The Power of the Rearrange

By Radhika Gupta 

Small is cool. We all hanker for miniature phones, tiny cupcakes and petite figures. But when it comes to apartments then small is considered a fatal flaw.

What then is an urbanite that wasn’t born with the whole silver cutlery set in his mouth to do? Living in most metros means that there has to be a trade off between location and space. If you want to live near some modicum of social activity like a restaurant or a cinema you must be prepared to limit your desire for palaces.

Herein lies your solution- the magic wand of the rearrangement. A swap around of furniture, a wash of paint, or an addition of an interesting lamp, or piece of art sounds simplistic but can tip the scale from poky to imaginative.

{Brighten the interiors by adding a pop of color with accessories}

{Colorful carpets are a great way to add color to a room, especially when you’re on a budget}

There are certain basic rules to follow and you can do so much more with less. Visual clutter and bad lighting are two of the biggest enemies to guard against. When you’re fighting for space its best to keep your junk behind concealed doors. A simple sliding storage system will reduce the noise created by stacks of magazines and CDs. It’s best to have built-in shelves that allow you to use all available wall space. Mood lighting is great if you’re sitting in a lounge bar but not when you come home to a 500 square feet studio apartment. Ideally you should have a mix of track lighting, lamps and maybe a hanging pendant light.  

{Play around with the lights- floor lighting & chandelier to brighten up the room}

{When space is limited, storage is everything! Keep your desk clutter free}

This is what to avoid, now comes the fun part. Arranging the furniture. Painting the walls, hanging the art. Here is where you beckon the child in you to play furniture tetris.

Create interesting nooks like a desk for a home office or a cosy corner with a great arm chair for reading. Use sheer dividers to create separate space yet still maintaining lightness.  Paint the hallway a darker color and hang all your old black and white family photographs. Make a heart shaped collage out of stylized Polaroid shots above your bed. Go wild.

{Any boring and dull corner or wall needs a beautifully framed collectible or picture to uplift it}

{Frame it!}

After living in a small apartment in New York City for two years I am a firm believer in the power to create an inspiring, functional yet limited space. Whether its vintage floral wallpaper, that old Beatles poster, a sink-into-me chair for your little corner or a bright yellow wall; find what works for your space, take some time out and re-decorate! It’ll be fun, we promise!

Notes in our {Little Black Book}

- Click here for our go-to-list of stores to source some beautiful furniture and accessories for our homes. 

- For all your ‘lighting needs’, try Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market. Cheaper options available at Bhagirath Palace {near Chandni Chowk}

- Colorful carpets: Available at Fabindia Stores across Delhi. Very affordable and available in many colors. 

- Frame all your memories & hang your art- Capital Art Gallery 

- For cheap, vintage furniture- Sharma Farms, Sultanpur {on Mandigaon Road}