From a european in a big city perspective, i had a small culture shock : I laughed when you said your first appartment was not even 500 sqf ! Here, your average student flat is 9 to 25 sqmeters (100 to 270 sqf). When we're lucky enough to have closets, we can't enter in them, even less fit a table !
Yes, I had to laugh at that, too. My student studio was 18 sqmeters, then I met my husband and we lived in his 38sqmeters apartment for two years. After university we then moved into our first real apartment together that was about 85sqmeters and we didn't know what to do with ALL THAT SPACE, LOL. Now we live in a 140 sqmeters two-story single family house which is a totally normal size here in Germany. You will find only few new homes that will be above 1500 square feet (150 sqmeters), let alone larger ones above 2000 square feet. We don't need extra rooms because we have less stuff!!
@@olivierbioret5206one bedroom means that there’s two separate spaces- a bedroom and a kitchen/living room, as apposed to a studio, which is one big room
Another tip especially for us younger (broke) folks. Take advantage of back to school season because that’s when they put out DORM FURNITURE. Storage ottomans, thin inexpensive shelving, frames and mirrors, storage boxes that aren’t extremely ugly. It’s genius and college kid prices. They don’t last forever but it works for the time being.
Tips: Older folks are also poor. In fact, seniors are the one segment of the population that has not seen an increase in financial wellbeing, quite the reverse. But there is the myth, spread by younger folks, who love to hate us, that we're all rich and greedy. WRONG.
I'm in the process of fitting out a 500 SF apartment. Just got back from a kitchen planning session at IKEA for a 9' x 6' kitchen. We focused on storage and added a 15" deep base cabinet w/a glass front wall cabinet in the living space just outside the kitchen doorway. The IKEA designer was fabulous. She knew the product inside and out and how to make minor customizations for this tiny 1850's carriage house apartment. I'll be pulling the trigger by this time next week. It's gonna be great!
Congratulations 🎉. I think that the IKEA kitchen designers are very knowledgeable about their products and good value for money. I hope that you love your new home 🏡😊
We live in 380 square feet, it takes almost no clutter to make the whole house look wrecked. I've been decluttering and hiding things as much as possible to keep myself sane. Great tips!
I'm enforcing the rule "one thing in, one thing out) to avoid cluttering our tiny apartment. Before that, I truly decluttered our space and sold/donated/threw awat a lot of things . It was hard, but rewarding
Before I moved into my studio, I measured the space and drew it to scale in my bullet journal. Then I measured my furniture and drew 2D versions (also to scale). Then I cut out the furniture and placed them in the drawing I had of the room to see what fit and what didn’t and figure out the best layout. That’s my favorite way to map out a small space
@lauren@sunshine I did the same at my last two apartments! It works wonders! Most when you have so akward corners or you want to fit your old furniture🙈
Yeah, I use graph paper and cut little pieces for the furniture. You don't have to move things around over and over to figure it out, which is what I had done before.
I always laugh when people say 1,000 ft2 is small. I raised 3 kids, first in under 900 sq2, then In a house just barely over 1,000ft2. Always with one bathroom. It wasn’t perfect, but we always made it work. Now I’m always shocked by people needing 2,000 sq2 ft or more. The more you’ve got the more to clean.
Oh yes! When I watch HGTV shows like House Hunters or Love it or List it, I'm always shaking my head when they say that they want at least 2000 sqft, a bonus room, etc.
I grew up with only one bathroom, in fact I only got a second bathroom when we built our house in my mid 30's😂😂😂😂. We currently have 3 full bathrooms and I was thinking just this morning how it's easier to clean less bathrooms 😂😂😂😂. We are 3 people in a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom apartment. We don't really need so much space, we use the smallest bedroom as my husband's home office and we have a dedicated guest bedroom. Which does get used as we have family and friends on 4 different continents 😊
I downsized a few years ago and decided I wanted to start making jewelry I mean real jewelry. It requires a flame and some flux and some hammering and some tumbling, on and on, and I had nowhere to do it. Then I realized I have a big walk-in closet with a window that I'm not using except for a little out of season clothes storage... I built a jewelers workbench and got all the supplies, and my goodness I learned everything on RUclips about how to make sterling silver jewelry!!!! It's the perfect size Workshop. I can't think of a better use for that space. It'smy favoriteroomin my condo!. I actually put some clothing racks up in my laundry room and use that for extra storage for clothing because I didn't need it for anything else. It has worked out great it's like having an extra room in my condo no worries it's all fireproof and the window is there for any fumes and I have fire extinguishers and the flame is very tiny but when I need a flame it is surrounded by fireproof brick. I never would have thought it would work out so well❤... my "guess room " is also a den, or TV room with a sofa sleeper. I wanted the great room to be like the formal rooms I grew up in. Always tidy with all of my favorite furniture and I made the dining area formal as well. Not for everyone, but it's worked out great for me. I have always loved the Victorian style and I made it happen in my condo. BTW, no TV in the formal areas. Great for conversation
One of the apartments I lived in didn't have a storage unit so I had to store tires in the appointment. So put a round board on them and covered them with a long table cloth. Not ideal, but it's better than leaving a pile of tires in the living room or buying new ones every season.
So smart. My rental home has no storage unit either, and the home has wall-to-wall carpet everywhere except the kitchen and bathroom. I put a large rubbermaid box (in a color I like) on the floor of the carpeted closet in the extra room. I put hedge trimmers, weed wacker, brooms, etc. either in the container or hanging over it with S hooks. Also hang my hand Swiffer, gardening gloves, and Resolve carpet cleaning mechanism over it. I shut the door and everything disappears until I need it -- like your tires.
