Level up with five bold moves to make your Chicago apartment feel expansive, intentional, and curated.

Last week in Part 1, we helped you get creative with your furniture placement and use rugs and color to define your small space. Now that you've got the basics down, it’s time to get a little bit bolder.

In part two of our series, we're sharing five more tips to help you make your Chicago apartment feel bigger, more intentional, and full of personality. We’re covering everything from the magic of mirrors to the power of a single, statement piece of art.

Let’s kiki…

6. Use Mirrors Intentionally

Mirrors are one of our fav small-space design tools. They reflect light and trick the eye into thinking a room is bigger. 

7. Pick One Large Piece of Art

Gallery walls: Cute in theory, cluttered in reality.

Instead of ten tiny frames, go for one larger piece that anchors the room and creates visual calm. It draws the eye and makes a small space feel curated, not chaotic.

Hot take: Skip the tired gallery wall. One well-placed statement piece goes so much further.

8. Edit Your Tabletops

Apply the Coco Chanel rule to decorating: Before you leave the house, take one accessory off. 

The same goes for styling, particularly in small apartments. A few intentional pieces are better than a bunch of cute-but-distracting knickknacks. 

9. Play with Glass and Reflective Surfaces

Glass and reflective surfaces are perfect for making a room feel more open.

A glass coffee table, for example, allows your eye to pass through it which makes your space feel bigger and less cluttered.

A mirrored side table reflects everything around it which allows it to disappear in the room.

10. Light Up the Corners

Lighting…is…EV-ER-Y-THING. Doubly so for a small space.

It might seem obvious. But lighting draws the eye and illuminates particular areas in your space. For example, intentional light placement in a corner can draw focus to an animal print accent chair. 

Well-lit rooms also feel larger. Uplighting – such as a sconce that shines upward and downward – makes the space feel wider and taller.

Need Help Making the Most of Your Space?

Whether you’re looking to completely reimagine your floor plan or just need a professional nudge on a few bold changes, we’re here to help. Book your free discovery call below and let’s talk!