It turns out that the lack of personal space is very harmful to both mental and physical health.
If you are young and lonely, no problem. You may well live in a studio or one-room apartment, and this is unlikely to entail any significant discomfort. But if you are over thirty, or you are a couple, and you, moreover, have children, then living in a one-room apartment is contraindicated for you.
According to research by American psychologists, it is impossible to really relax in a small apartment. Limited personal space contributes to the accumulation of stress.
“Home should be a refuge from all adversity, the safest place on the planet. If you have a stressful job, you may feel trapped in a small apartment. And if the things you need to feel comfortable at home still do not fit, your quality of life will inevitably fall, – says Dak Kopek, author of works on the influence of architecture and design on the psyche and human health. “The lack of personal space leads to increased stress levels, can become a factor provoking domestic violence, and even a cause of substance abuse.”
Professor Susan Seigert, who studies environmental psychology, agrees with a colleague: you can’t live in cramped conditions.
“I studied a lot of kids growing up in small, overcrowded apartments. Many of them run the risk of being expelled, they have difficulties with their studies, they cannot concentrate, ”she says.
And in a small space, there is absolutely not enough air and infections spread much faster. Therefore, their inhabitants have problems with immunity.
Meanwhile, one-room apartments and studios remain the most popular in our country. Due to availability, of course. Indeed, even with a mortgage, not all families can afford a kopeck piece in a decent area. So you have to huddle in studios. However, even here you can slightly smooth out the influence of cramped space: the space of a small apartment can at least visually be made larger. We have collected 20 available methods.
1. Multi-storey furniture
Transforming furniture is a hit of design art. For example, a bed that easily turns into a sofa: this is a very convenient option to change the space of a small apartment. Another option is a bed that is built into the wardrobe. During the day, it can be raised, freeing up a lot of space. Another plus of this decision is that if you live together, each will have their own dressing room.
2. Shallow shelves for books and toys
Place shelves along the walls, which will house your books, photo albums, children’s toys. If only the depth of the shelves was small – why do you need a free edge of the shelf, which only “eats up” the space?
3. Folding chairs
They can be folded and compactly hidden in a secluded corner, freeing up the required area of the room. And no, they are not only marching. There are some pretty glamorous options that will fit into any interior.
4. A hanger for dishes under the ceiling
An original design technique is to use the ceiling surface to hang household items. Hook the pretty crockery to the special hooks on the ceiling and you save a lot of space. But the dishes should be such that they would not be ashamed to show people, this is unconditional. By the way, barbells with hooks can also be run along the walls in the kitchen. It is very convenient to hang mugs, potholders and other kitchen trifles on them.
5. Table with rope “shelves”
A colored rope divider on the table can organize the work surface so that all the necessary books and folders are in plain sight. And it is not at all necessary to pile up additional shelves.
6. Podium with storage
A very practical trick: raise the floor in a small kitchen, and make drawers under the podium, where you can put everything that you rarely use. For example, seasonal clothing. The same trick can be done with a ceiling.
7. Magnetic board
For metal kitchen appliances, magnetic tape that attaches to the wall is suitable for tools. Firstly, everything is in plain sight, and secondly, empty one of the necessary boxes.
8. Mesh along the wall
The durable wire mesh will give the wall an original texture and allow you to hang your kitchen utensils in the order you want. From time to time, you can outweigh the dishes and change the design of the wall.
9. Hanging shelves
In a very small bedroom, shelves can be made around the entire perimeter. They will not interfere, and everything you need will fit above your head.
10. Glass shelves
Transparent plastic and glass shelves “lighten” the interior, so they can be safely hung on unused walls. By the way, monochromatic surfaces “work” in a similar way. If you use too many colors, patterns and textures in the decor, the room will seem cramped. Try to leave plain spaces – walls, floor, ceiling.
11. Vertical dryers
All dishes can be kept close at hand if they are not placed in bulky cabinets, but in vertical dryers next to the sink. Unless, of course, you collect plates, but keep a reasonable amount of dishes at home.
12. Containers on the windowsill
Using a windowsill as a place to store small things is a sacred thing. The main thing is to find beautiful jars that will make the interior brighter and more diverse.
13. Compact sets of containers
Storage containers take up a lot of space when not in use. Sets of plastic containers can be easily folded into each other and take up a minimum of space on the shelves.
14. Christmas toys as a container for small things
Fold all sorts of little things – buttons, tongues and screws – into bubbles or used light bulbs. And then all this beauty can be decoratively hung from the wall or ceiling. You can use Christmas tree toys. In general, a huge field for imagination.
145. Lounger under the ceiling
The second floor in a small size is possible. And it is not even necessary to live for this in a stalinka with high ceilings. Above a soft sofa under the ceiling, you can make a cozy nest for relaxation, even in an ordinary apartment.
16. Dryer over the bath
Using the space above the bathtub to dry towels and linen shouldn’t bother you. There is ventilation in this room, so the humidity does not linger.
17. Foldable hanger
From several beams, build a portable folding hanger that can be placed both in the corner and along the wall. Make many hooks and bars at different levels. However, you can buy such a contraption. Or even custom made.
18. Ironing blanket
Instead of a traditional ironing board, which takes up a lot of space, you can choose a small heat-resistant mat, which, after ironing, simply disappears into the closet along with the laundry.
19. Book table
You can gather friends and relatives around the table with a folding table. There will be enough space for everyone when you lay out the table, and “roam” in a small apartment when you put the table in a book.
20. Curtain with pockets
Pockets on the waterproof curtain that covers the shower room will save space in the bathroom: you will not need to take up space with extra shelves.