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If you need to furnish a small apartment, the good news is that you don’t have a lot of space to cover. But you do have to choose each piece carefully. In a little apartment, every inch is premium is real estate, so make it count. We’ll show you how with these furnishing tips.
Measure first
Once you’ve identified the space to fill in your small apartment, measure each open spot carefully. You don’t want to purchase a piece you’ve fallen in love with, only to get to your apartment and find out it either won’t fit in the door or into the space you have for it. Be sure to record the available dimensions for each item on paper or into your phone or PDA so that you have the measurements with you in case you strike furniture gold in an unexpected place.
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Think style
When you have just a small amount of space to work with, each piece of apartment furniture has a big burden to carry. First of all, it needs to be stylish. In a small apartment, plain-Jane furniture isn’t going to cut it, because there is limited space with which to develop your look. Search for distinct pieces that pop in design and color. Whether you’re buying new or secondhand, select streamlined and interesting furniture that speaks volumes about your good taste.
Furniture that multitasks
In a small apartment, some rooms will do double-duty. Your kitchen may also be an office; your living room might be a guest room too. So make sure you buy multi-purpose furniture. A credenza could hold all of your stereo or television components on top and store DVD, CDs, small electronics and video games inside. A bookshelf could also double as an entertainment center or as your desk. Think sleeper-sofa or futon for your couch and ottomans with storage space inside. A trunk for a coffee table can hold linens for overnight guests.
When you’re buying small apartment furniture, you don’t often have the luxury of spontaneity. Plan ahead by knowing exactly how many inches you have to work with and look for the pieces with stand-out style that can multitask to boot.