How to Use Vertical Spaces in Small Homes or Apartments

Build up vertically when trying to find space in a small room, apartment or house. No matter what your interior design style is, using the height of your home allows more opportunity to express your personality and tastes. Looking up for decor solutions gives you the chance to showcase what you really love and keep things that you did not think you had the room for.

Display

Create custom shelving to display your collections. Tailor the shelving to fit in with what you want to showcase. For example, treasured tea cups and saucers will be the center of attention in the room with handmade plate racks for the saucers and hooks attached at the bottom to hang the cups off of. Other examples include installing floor to ceiling wine bottle holders or glass shelves to display a collection of crystal figurines. Add lighting to set them off such as a string of twinkle lights along the top of the shelves.

Artwork

Create a gallery in the smallest of spaces if you're passionate about artwork. Larger paintings lined up laying against the wall on the floor, followed by hung smaller paintings up to the ceiling makes a dramatic statement in a room. Frame doorways with mini shelves to hold statues or pottery. Other options include embedding small lighted niches vertically up a wall to showcase favorite pieces of art.

Storage

A small home needs all of the extra storage that you can squeeze into it. Build up enclosed cabinets for items that need to be hidden from view such as extra linens in a hallway or media in a living room. Alternate closed cupboards with open concept storage, such as glass pane doors or doors with a chicken wire inset for a touch of the rustic. If you are an avid reader or literature buff, build bookcases from floor to ceiling to keep all your favorite stories within easy reach. (ref 2-pic3)

Murals

If you're a minimalist that is not looking to house stuff but just wants a dramatic impact in a small room, draw the eye upwards through the use of paint. Build up the room visually through vertical stripes. Another option if you want more color and liveliness to a room is to paint murals. Recreate your favorite trip memories by putting them life size on your walls, from floor to ceiling. Alternatively, relish in your fantasies and paint where you have always wanted to go or live in a favorite small room of your home.