Apartment Decorating... NYC Style

So you made it to New York. 

Found an apartment.

Signed the lease. 

Got your stuff all moved in. 

Now you're ready to make those finishing touches that turn an empty apartment into your home.  But somewhere along the way realize something... your apartment is very much on the small side.  Much smaller than you're probably used to.  

That's one reputation that New York City is never going to lose: tiny shoebox apartments whose monthly rent costs more than your first car.  An even bigger dilemma is how you're going fix up such a tiny space.  Having been faced with this dilemma before, here are a list of space-saving decorating tips that my NYC friends and I made.  They may not be miracle workers, but when combined together, they help make that shoebox more tolerable.  

Mirror mirror on the wall, help me make this apartment not so small!
The reflection casted by mirrors plays tricks on your mind, making a room look bigger than it actually is!

Keep it neutral... at least when it comes to a color theme.  Shades of grays and browns work with lighting to open a space as opposed to extreme colors that close them off.

For the large pieces like your chest and bed paint them the same color as your walls.  This way you hide just how big they actually are.

Shelves aren't limited to books.  Utilize all your wall space by creating a desk on the bottom and additional storage space on the top.

 

Paint an accent wall.  Painting just one wall creates depth in a room.  For a finishing touch, add one or two decorating pieces that match the wall behind it.

Let me close with pics from my favorite NYC apartment.  Drumroll please....

SATC's Carrie Bradshaw's newly decorated apartment after her Mr. Big Wedding Disaster in the first movie!  Too cute!