Living in the city can have plenty of perks. With cafes downstairs, public transport at your door, and something always happening close by, there is so much on offer!
However, the trade-off to city living is usually space. Apartments can sometimes feel cramped, and it’s easy for clutter to build up, leaving your home feeling like a storage unit instead of a sanctuary.
The good news is you don’t have to knock down walls or spend a fortune to make your city apartment feel functional and calm. A few clever tweaks can transform even the smallest unit into a space that feels organised, welcoming, and like a genuine escape from the noise outside.
1. Choose Appliances That Actually Work For Small Spaces
In a city apartment, big appliances can hog more than their fair share of space. So, thinking carefully about what you bring in can make a huge difference. From compact fridges to slimline dishwashers and benchtop ovens, smaller space-friendly appliances can get the job done without taking up too much real estate.
A good example is a front load washing machine. Unlike a top loader, it can be tucked under a counter or hidden in a cupboard, freeing up vertical space for storage baskets, floating shelves, and more. If you have a European-style laundry, you can even stack a dryer on top, transforming a slim corner into a proper laundry room set-up. Plus, front loaders generally use less water and energy, so you’re conserving resources and trimming bills at the same time.
It may not feel as glamorous, but these kinds of swaps change the way your whole apartment works. Every centimetre matters in the city, and a few thoughtful upgrades will give you breathing room you didn’t think you had.
2. Maximise Vertical Space
When you can’t spread out, the next best thing you can do is look up. Apartment walls can be an overlooked blank slate, but they’re often full of opportunity. Tall shelving units, floating shelves and wall hooks can instantly clear up some floor space. Even something simple like a pegboard in the kitchen can hold utensils, mugs or little potted herbs.
Inspect your apartment and figure out what exactly is making it feel cluttered or cramped. Are your shoes all over the floor in the entryway? Perhaps a neat and tidy vertical shoe cabinet or storage system can come to your rescue. Is your pile of must-read books in a precarious arrangement next to your sofa? A tall, slimline bookcase could be the difference between walking around freely and tripping over a stack of novels.
Plus, an added bonus is that vertical storage naturally draws the eye upward, which makes a small apartment feel taller and more spacious. The best part is you don’t need to spend very much. A few affordable shelves from a hardware store can change the way your space functions. Small adjustments stack up — literally!
3. Multi-Purpose Furniture Is Your Best Friend
In a cramped apartment, every piece of furniture has to earn its place. Instead of buying a coffee table, why not get one that lifts up into a desk? An ottoman with hidden storage gives you extra space for blankets and unread books or anything you don’t want lying around. These kinds of pieces save space while also giving you more flexibility and are especially handy if you’re working from home part of the week.
Sofa beds are another classic. They’re great for entertaining guests without requiring an entire extra room, and new ones can be just as sleek as a regular couch. Foldable dining tables work the same way — they’re small when you need space, then expand when you’re entertaining. Pieces like these let you adapt your home to what’s happening on that day, so you’re not stuck with one rigid layout.
And if the thought of spending a lot of money on replacing your furniture sends you into a panic, don’t stress. There are plenty of quality second-hand pieces waiting for a new home in op shops, online marketplaces, and second-hand furniture stores. The goal is flexibility, not filling every corner with bulky furniture.
4. Greenery Changes Everything
Even a small apartment can become more serene with a few plants. You don’t have to turn your place into a jungle, but even just one or two plants can warm up harsh corners and make the air feel fresher. If you’re not confident with plants, start with easy ones like snake plants, pothos or peace lilies since they can survive most beginner mistakes.
Small kitchens or bathrooms are a great setup for hanging planters, while a few herbs on the windowsill can provide fresh garnishes and a bit of colour. Looking after plants also becomes a small ritual. Watering them or checking new growth has a grounding effect, which is exactly what you need when life outside feels busy and crowded.
And beyond the look, plants genuinely can shift the mood of a place. They create a balance between the concrete outside and the calm you want inside. Even one plant can start to change the energy of a room.
