If you don't have a lot of space to work with, that doesn't mean you can't create a little miracle: a nicely designed space to relax after a busy day.
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One of the basic rules for making a small space bigger, both visually and functionally, is using an open floor plan and bright colors. A small apartment doesn't need too many dividers, just necessary ones to make a small boundary between functional parts of the place. White is one of the colors used very often in smaller spaces, and if you are lucky to have a high ceiling you can lift your nightlife to another level literally - put your bed just above the ceiling and you'll get the useful space below it.
Along with white, black goes well if you use it with a measure. It is good for creating focal points - even on larger pieces of furniture - and can mske a nice game between white and dark, a game that will make visitor's eyes busy jumping from piece to piece, thus making the whole space visually bigger. There is another rule of thumb saying "Every wall doesn't have to be full" but a lot of carefully chosen details like pictures, books and small lamps can make the space very visually appealing.
Now, we can step even further from those two colors and enter something very cheerful: bright colors all around. While the overall look should stay bright, there's no rule that forbids the use of, say, red or orange, to lift the mood up. Natural wood color can be brightened with a little effort and if you make vertical elements in color that will make your space even higher visually. Make sure to follow the logic in other parts of your apartment: choose colorful countertop, shelves or even a few pans or pots in a vivid color.
Use the space! This is a rule No1 for designing a small apartment, but how to do that? It's easy: use as much of the vertical space as you can. Let the cabinets and shelves go all the way up to ceiling and make them uneven to create a game between volumes. Let some open, make some close and use if for different purposes, and you'll get a very interesting space. You will also improve functionality because your things will be along the wall, leaving more space in the middle for, let's say, a crazy carpet that will lift the overall look.
While small apartments are often designed in a modern style, that hasn't to be that way. If you happen to be in the loft, you can go with beige (not very popular color in some other combinations but it can work very well here), and use old or traditional furniture like a long - but not wide - dining table or an old sofa. To bring the beige to life add colorful details and again lift up everything you can: from things you don't need all the time to your bed. Let the light go in (maybe you can live without curtains?) and live it big. ■
