Make the most of your space: guide to decorating small apartments

Dissapointed that you can only afford a small apartment/condo? Living in a big city? Have lots of stuff?

It seems that today, the trend for many young people has been loft style living. Especially in large cities, these lofts can be as little as 350 sq ft!

So how are you supposed to manage living in such a small space? It is possible to do it, and to do it with style.

1) When looking for tables for dining, try searching for ones that can expand easily.

2) If you are living alone, but plan on having guests over, a trundle bed is great! Above the trundle bed, if you own the space, install some wall storage. You can easily make this look trendy.

3) Another idea for a bed: A lofted bed. Underneath you can have a study area, or place a small futon/couch.

4) Add mirrors. The illusion won't only trick your friends into thinking the space is bigger, it will trick you into feeling less cramped.

5) For chairs, get folding chairs and use wall hooks to hang them up. These can be found at Ikea, and actually look very modern and stylish.

6) During the day, if appropriate, open your blinds all the way to let as much light in as possible. This will make the space feel much more open.

7) Try positioning your furniture in at least two or three different ways. Live with each positioning for at least a couple days so that you can determine which design works best for you.

8) If you are generally a disorganized person, invest in some organization materials. Places like the container store are great! This will keep space free and tidy.

9) Try adding a drop-leaf table to your kitchen to add more counter space only when you need it.

10) A microwave rack is a good way to free up counter space as well.

11) The Ikea stolmen is a FANTASTIC solution for storage. I love it.