@@anaalves3658 studded tires for winter and regular for summer. There's also all season tires which can be used year round. But they aren't as safe on icy roads as studded tires are.
@@scasnyThat's interesting. Hope you send pics to Nick so he can include your apartment/style in a video. I'm on the short side, so I'd love to see what you have done with your space!
Double duty furniture... I bought an old secretary desk & it doubles as my dresser. I work part time from home & I just needed a little desk to use for work occasionally so having a little space that folds up is all I needed & a secretary desk was the perfect solution to have a cute vintage dresser & a desk in a tiny space.
Great tips! I can't be alone as a California person, with the heavy, easily jolted things over people's beds in the example pics giving me quake anxiety.
I don't live in an earthquake area and never liked heavy stuff or shelves over my head. Things fall without even touching them sometimes, plus it is a huge no-no in Feng Shui about things over your head.
Love, love your channel, love when you say, “I mean, come on!” I was watching a decorating channel and she said all the legs on the furniture in a space had to be the same, and I was like, seriously?!?! come on! I believe you are the only “designer” I would ever invite into my home.
Jordan’s furniture, which is a New England regional chain, has “small spaces” as a category. Very easy to find pieces that fit into your triple-decker with the narrow staircase.
i can't believe nick found a house where there is a room with the dimensions that allows him to be able to replicate the exact room he had previously in his condo. did he buy this house because it had this room?? i wonder. i truly wonder.
I'm a former military brat who's lived in small spaces most of my life--currently it's a 685 square foot apartment. The biggest problem I see in apartments is too much stuff. I don't bring anything into my space without getting rid of two things. I like CB2 and West Elm for urban-sized furniture.
My guest bedroom in my parents' cabin in the woods is 6m2. A few things helped make it a genuinely nice place. 1. Going minimalist with functional items while still having decor (two very narrow picture shelves, 2 layers of light curtains, a couple of throw pillows, a nice carpet) 2. Having a tall mirror opposite the window to widen the space and reflect the light 3. Choosing a desk with one see-through side (a metal frame) 4. Having a folding sofa bed with storage 5. Using the window sill as a shelf 6. Using the top of a small dresser as a shelf 7. Painting the room light yellow 8. Choosing white/beige furniture, almost all of it from IKEA 9. Not actually going up to avoid feeling trapped 10. Having many light sources (there's ceiling lights, a reading lamp by the sofa, a desk lamp, a dresser lamp, and a string of paper lanterns). Having a light for each area creates a weirdly convincing illusion that there are areas within those 6m2 😆
Love that your always considerate of different budgets. So many interior design videos make you feel bad for not having a big home or thousands to throw at furniture.
I don't live in a super small space, but there are five of us and none of the rooms are particularly large. I currently have old couches that just don't fit the space well at all, but I am determined to not replace them until my kids are a little older and less rough on the furniture. Until then we will deal with a the awkward fit and the hideous couches.
Just a thought from a granny here. Maybe get the better fitting couches now and teach the children to be gentle with the furniture. You may enjoy the space more, better Feng shui for all. Treat yourself, you deserve it.
Definitely recommend couch and chair covers. I found some great ones on Amazon I just put on a few days ago. Our couch and chair is almost 10 years old, not too bad, but I love the covers.
If it's gonna be a few more years could you thrift some equally ugly ones that fit the space better? Eyesores are one thing but it seems a shame to be getting squashed
Good responses to this one. You've gotta be happy in your space and the energy needs to flow (Feng Shui) so I say get rid. Covers for your replacement furni would be a God send....
When we got married (in the 80s) we got a bedroom set that is a platform bed flanked by small armoires. Each side piece has a pull-out shelf for the water or eyeglasses. There are bins as a headboard which store blankets. It is very ship-inspired and useful. We have never needed a chest of drawers, making small bedrooms more comfortable. Since we chose neutral wood, it's also never gone out of style. We have also flanked children's bed with bookcases or wardrobes. Yes - small needs to go upward.
Nick--I live in a small space, but also love antiques. I was able to find an antique Art Nouveau desk, cabinet, and bookcase unit on marketplace---solidly made--for far less than a new (frequently particleboard) version would have cost. I'd like to see you feature that type of furniture as one of the options for those viewers that do decorate with vintage or antique furniture. Plus--antique furniture is frequently smaller scale because the homes/apartments were usually smaller.
Thank you for this. Great tips. Houses & flats in the UK are a lot smaller than ones in the US, so we have to be more creative with space. Coats & shoes etc are often stored in a downstairs loo & then called a cloakroom. We don’t have space for a mud room. A lot of houses don’t have a utility/laundry room, so the washing machine has to go in the kitchen. The tumble dryer, if they have one, are often stored in the garage. I’ve got an IKEA table that seats 2 people in my lounge & dining room. By the way, your beard really suits you & I’m so glad that the clock is back.
It took me forever to work out what you say at the beginning of the videos - "Hey everyone, welcome or welcome back to my channel..." finally the penny dropped. Love your videos and advice, plus your sense of humour - big fan in Ireland 🇮🇪🏳️🌈
I have a cloffice. Half my wardrobe is an office and it’s great. My place I will move back into is what we call a granny flat so the bathroom is also the laundry and the living room is also the office. It’s all multipurpose because of lack of space. I’ve started to invest in nice furniture to make the space my own and I call it my small celestial palace.
I was visiting a friend in Amsterdam. The apartment was approximately 600 sq ft and had two sets of adults living there. Parents and married kids. Talk about combo furniture. The “kitchen” was a galley hallway with the front door. Half fridge, camping stove/oven and almost no storage.
