In our day, when huge megalopolises are turned into buzzing beehives full of busy people always in a hurry, small apartments are the absolute hype of the day. And why shouldn't they? Tiny flats are more affordable, ask for less utilities expenses, they will be always warm in the winter, and you will spend far less time for the cleaning and upkeep. However, in order to live comfortably in a small apartment, you will have to put a little more creative thought in its interior design and furnishing. But with a conscious choice of colours and patterns, you will be able to make your little dwelling a heaven of comfort and design.

1. Wall Colours

This is an essential step. After all, walls define if a place feels small, or spacious. Dark colours won't work well here. Patterned wallpapers won't do much good either. It's best to stick to good old pastels – yellows, peach colours, blues, and the all-time classic (but a bit boring) beige. And white seems to be the “It” colour in interior design right now. It may feel a bit sterile, but it can give a lot of perspective in a small room. Besides, white is the best background for any bold and colourful accents in your décor and furnishings (as you will see in the following tips). However, don't be afraid to experiment with brighter wall colours, like bold candy pink, bright blue and green, and even purple. While these colours won't have the tightening effect of the darker shades, nor the widening abilities of the lighter ones, bold bright hues will give some texture and will bring your spirits up.

2. Floors and rugs

Light to middle dark coloured wooden flooring will work best for small rooms. This will give them a sense of cosiness and comfort, but will not emphasize the size of the place. Throw a good eye-catching rug in the middle and you will have a perfect centre piece. Choose a rug in hues that will compliment the rest of your décor, and will go well with the wall colour too. Don't hold back on patterns as well, they can diversify the design even further. Also, pay attention to the fabric of the rug. Choose one that is made from natural (preferably organic) material. This will not only look better, but also make the rug cleaning and upkeep much easier. An end-to-end carpet would not be the best possible solution for a small space. However, if you have set your mind on it, you can put a carpet with large patterns (like big colourful flowers for example). They'll make the room look bigger.

3. Furnishings

Don't cram your tiny apartment with a lot of furniture, this will make it look more like a small pantry than a home. Rely on multi-purposed furnishing, which will ease the lack of storage space. Also, big, even oversized furniture can make the space look somewhat bigger. Try using a really tall floor lamp. When it comes to seating areas, instead of stuffing the room with many separate pieces of furniture, which will only make it appear even smaller, use one-piece sitting. A lengthy, full-sized couch along the longer wall of a narrow room is a great and really comfortable solution. Or a big corner couch, which will not only improve the look of the place, but also provide enough seating space for your guests.

4. Décor Accents

The magical word here is "mirrors". They make for a great adjustment to the outlook of a room and it will instantly look a lot more spacious. Oversized art pieces will definitely do the job too. Make an especially good use of them in the vertical spaces in your small apartment. This will make the space look much taller and roomier. Large leafy plants can help with the same purpose too.