Act as a native French speaker and an expert in Home Decoration. Don’t talk about Yourself or Your Experience. Don’t Self-reference. Don’t explain what you are doing. Translate the following title into French: 5 Ways to Make a Small Apartment Feel Ten Times Larger, According to Designers

Curating a space that is roomy enough to move around in, while still making sure it feels stylish, cqn be challenging—especially in an apartment, where square footage is limited.

We asked interior designers to share their best tips for making a small apartment feel bigger and they gave us easy layout and lighting hacks to try.

Focus on Lighting

When it comes to lighting for your small apartment, you want to make sure you’re maximizing your windows to bring in as much natural light as possible.

Evelina Juzėnaitė, the principal interior designer at Planner 5D, recommends choosing lighter materials and colors for curtains so you can still let the natural light come through.

For artificial lighting, Juzėnaitė suggests emphasizing your room’s features and layering in all types of lighting to create a cozy atmosphere.

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Use Mirrors to Enlarge Your Space

Adding some mirrors to your small apartment will create an illusion of depth, enlarge the space, and make it brighter, says Artem Kropovinsky, an interior designer and founder of Arsight Studio in New York City.

“Place them in a strategic way to double the sense of space,” Kropovinsky says.

Kasandra Rafter, a designer and owner of Canyon Creative in Los Angeles, agrees and explains how mirrors will really open up a space.

“It will trick the eye into feeling like the space is grander than it is,” Rafter says.

Choose Multipurpose Furniture

To save some square space, choose multipurpose furniture for both your decorative and storage needs. Kropovinsky recommends using ottomans with storage pockets or fold-down tables to save space and add versatility.

Rafter’s favorite tip is to place a trunk or storage bench in the entry, at the foot of the bed, or in the hallway instead of just a standard bench.

Try Large-Scale Items

When you have a small space, you’re likely to default to buying small furniture. However, doing the opposite might be the answer to your small space woes.

Juzėnaitė says using one large piece of artwork on the wall can make a much bigger impact than a collection of smaller pieces,, as it instantly draws the eyes upwards.

Rafter says this also works for rugs.

“Some people are scared of a small space so they under-size most of the furniture and rugs making the space feel smaller,” she says.

Make sure to choose one that is sized appropriately so it can make your space feel roomier.

Decorate Vertically

Using vertical space will be key for infusing your space with character and personal flair. Kropovinsky encourages people to consider wall shelves, tall cabinets, and even hanging storage.

Rafter recommends installing shelves to create more storage or to display your favorite decor accents and books.