5. Light Matters More Than You Think
Bad lighting can make an apartment feel smaller than it really is. A single harsh bulb overhead flattens everything and leaves corners of your apartment severely underlit. The trick is to think in layers rather than relying on one source. A mix of floor lamps, table lamps and task lights creates depth and makes the space feel warmer and more inviting.
You don’t need to go over the top. A floor lamp tucked into a corner brightens dark spots, while a small bedside lamp with a warm globe sets the tone for evenings. Task lighting in the kitchen helps you cook without straining your eyes, and candles or fairy lights can add softness when you want a relaxed vibe. For a bit of personality, try a statement lamp or something playful like a lava lamp. These little touches add character while still doing the practical job of lighting your space.
Mirrors are another easy trick to brighten up a room. Put one across from a window, and it’ll reflect daylight throughout your apartment, making the whole place feel lighter and more open. If your apartment doesn’t get a lot of natural sun, you can still shift the mood with a couple of well-placed lamps and lighting that suits the space. It’s a small change that makes a big difference to the overall atmosphere.
6. Keep Clutter Low-Key With Smart Storage
Storage is not always synonymous with stacking ugly plastic tubs in every available corner of your apartment. The best solutions are the ones built into things you already use, like under-bed drawers, wall-mounted cabinets, or even a headboard with hidden shelves.
If you’re lucky enough to have a storage cage for your unit in the apartment building, make full use of it by storing larger items like suitcases, seasonal decorations or sports gear that would otherwise crowd your apartment. Just remember to cover them with a sheet to protect your items from dust, and always ensure you’ve secured them by keeping your storage cage locked at all times.
The general rule is to keep the items you use on a daily basis close at hand and move the rest to less obvious locations. That way your surfaces stay clear, and your place feels tidy even when life is busy. It’s not about owning less; it’s about finding smarter ways to keep what you have. When your apartment feels lighter and easier to move around in, you notice the difference straight away.
7. Create Zones, Even in One Room
If your apartment is open plan or just one large space, setting up small zones can make it feel more comfortable. Zoning doesn’t even have to involve setting up makeshift walls or anything ‘big concept’. Even just some colourful rugs can instantly mark out different zones in your living area. A bookshelf, screen or just a line of plants can help create a sense of separation between your bed and your dining table.
Shifting your desk so it faces a different direction helps too, since it creates the feeling of a work corner instead of just another piece of furniture squeezed into the bedroom. It’s also worth thinking about how you use the space across a normal day. A chair with a floor lamp beside it can become a quiet reading nook.
A small shelving unit or bar cart could serve as a kitchen divider and extra storage. Even in a small apartment, these gentle boundaries make life feel easier. You end up with spots that serve a clear purpose, and that little bit of structure makes the whole place more inviting.
8. Personal Touches Make It Yours
A functional apartment is great, but it needs some heart as well. The details that bring it to life can often be small, like a framed photo on a shelf, a painting picked up on a trip, or a stack of magazines you like. These choices can bring warmth and personality, and they make the space feel lived in rather than staged.
With limited space, minimalism might seem like a good idea, but stripping everything back too much makes the apartment feel unfinished and sterile.A few meaningful pieces are usually enough to shift the atmosphere without creating clutter.
The goal isn’t to fill every nook and cranny but to select things that resonate with you. When you walk in at the end of a tiring day, those touches are what make your home feel warm and lived-in.
Your City Apartment, Your Small Sanctuary
A city apartment doesn’t need to be big to feel like home. What matters is how it feels when you walk in at the end of the day. Small changes can shift the whole mood, from creating a cosy corner to making it easier to keep things in order.
It’s not about perfection, either. It’s about shaping a space that supports you and feels welcoming in your own way. When an apartment reflects your routines and your personality, it becomes more than just somewhere to sleep. It turns into a place you actually want to spend time in and eventually becomes your own little corner of the world, one that feels safe, grounding, and completely yours.