Wow the spaces at 6:07 and the rooms at 13:30 and 13:35 are so beautiful.. 😍 Sometimes I look at your ❌ examples and go 'oh, I kind of liked that, why was that a bad example? 🤔' but then I see your 'maybe this is better' examples and go 'ah, that's quite beautiful and I feel like I could live there' so I appreciate the visual examples very much.
I'm always staring at what's behind you in your videos. In the old place, I was always dying to see your kitchen (and you did finally show it). Now I'm like, ah the clock is back, nice. And I am obsessed with the floor lamp!
Hi! So true about round table, I moved from 3,100 to around 1,800, first furniture I replaced was my square dinner table for round table! Thanks! Enjoy your weekend! 🤗😃
Loved this video. My tip is to declutter even if you don't think you need to. I've lived in a small 2 br apartment for nearly 5 years. Hubby and I don't have a lot of stuff, but in July, my best friend and I went through EVERYTHING. I wanted to re-organize. Now, I consider myself a minimalist. I didn't think there would be much to get rid of. We still threw out a few bags of trash and had a pile for donations! I couldn't believe the amount of stuff that was hidden away in every nook and cranny!
I would argue you can be a maximalist in aesthetics, but still be a minimalist in lifestyle. Minimalism as a lifestyle is essentially having what is useful, and what you love, but probably not 50 mugs and 37 blankets (unless you live in a yurt or something, where you might need 37 blankets, but then in that situation it would be minimalist because you actually use them!), similar to what Nick says about design intention. There is definitely a big gap between maximalism and hoarding.
you can be a Maximalist without having a lot of stuff just by using bold color, striking fabrics, stunning artwork with minimal furniture and stuff. Somehow people don't get that. And I so agree that Maximalism doesn't equal hoarding.
@@vaderladyl Definitely, though to some (many?) it seems to mean lots of things everywhere for some reason. But if you look at well-done maximalist spaces, the amount of items as you say isn't usually overboard, it's the use of colour, texture, fabric designs etc, all of which are visually interesting on their own.
@@vaderladyl you can also be a minimalist in the sense that you don't have a lot of stuff, but also have bright colours and patterned and textured stuff instead of having an all white and smooth house ffs.
I furnished my latest 1500sq ft home with a lot of finds from Wayfair. Storage ottoman that doubles as either a table or a foot stool for storing cool weather blankets, nesting side tables that tuck out of sight, narrow entry / wall console that can be as shallow as 9" with drawers and bottom level for storage baskets, a storage bench and cube basket storage for closets, and it was the only place I found a dining table narrow enough to fit my tiny dining room and still seat 6-8. With warm minimalism style, you can't beat them for style, affordability and practical function. Great video, Nick!
I love in 809sqft with my wife and two kids (6 & 8). We found folding up bunk beds to really helpful. When you fold up the bottom bed it opens more play space. This is helpful when the room is 10x12.
I downsized from a three bedroom house to a condo, and what I’ve learned is that furniture with feet flows better in a small space. I love Wayfair. They seem to understand the smaller space furniture concept.
"Build it out of cardboard, I build one out of cardboard" I instantly thought isn't that kinda DIY? And that coming from Nick? Had a little chuckle but great advice of course. Keep doing you! Love your videos!
Our first home was a 12 foot wide mobile home. We got a big sectional sofa. It worked fantastically in there. It created a conversation area/room divider in an open plan. It looked simple and sleekly uncluttered compared to a bunch of small pieces.
2:00 - I'd never heard of a "cloffice" before this video, but it seems to me they would take up a lot of useful storage space. To be fair though, if you have kids, this is probably a better solution than the desk in the living room where everyone is running around throwing pillows at each other 😂
Yay, a video for the rest of us! In our 650 sq ft apartments with tiny galley kitchens. This video is full of practical tips. And I love your bit about RH: "Honey, it's not for you. Their dining table looks like the Gryffindor common room, it seats 45." 😂
where did you get the beautiful floor lamp? I downsized to a 500 sf studio from 1,200 sf house and I'm learning to be intentional. It's a fun challenge to have only what I love. You have taught me a lot over the last couple of years.
I had a fire and oil was rebuilding my space. I went to Ashley's and got the size of the sectional and measurements and did measure were it was going in my living room . I'm so glad I did this and it fit.😊
I lived in 511 sq. ft for 21 years. I loved it! I did everything you're talking about and it works. It was so cozy! People loved it when they came over and I cried when I sold it and moved.
My house is 690 ft.². A little craftsman built 1900. Thankfully the ceilings are 10 feet tall. And that really helps it make it feel bigger. And I do have storage. I need a ladder to get to it but it’s there.
Yes!!! Cardboard. I kept my cardboard furniture for ages because it was so easy to move! I know it’s not aesthetic but I honestly loved getting to make it exactly how I wanted for free
When watching videos of "small city apartments" I was always impressed with what the tenant was able to do in spaces with tall ceilings: small lofts for sleeping, 2-story closets, etc. Build up, not out.
I had a 440 sq ft alcove studio years ago. The kitchen felt like a room of its own because of the way the walls were built. I was able to fit the bedroom in the alcove, using the larger area for a dining and living room. I loved living in that small space and had so much fun designing it.
The Space Saver Method channel did a series in a Korean loft studio, where there was a 12" raised false floor, with hinged storage to access every square inch underneath, apart from where big furniture was placed.
Oh my god, your sarcastic commentary is 🔥. As someone who is potentially moving into a 600 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. I appreciate your perspective on how to navigate small spaces.
Vintage furniture is also smaller in scale, and you can refinish/reupholster it and keep it out of the landfill. It's also usually better built than modern day furniture.
