Pro Tips: Pull off a Bold Design in a Small Apartment 

Although a small apartment does bring certain design limitations, it still offers numerous creative possibilities that will help you give your personal touch to your home. Just because you have limited floor space, it doesn’t mean that you can’t go big and bold with décor. On the contrary, bold design features will help you draw attention to your stylistic expression and away from your small space. As long as you keep it balanced, everything is possible in a small apartment.

Play with a feature wall

A single feature wall can make a world of difference in a small space. You have a range of inspiring ideas, from an exposed brick wall to a textured wallpaper design. If you want to create a bold artsy look, you should opt for a mesmerising gallery wall. It’s surprisingly easy to create and it can be quite affordable. You don’t even have to stick to paintings, but combine them with artistic installations, photographs, vintage dishes and other unique embellishments. However, you need to create a balanced, cohesive look, so make sure to pick a specific theme or go with gallery items that share the same feature.

Accentuate the floors

You should let your floors take the floor and dominate a room. Embellishing your floors with boldly designed area rugs is a great way to refocus the attention from your small space. If you want to try something different and unexpected, you can always paint your floors or create a beautiful stencilled design.

Or emphasise the ceiling

Don’t leave your ceiling behind because it can also help you create a “wow” effect in your tiny apartment. Instead of going with a traditional white ceiling paint, you can go with a different hue that will help you make a statement. It doesn’t have to be dark or overly vibrant, but simply different and surprising. Applying wallpaper onto your ceiling is another stunning option and a popular design trend. Either way, turning your ceiling into a statement feature will definitely help you accentuate the height of your space.

Go bold with colour

Typically, a small apartment can greatly benefit from a bright, open colour scheme. However, you can actually use bold, dark hues without creating an overwhelming look. The key lies in aiming for balance and harmony, contrasting your dark features with bright ones. What’s more, a dark wall can make you feel even cosier in your space since it will create a cocoon-like effect. Whether you want a vibrantly coloured piece of furniture or a dark accent wall, go for it!

Stripe up

A simple feature such as a striped wall can actually create an amazing look in a small apartment. You can go with vertically striped wallpaper and use it as a stunning statement in your tiny home. It will create a bold look while also creating an illusion of height and drawing the gaze upwards rather than to your limited floor space. Similarly, if you want to elongate your space, you should go with horizontal lines.

Choose a functional bed, then make it dramatic

If you have limited space in your bedroom, you can create a dramatic look, as well as an illusion of spaciousness. You should accentuate your bed as the dominant focal point, but make sure to pick a convenient design. Introducing a modern and functional bed with drawers is the perfect solution for a small bedroom. It will help you create an open, airy atmosphere by providing you with more storage and freeing your space from clutter. A clutter-free atmosphere will make your bedroom seem more spacious. Afterwards, you should use your comfy bed as a bold statement by picking authentic sheets or designing a lovely headboard if it doesn’t already have one.

Embellish with stunning mirrors

Mirrors are always welcome to a small home since they can create an illusion of openness and spaciousness. But why not use them to add a touch of drama to your tiny apartment, as well? You can find authentic mirror designs featuring unique shapes, unusual frames and intricate details. Not only will they visually expand your space, but they will also elevate your home décor.

Create a “wow” effect with statement furniture

Furniture is always the most dominant element in every room, so why not use this to your advantage? You can let a single piece of furniture stand out and create a bold look in your space. Whether you choose an unusual upholstery design or just paint your old desk a vibrant colour, you’ll definitely create an authentic atmosphere in your apartment.

Choose bold curtains

If your apartment has a low ceiling, you can actually use curtains to trick the eye and make your space appear higher. You just need to place curtain rods as close to the ceiling as possible, which will make your windows seem bigger. On top of all that, you can create a dramatic effect by picking a bold curtain design or colour.

These inspiring ideas will help you design a home that truly reflects your style without being constrained by its size. 

Chloe is a graduated journalist from Adelaide and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic and lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. Beside all this, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time.

Guest Contributor, Chloe Taylor