and starting to fill it with things again. We bought a smaller apartment, reduced our clutter and gave away items including a lovely French wardrobe and table to a Syrian engineering student – I told him he could paint it, he didn’t seem worried! Our current apartment takes two to three hours maximum to clean top to bottom, is easily managed and heated and we haven’t bought any more furniture.
It is an interesting discussion on how much space we need to live comfortably. According to various social, government and architectural information, we ideally need 400 square feet/37 square metres. We come from countries where the dream is a three-bedroom, large house with a back garden and where space is possible and a two-car family is normal. At the same time, there is the tiny home movement and there are discussions on heating and cooling houses in the future. So, what have we learnt from living in a smaller apartment with two cats?
A Square Design
If space is at a premium, look for as square a space as you can find. Also a Feng Shui practice to place the Bagua map over see my recent post https://interiorharmonyblog.com/2019/08/03/lets-start-at-the-very-beginning/. It gives you walls to place storage furniture against and allows easy placement of sofas and beds. If possible, try and get at least one bedroom as you will appreciate having a separate room; however, in many cities, a studio is all that is affordable.
- Consider the design and how you feel in the area which is particularly important if you are tall, have a dog, children and other needs
- Check out the windows and how much space they take up and if they give light and height to the space
- How tall are the ceilings? (Three metres, ten feet is ideal)
- Look how the doors open or slide, ideally they should open inward to a room
- Where are the heaters, water boiler and electricity box?
- Delineate separate spaces – if it is open plan, use screens, or book cases to section off your space
- Go vertical with storage space and maximise that unused area above cupboards
I Have a Small Studio!
I have several friends who are renting studios and it requires a similar approach. Yes, you will need to consider using the bed as a sofa or investing in a fold-up bed and furniture will need to have multiple purposes. However; the same principles apply. Avoid mezzanine bedroom spaces if you can – not great Feng Shui and friends who have experienced living this way have said they wouldn’t again. But it may suit you, who knows? Look for a sense of light and check out what is outside the window. I have seen studios with great views that makes the lack of space worthwhile and seen windows looking out to a brick wall! Can you section the space with screens and furniture?
What Have We Learnt?
We have discovered that we can live easily in enough space and now spend money on experiences and travel rather than maintaining a larger place. It is also easier to heat and cool. We have a second bedroom that is rarely used but it is nice to have and I appreciate using it as an office. Finally, we need a certain amount of space and do enjoy visiting friends who have wonderful big homes. On the other hand, we love coming home to a cosy apartment.