LOVE all of your suggestions! These tips and tricks remind me of one of my favorite channels, “Never Too Small”. Most of the spaces presented are 600 square feet or less and the designers really know how to make spaces as efficient as possible. Most of them are in European city centers, which tend to have very small apartments. The art of working with small square footage is truly amazing and underrated in the world of design!
We have a 960 ft^2 condo with a kitchen that's maybe 8 ft by 6 ft. We have to choose what to open: the fridge, oven or dishwasher. We can't do anything about it beyond all the cabinets already in it. But... We also have a small dining area completely taken over by a Wyrmwood gaming table which can easily fit 8 people for D&D! We have a procedure for how to rearrange furniture based on the number of people playing games at our house on a given day. 😂 That table does a lot of duty as a regular table, gaming table, crafting table, & sometimes an office table. You make it work somehow. 100% agree with the round furniture saving you from dings & bruises!
Love this video. Your tips are spot on. My art studio is in a closet. We had an outlet put in and built our own floating shelving. I have a heavy duty folding desk that is easy to fold up whenever I want to set up an easel or ironing board. Triple duty space!
Im really enjoying watching your space behind you evolving. Its also just more realistic watching a new space evolving over time rather than being perfect right of the bat.
This comes at a perfect time. We arw looking for our first house and I know it will be smaller than my current rental so I'm trying to be optimistic and think good design options ❤
I love watching your channel. We were living in a 2400 sq ft duplex. We just bought our first home and now we’re downsizing to 1050 sq ft. There’s only 2 closets in the entire house. Only one of the bedrooms and a small walk in pantry. We have been getting creative with storage like drawers under the beds, hidden shoe cabinet, free standing linen closet for the bathroom, hutch in the kitchen. I love hearing about new ideas as well! We also thought we were limited to Ikea and Wayfair for small scale furniture, which by the way I love!!, but I love that you introduce other options as well.
I absolutely love your videos. Your humour and wit is top-notch! Great tips as I live in less than 600 square-foot apartment In Langley…as the rent is atrocious for anything bigger!
I love living in a small space. It’s so cozy. I lived in the same apartment layout twice that was a little less than 500 sq ft. I had completely different furniture the second time. Surprisingly I have a bigger couch and bed now and simply turning the bed 90 degrees and moving the couch off the wall and using it as a space divider made the space much easier to utilize and navigate. I want that apartment back 😂
"Just because you're a maximalist doesn't mean you can be a hoarder." True that!
"and call yourself a miximalist." LOL.
😂😂I felt this comment
Off topic.. I'm loving the beard and mustache. You look so handsome.
I think the beard is always on topic.
@@Nick_Lewis Sorry Nick, I am not a fan. For me, your look was more polished without it.
@@sbffsbrarbrri think he looks younger
@@Nick_Lewislolllll
LOVE the beard
From a european in a big city perspective, i had a small culture shock : I laughed when you said your first appartment was not even 500 sqf ! Here, your average student flat is 9 to 25 sqmeters (100 to 270 sqf). When we're lucky enough to have closets, we can't enter in them, even less fit a table !
Americans have a different perspective on 'space' I find. They can drive for days and still be in the same state. Like Texas.
Yes, I had to laugh at that, too. My student studio was 18 sqmeters, then I met my husband and we lived in his 38sqmeters apartment for two years. After university we then moved into our first real apartment together that was about 85sqmeters and we didn't know what to do with ALL THAT SPACE, LOL. Now we live in a 140 sqmeters two-story single family house which is a totally normal size here in Germany. You will find only few new homes that will be above 1500 square feet (150 sqmeters), let alone larger ones above 2000 square feet. We don't need extra rooms because we have less stuff!!
Another laugher here. In San Francisco my 680 sq ft one bedroom is considered spacious.
@@LauraGilmoreArt One bedroom 680sqft ? Do the warriors train in that one bedroom ?
@@olivierbioret5206one bedroom means that there’s two separate spaces- a bedroom and a kitchen/living room, as apposed to a studio, which is one big room
I adore your asides, such as, "that sounded more profound in my head." Your honesty is refreshing. 😊
I had two mirrored medicine cabinets installed one above the other. This gives me storage but also gives a full length mirror.
Love a medicine cabinet!
Great idea.
I may take that page from your book.
@@peztopher7297 Please feel free.
With all crack in the middle !!! Hahaha
I am so happy to see the clock. Like an old friend❤
Take a sip of your mimosa every time Nick says Storage!
Cheers!🥂
🥴🍻
I did, and now I'm *under* my new round coffee table... 😁
Another tip especially for us younger (broke) folks. Take advantage of back to school season because that’s when they put out DORM FURNITURE. Storage ottomans, thin inexpensive shelving, frames and mirrors, storage boxes that aren’t extremely ugly. It’s genius and college kid prices. They don’t last forever but it works for the time being.
I'm a broke Senior and this still applies 😮
Tips: Older folks are also poor. In fact, seniors are the one segment of the population that has not seen an increase in financial wellbeing, quite the reverse. But there is the myth, spread by younger folks, who love to hate us, that we're all rich and greedy. WRONG.
I'm in the process of fitting out a 500 SF apartment. Just got back from a kitchen planning session at IKEA for a 9' x 6' kitchen. We focused on storage and added a 15" deep base cabinet w/a glass front wall cabinet in the living space just outside the kitchen doorway. The IKEA designer was fabulous. She knew the product inside and out and how to make minor customizations for this tiny 1850's carriage house apartment. I'll be pulling the trigger by this time next week. It's gonna be great!
Congratulations!
Congratulations 🎉. I think that the IKEA kitchen designers are very knowledgeable about their products and good value for money. I hope that you love your new home 🏡😊
Omg it’s gonna be amazing! If you happen to post before/after pics or document the process please let us know ☺️ I’d love to see it!
