Apartment living is only continuing to grow in popularity, with people appreciating the benefits of being close to the city at a more affordable price. But in some inner city locations, apartments can be as small as 44 square metres, so how can you maximise the little amount of room an apartment offers?
From smart storage to flexible furniture and hidden cupboards, there are several space maximising initiatives that the city’s top real estate agents have been noticing. A prime example is the octagonal-shaped apartments on The Block, where several tricks of the trade are being used to make the most of every corner.
Below hockingstuart’s Mark Konishi — sales agent for The Block‘s Kingi and Caro — shares the top six storage initiatives he is seeing in inner-city apartments.
Hidden TV’s: In the city’s most luxurious apartments, buyers no longer want a TV to be the livings room’s focal point. A sliding panel can hide any eye-sore and is the perfect blank canvas for art.
Mirrored-cupboards: Mirrored-cupboards are a well-loved feature combining storage and functionality and they don’t take up any additional space.
Corner desks: Tiny corners are hard to utilise. A plant might look great but it isn’t functional – adding a small desk with some shelves instantly creates a purposeful space.
Window sills: Once they were dust collectors, but now window sills are being recognised as an additional storage space.
Sliding doors: A traditional door frame requires plenty of floor space and can often cause congestion issues in small apartments. Sliding doors can maximise space and also act as an eye-catching feature.
Functional bed heads: There’s no doubt bedside tables are useful, however they do tend to collect redundant odds and ends. Bed heads that have inbuilt shelving ensure only the essential items are stored in the bedroom.
2 replies on “6 storage tips for apartment living, as learnt from The Block”
I love the idea of a corner desk. We do have an awkward corner in our main living area and I have been trying to figure out what to put there. A desk never even crossed my mind! Do you have any suggestions for how to put in a desk that doesn’t have to be built-in?
I really like the idea of having sliding doors. That does seem like a creative thing to have a luxury apartment. It does seem like a good thing to have a professional to help design an really luxurious apartment. Especially, if you want to get the most out of the space.