Big Ideas for Box-like Living

As the cities are growing bigger, space to live seems to be getting smaller by the minute. Still, people have to live somewhere, and with real-estate prices going through the roof, some of us have to settle for something a lot less than property the size of the White house.

The smaller the space, the better at organizing you'll have to be. You'll need to be tidy; fold clean clothes immediately and put them away. You'll need systems to keep this sort of thing out of sight Large plastic bins with lids are not exactly beautiful, but if you buy them in the same size and stack them, they are not too bad. Cane baskets look nicer, I admit, but are a bit more expensive. If you buy them with a lid they are stackable too.

Not a lot of people take baths nowadays so not having one probably saves you cleaning. But if you want one, and the space is there, have a shower over the bath; it saves space.Don't buy too many towels, and buy them in the same color. Roll them up and put in a nice basket. Alternatively, buy a small cheap cubicle and put them in there, along with the soaps and shampoos and the like. If you are allowed to drill holes in the walls, hang the cubicle up on the wall. Shelving is a must in small spaces so if you don't like the cubicle-idea make shelves.If you want a shower-curtain, take a light-colored plain one.Flowers and patterns look cluttered. All in all, keep it simple and keep it all in one light color.

If you live in a tiny box you will learn the value of good lighting and mirrors.No matter how little light you get, a mirror will reflect it and also makes the room look bigger. If you don't like one large mirror, there are mirrors the size of half-tiles available. A suggestion: glue the half-tiles on the walls around the living-room , all 4 of them, on about eye-level. Or make a mosaic out of these tiles and glue this on the wall. Furniture is a personal choice. But if you can, buy one good couch., or a so-called bed-sofa, which looks like a couch but folds out like a bed at night.Just in case you get a guest who wants to stay over. And of course you can stretch out on it while watching TV at night! Keep one small table on the side of the couch, don't clutter up the foot space.You can always place it there when you get visitors. If you decide to put some art on the walls, take the glassed in ones.Glass reflects the light too. Knick-knacks and little photo-frames should be kept at a minimum, it is better to take a black and white photo-copy of the picture of your loved ones and put them in cheap black frames.
Blinds instead of curtains have a more spacious effect than curtains. Bamboo-effect roller blinds are effective and keep out the sun and are very affordable. These come in light-to dark colors so you'll have the choice. And they are easy to cut to measure with the scissors.

If you have a lot of "stuff" that you don't want to see all the time, think folding-doors. What I mean is: the computer, stacks of books, perhaps even your kitchen etc. all against the wall you are staring at while sitting on the couch. That wall needs to be covered up with folding-doors. You could glue strips of mirror on these doors as well; they won't look that obvious that way.

The walls and furniture of the living room should be kept as light as possible, an off-white the best. I know this sounds very bland, and that's where the accessories come in. Glass is a favorite of mine, as is chrome or silver.This will give the room a contemporary look. Gold is more classic but looks great with dark-blue and white, as well with browns.

Of course I don't know your favorite color, but if everything else is that light you can take the color you like to accessorize the room with.If you keep it one color it will look personal and 'your space". Red is somewhat overpowering, but warm, blues are cold, but can also look sophisticated,yellow is always sunny, no matter the weather and all browns are earthy. The room will only need a couple of cushions and perhaps a bowl in your favorite color and you're done! Strangely 1 very large plant of 6-7 ft will look absolutely fantastic in a corner. If you don't like real plants, buy a fake one.

If you are very lucky, you might have a balcony or other small outside area, like a roof-terrace. Please utilize this area to the max; it is an extra "room" to enjoy! A couple of outdoor plants or trees in large containers, some furniture and you have a "garden" to enjoy the summer! Who said living in "box" couldn't be enjoyable?