We live in 380 square feet, it takes almost no clutter to make the whole house look wrecked. I've been decluttering and hiding things as much as possible to keep myself sane. Great tips!
I'm enforcing the rule "one thing in, one thing out) to avoid cluttering our tiny apartment.
Before that, I truly decluttered our space and sold/donated/threw awat a lot of things .
It was hard, but rewarding
Move !!
@@richardadams6988 😂 we're trying! No luck yet
Before I moved into my studio, I measured the space and drew it to scale in my bullet journal. Then I measured my furniture and drew 2D versions (also to scale). Then I cut out the furniture and placed them in the drawing I had of the room to see what fit and what didn’t and figure out the best layout. That’s my favorite way to map out a small space
@lauren@sunshine I did the same at my last two apartments! It works wonders! Most when you have so akward corners or you want to fit your old furniture🙈
Yeah, I use graph paper and cut little pieces for the furniture. You don't have to move things around over and over to figure it out, which is what I had done before.
Yeah. I also did that - measured my furniture then made paper cutouts. I like the 3D printed models of "Dear Modern" channel (feng shui expert).
Wow you are amazing !!!
Exactly what I did for years when I was moving frequently! SO much easier than physically rearranging furniture!
I always laugh when people say 1,000 ft2 is small. I raised 3 kids, first in under 900 sq2, then In a house just barely over 1,000ft2. Always with one bathroom. It wasn’t perfect, but we always made it work. Now I’m always shocked by people needing 2,000 sq2 ft or more. The more you’ve got the more to clean.
Oh yes! When I watch HGTV shows like House Hunters or Love it or List it, I'm always shaking my head when they say that they want at least 2000 sqft, a bonus room, etc.
I grew up with only one bathroom, in fact I only got a second bathroom when we built our house in my mid 30's😂😂😂😂. We currently have 3 full bathrooms and I was thinking just this morning how it's easier to clean less bathrooms 😂😂😂😂. We are 3 people in a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom apartment. We don't really need so much space, we use the smallest bedroom as my husband's home office and we have a dedicated guest bedroom. Which does get used as we have family and friends on 4 different continents 😊
As a kid in the 60s we were five people living on 678 sqf. It worked, but I wouldn’t like to repeat that nowadays.
I like my vintage little oblong drop leaf table with the extra leaf and 4 matching chairs that I picked up at an auction for $12.50. 😊
Such a deal !!!!
I downsized a few years ago and decided I wanted to start making jewelry I mean real jewelry. It requires a flame and some flux and some hammering and some tumbling, on and on, and I had nowhere to do it. Then I realized I have a big walk-in closet with a window that I'm not using except for a little out of season clothes storage... I built a jewelers workbench and got all the supplies, and my goodness I learned everything on RUclips about how to make sterling silver jewelry!!!! It's the perfect size Workshop. I can't think of a better use for that space. It'smy favoriteroomin my condo!. I actually put some clothing racks up in my laundry room and use that for extra storage for clothing because I didn't need it for anything else. It has worked out great it's like having an extra room in my condo no worries it's all fireproof and the window is there for any fumes and I have fire extinguishers and the flame is very tiny but when I need a flame it is surrounded by fireproof brick. I never would have thought it would work out so well❤... my "guess room " is also a den, or TV room with a sofa sleeper. I wanted the great room to be like the formal rooms I grew up in. Always tidy with all of my favorite furniture and I made the dining area formal as well. Not for everyone, but it's worked out great for me. I have always loved the Victorian style and I made it happen in my condo. BTW, no TV in the formal areas. Great for conversation
One of the apartments I lived in didn't have a storage unit so I had to store tires in the appointment. So put a round board on them and covered them with a long table cloth. Not ideal, but it's better than leaving a pile of tires in the living room or buying new ones every season.
So smart. My rental home has no storage unit either, and the home has wall-to-wall carpet everywhere except the kitchen and bathroom. I put a large rubbermaid box (in a color I like) on the floor of the carpeted closet in the extra room. I put hedge trimmers, weed wacker, brooms, etc. either in the container or hanging over it with S hooks. Also hang my hand Swiffer, gardening gloves, and Resolve carpet cleaning mechanism over it. I shut the door and everything disappears until I need it -- like your tires.
Ingenious and clever !!!
Why do you need to store tires?
@@anaalves3658 YOU never know !!!!
@@anaalves3658 studded tires for winter and regular for summer. There's also all season tires which can be used year round. But they aren't as safe on icy roads as studded tires are.
Small needs tall
Period
Live and own 380sq apartment have no wall mounted shelves or furniture taller then eye level.
I also have my home office in the den-bedroom closet. I had shelves built into it and functions very well, I love it.
I live in less than 1000 sq ft, but have 10’4” ceilings and it makes it seem so much larger. So true!
@@scasnyThat's interesting. Hope you send pics to Nick so he can include your apartment/style in a video. I'm on the short side, so I'd love to see what you have done with your space!
Double duty furniture... I bought an old secretary desk & it doubles as my dresser. I work part time from home & I just needed a little desk to use for work occasionally so having a little space that folds up is all I needed & a secretary desk was the perfect solution to have a cute vintage dresser & a desk in a tiny space.
Great tips! I can't be alone as a California person, with the heavy, easily jolted things over people's beds in the example pics giving me quake anxiety.
Oh me too! I see heavy shelves full of books right over where people will lay their heads in bed - yikes!
I don't live in an earthquake area and never liked heavy stuff or shelves over my head. Things fall without even touching them sometimes, plus it is a huge no-no in Feng Shui about things over your head.
@@vaderladyl Yes on the feng shui, too.
Exactly!
Thanks Nick. I've been stuck at home sick for 3 days and this made me feel better. Laughter is always the best medicine.
“The Gryffindor Common Room”……….OMG! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🥲
Actually that would be small and cozy. I think he was thinking of the Hogwarts dining hall.
@@peztopher7297 He was!
Love, love your channel, love when you say, “I mean, come on!” I was watching a decorating channel and she said all the legs on the furniture in a space had to be the same, and I was like, seriously?!?! come on! I believe you are the only “designer” I would ever invite into my home.
Jordan’s furniture, which is a New England regional chain, has “small spaces” as a category. Very easy to find pieces that fit into your triple-decker with the narrow staircase.
i can't believe nick found a house where there is a room with the dimensions that allows him to be able to replicate the exact room he had previously in his condo. did he buy this house because it had this room?? i wonder. i truly wonder.
So funny, I think that every time I watch his vids. 😂😂😂😂
I didn't notice till you pointed It out and now I'm slightly creeped out
I thought the same thing! He is a creature of habit, and yet he's creative. Odd.
He must have thought,' If it ain't broke , don't fix it' . He will probably tweak things later if inspiration strikes.
Except you can't see through to the dining room like the condo.
THE CLOCK IS BACK!!!
Yes!!!
I noticed the clock immediately after noticing how nice Nick's beard looks!
I've gotten to the point where I save Nick's videos to my home improvements youtube Playlist before even watching
once again you nailed it....round, tall, slim, closed shelves, under beds...and never shopping online
IKEA is genius with combo furniture and storage.
Yes we just bought the jattebo modular sofa and every seat has storage underneath !!!
I'm a former military brat who's lived in small spaces most of my life--currently it's a 685 square foot apartment. The biggest problem I see in apartments is too much stuff. I don't bring anything into my space without getting rid of two things. I like CB2 and West Elm for urban-sized furniture.
My guest bedroom in my parents' cabin in the woods is 6m2. A few things helped make it a genuinely nice place.
1. Going minimalist with functional items while still having decor (two very narrow picture shelves, 2 layers of light curtains, a couple of throw pillows, a nice carpet)
2. Having a tall mirror opposite the window to widen the space and reflect the light
3. Choosing a desk with one see-through side (a metal frame)
4. Having a folding sofa bed with storage
5. Using the window sill as a shelf
6. Using the top of a small dresser as a shelf
7. Painting the room light yellow
8. Choosing white/beige furniture, almost all of it from IKEA
9. Not actually going up to avoid feeling trapped
10. Having many light sources (there's ceiling lights, a reading lamp by the sofa, a desk lamp, a dresser lamp, and a string of paper lanterns). Having a light for each area creates a weirdly convincing illusion that there are areas within those 6m2 😆
Love that your always considerate of different budgets. So many interior design videos make you feel bad for not having a big home or thousands to throw at furniture.
You had me at "it belongs in a Gryffindor common room!" Great humour!
I don't live in a super small space, but there are five of us and none of the rooms are particularly large. I currently have old couches that just don't fit the space well at all, but I am determined to not replace them until my kids are a little older and less rough on the furniture. Until then we will deal with a the awkward fit and the hideous couches.
Just a thought from a granny here. Maybe get the better fitting couches now and teach the children to be gentle with the furniture. You may enjoy the space more, better Feng shui for all. Treat yourself, you deserve it.
Definitely recommend couch and chair covers. I found some great ones on Amazon I just put on a few days ago. Our couch and chair is almost 10 years old, not too bad, but I love the covers.
If it's gonna be a few more years could you thrift some equally ugly ones that fit the space better?
Eyesores are one thing but it seems a shame to be getting squashed
Ikea couches with removable/washable covers are great for kids. Mom of 4 here, oldest is 9
Good responses to this one. You've gotta be happy in your space and the energy needs to flow (Feng Shui) so I say get rid. Covers for your replacement furni would be a God send....
LOL You don't get to be a hoarder and call yourself a maximalist. I love Nick's show.
When we got married (in the 80s) we got a bedroom set that is a platform bed flanked by small armoires. Each side piece has a pull-out shelf for the water or eyeglasses. There are bins as a headboard which store blankets. It is very ship-inspired and useful. We have never needed a chest of drawers, making small bedrooms more comfortable. Since we chose neutral wood, it's also never gone out of style. We have also flanked children's bed with bookcases or wardrobes. Yes - small needs to go upward.
Nick--I live in a small space, but also love antiques. I was able to find an antique Art Nouveau desk, cabinet, and bookcase unit on marketplace---solidly made--for far less than a new (frequently particleboard) version would have cost. I'd like to see you feature that type of furniture as one of the options for those viewers that do decorate with vintage or antique furniture. Plus--antique furniture is frequently smaller scale because the homes/apartments were usually smaller.
Great point, and something I’ve done also👍
Thank you for this. Great tips.
Houses & flats in the UK are a lot smaller than ones in the US, so we have to be more creative with space.
Coats & shoes etc are often stored in a downstairs loo & then called a cloakroom. We don’t have space for a mud room.
A lot of houses don’t have a utility/laundry room, so the washing machine has to go in the kitchen. The tumble dryer, if they have one, are often stored in the garage.
I’ve got an IKEA table that seats 2 people in my lounge & dining room.
By the way, your beard really suits you & I’m so glad that the clock is back.
It took me forever to work out what you say at the beginning of the videos - "Hey everyone, welcome or welcome back to my channel..." finally the penny dropped. Love your videos and advice, plus your sense of humour - big fan in Ireland 🇮🇪🏳️🌈
oooh the clock is back! the video was good to
I like your channel so much because you pick such good examples of whatever you are talking about. 😊
Yes!!
Always such practical tips! Thank you for sharing! Hope you make more videos for small spaces
I have a cloffice. Half my wardrobe is an office and it’s great. My place I will move back into is what we call a granny flat so the bathroom is also the laundry and the living room is also the office. It’s all multipurpose because of lack of space. I’ve started to invest in nice furniture to make the space my own and I call it my small celestial palace.
I was visiting a friend in Amsterdam. The apartment was approximately 600 sq ft and had two sets of adults living there. Parents and married kids. Talk about combo furniture. The “kitchen” was a galley hallway with the front door. Half fridge, camping stove/oven and almost no storage.
Wow, that place sounds ,teeny tiny !!!
Wow the spaces at 6:07 and the rooms at 13:30 and 13:35 are so beautiful.. 😍
Sometimes I look at your ❌ examples and go 'oh, I kind of liked that, why was that a bad example? 🤔' but then I see your 'maybe this is better' examples and go 'ah, that's quite beautiful and I feel like I could live there' so I appreciate the visual examples very much.
I have mocked up SO many things out of cardboard boxes, drop cloths, etc. it works!
I'm always staring at what's behind you in your videos. In the old place, I was always dying to see your kitchen (and you did finally show it). Now I'm like, ah the clock is back, nice. And I am obsessed with the floor lamp!
That floor lamp is exactly what he says to stay away from - - no wierd squiggles!
@@karensheppard1471 I feel like it's more Art Nouveau than Gen Z squiggle though?
Minimise use of floor space. Floor space is gold.
Hi! So true about round table, I moved from 3,100 to around 1,800, first furniture I replaced was my square dinner table for round table! Thanks! Enjoy your weekend! 🤗😃
This is way better then the previous tips for small homes where you use many furniture and examples for quite large homes.
Your home is really coming together! Love the warm rich browns ❤
Loved this video. My tip is to declutter even if you don't think you need to. I've lived in a small 2 br apartment for nearly 5 years. Hubby and I don't have a lot of stuff, but in July, my best friend and I went through EVERYTHING. I wanted to re-organize. Now, I consider myself a minimalist. I didn't think there would be much to get rid of. We still threw out a few bags of trash and had a pile for donations! I couldn't believe the amount of stuff that was hidden away in every nook and cranny!
I would argue you can be a maximalist in aesthetics, but still be a minimalist in lifestyle. Minimalism as a lifestyle is essentially having what is useful, and what you love, but probably not 50 mugs and 37 blankets (unless you live in a yurt or something, where you might need 37 blankets, but then in that situation it would be minimalist because you actually use them!), similar to what Nick says about design intention. There is definitely a big gap between maximalism and hoarding.
you can be a Maximalist without having a lot of stuff just by using bold color, striking fabrics, stunning artwork with minimal furniture and stuff. Somehow people don't get that.
And I so agree that Maximalism doesn't equal hoarding.
*GASP* Give up my 50 treasured mugs and 37 seasonal throws???? What monster would suggest such a thing???
@@vaderladyl Definitely, though to some (many?) it seems to mean lots of things everywhere for some reason. But if you look at well-done maximalist spaces, the amount of items as you say isn't usually overboard, it's the use of colour, texture, fabric designs etc, all of which are visually interesting on their own.
@@annbrookens945 😄
@@vaderladyl you can also be a minimalist in the sense that you don't have a lot of stuff, but also have bright colours and patterned and textured stuff instead of having an all white and smooth house ffs.
I furnished my latest 1500sq ft home with a lot of finds from Wayfair. Storage ottoman that doubles as either a table or a foot stool for storing cool weather blankets, nesting side tables that tuck out of sight, narrow entry / wall console that can be as shallow as 9" with drawers and bottom level for storage baskets, a storage bench and cube basket storage for closets, and it was the only place I found a dining table narrow enough to fit my tiny dining room and still seat 6-8. With warm minimalism style, you can't beat them for style, affordability and practical function. Great video, Nick!
I love in 809sqft with my wife and two kids (6 & 8). We found folding up bunk beds to really helpful. When you fold up the bottom bed it opens more play space. This is helpful when the room is 10x12.
I downsized from a three bedroom house to a condo, and what I’ve learned is that furniture with feet flows better in a small space. I love Wayfair. They seem to understand the smaller space furniture concept.
A small,round table is great for squishing a few extra people at, particularly if it’s a pedestal table.
We built a banquette in our little dining area. Seating plus storage.
"Build it out of cardboard, I build one out of cardboard" I instantly thought isn't that kinda DIY? And that coming from Nick?
Had a little chuckle but great advice of course.
Keep doing you! Love your videos!
Yes! We have a 120 square metre home and have round dining and coffee tables. Love them!
Our first home was a 12 foot wide mobile home. We got a big sectional sofa. It worked fantastically in there. It created a conversation area/room divider in an open plan. It looked simple and sleekly uncluttered compared to a bunch of small pieces.
lol… “looks like it belongs in a Gryffindor common room” .. fun.
Thank you for saying it! Utilizing vertical space is how I survive in small apartments. Everything in this video is on point!
vertical storage is crucial. That is what I use for my storage needs regardless of the size of the space.
Hidden storage! Priceless!!
2:00 - I'd never heard of a "cloffice" before this video, but it seems to me they would take up a lot of useful storage space. To be fair though, if you have kids, this is probably a better solution than the desk in the living room where everyone is running around throwing pillows at each other 😂
If already living in a small space, who has an unused closet to sacrifice for a home office? I always get tickled by that suggestion.
Yay, a video for the rest of us! In our 650 sq ft apartments with tiny galley kitchens. This video is full of practical tips. And I love your bit about RH: "Honey, it's not for you. Their dining table looks like the Gryffindor common room, it seats 45." 😂
I finally got the ad to stop so I was able to enjoy Nick’s video.
loved this topic! live in a 900sq ft home. needed this today
where did you get the beautiful floor lamp? I downsized to a 500 sf studio from 1,200 sf house and I'm learning to be intentional. It's a fun challenge to have only what I love. You have taught me a lot over the last couple of years.
Highly recommend Burrow’s storage bench. It’s a coffee table with storage and then used as extra seating for Holiday dinners!!❤❤
I had a fire and oil was rebuilding my space. I went to Ashley's and got the size of the sectional and measurements and did measure were it was going in my living room . I'm so glad I did this and it fit.😊
I live in a tiny house with my family and I agree with these tips! Space is so precious and needs to be maximized
Nick, I love how you provide great practical tips and creative decorating advice. Thanks!
I lived in 511 sq. ft for 21 years. I loved it! I did everything you're talking about and it works. It was so cozy! People loved it when they came over and I cried when I sold it and moved.
My house is 690 ft.². A little craftsman built 1900. Thankfully the ceilings are 10 feet tall. And that really helps it make it feel bigger. And I do have storage. I need a ladder to get to it but it’s there.
Yes!!! Cardboard. I kept my cardboard furniture for ages because it was so easy to move! I know it’s not aesthetic but I honestly loved getting to make it exactly how I wanted for free
I love a round dining table. I have one with a leaf that expands to an oval for 8 people. I have it in a make-shift dining area, and it looks classic.
When watching videos of "small city apartments" I was always impressed with what the tenant was able to do in spaces with tall ceilings: small lofts for sleeping, 2-story closets, etc. Build up, not out.
I had a 440 sq ft alcove studio years ago. The kitchen felt like a room of its own because of the way the walls were built. I was able to fit the bedroom in the alcove, using the larger area for a dining and living room. I loved living in that small space and had so much fun designing it.
Perfect timing as I’m. Painting my small second bedroom
The Space Saver Method channel did a series in a Korean loft studio, where there was a 12" raised false floor, with hinged storage to access every square inch underneath, apart from where big furniture was placed.
Oh my god, your sarcastic commentary is 🔥. As someone who is potentially moving into a 600 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment. I appreciate your perspective on how to navigate small spaces.
I used to have a transformer living room table. LOVED IT
When the second coffee hits… I love this video
Nick, I love your floor lamp!
Can you do an episode on bathrooms? I don’t have the budget to do a renovation but my bathroom looks so basic and sad.
Muji has some great underbed storage!
My mama wouldn't let us store anything under the beds, and it stuck!!!!
Great, informative video, thank you! Seeing The Clock and small cute lamp calms me in this crazy world.
Vintage furniture is also smaller in scale, and you can refinish/reupholster it and keep it out of the landfill. It's also usually better built than modern day furniture.
Yes! More round coffee tables!
LOVE all of your suggestions! These tips and tricks remind me of one of my favorite channels, “Never Too Small”. Most of the spaces presented are 600 square feet or less and the designers really know how to make spaces as efficient as possible. Most of them are in European city centers, which tend to have very small apartments. The art of working with small square footage is truly amazing and underrated in the world of design!
I don't have a cloffice.
I have a clibrary in my living room. My 1873 house has a living room closet for some reason.
When I was growing up, we called those closets the “coat closet”…
Hi, Nick, I hope you are enjoying your new home and getting it “nesty” before winter comes❤
The curves rant is one of the best. (4:57) I watched it three times.
We have a 960 ft^2 condo with a kitchen that's maybe 8 ft by 6 ft. We have to choose what to open: the fridge, oven or dishwasher. We can't do anything about it beyond all the cabinets already in it. But... We also have a small dining area completely taken over by a Wyrmwood gaming table which can easily fit 8 people for D&D! We have a procedure for how to rearrange furniture based on the number of people playing games at our house on a given day. 😂 That table does a lot of duty as a regular table, gaming table, crafting table, & sometimes an office table. You make it work somehow.
100% agree with the round furniture saving you from dings & bruises!
Love this video. Your tips are spot on. My art studio is in a closet. We had an outlet put in and built our own floating shelving. I have a heavy duty folding desk that is easy to fold up whenever I want to set up an easel or ironing board. Triple duty space!
Great advice especially about the size of furniture and not cluttering up the space.
Im really enjoying watching your space behind you evolving. Its also just more realistic watching a new space evolving over time rather than being perfect right of the bat.
This comes at a perfect time. We arw looking for our first house and I know it will be smaller than my current rental so I'm trying to be optimistic and think good design options ❤
I love watching your channel. We were living in a 2400 sq ft duplex. We just bought our first home and now we’re downsizing to 1050 sq ft. There’s only 2 closets in the entire house. Only one of the bedrooms and a small walk in pantry. We have been getting creative with storage like drawers under the beds, hidden shoe cabinet, free standing linen closet for the bathroom, hutch in the kitchen. I love hearing about new ideas as well! We also thought we were limited to Ikea and Wayfair for small scale furniture, which by the way I love!!, but I love that you introduce other options as well.
I absolutely love your videos. Your humour and wit is top-notch! Great tips as I live in less than 600 square-foot apartment In Langley…as the rent is atrocious for anything bigger!
I love living in a small space. It’s so cozy. I lived in the same apartment layout twice that was a little less than 500 sq ft. I had completely different furniture the second time. Surprisingly I have a bigger couch and bed now and simply turning the bed 90 degrees and moving the couch off the wall and using it as a space divider made the space much easier to utilize and navigate. I want that apartment back 😂