How to make the most of tiny spaces

You've just moved in to your new apartment. And even if it isn't the apartment you deserve, it's the apartment you can afford. You start unpacking when it finally hits you – there's barely enough space for the decades of junk you smugly accumulated back at your parents' ultra-luxurious 3000 square feet mini-mansion. Step up your home décor game with these 5 tricks that will make even the most petite rooms feel spacious.

Trash it

Face it: we are hoarders. We probably got it from our mothers who insisted on collecting everything from candy-tins to mini shampoo bottles to coffee jars.

The first step to reorganizing your place is learning to let go of your stuff. Ask yourself if you really need it and if you find yourself hesitating, trash it. Get a large plastic bin bag and go crazy. Donate old clothes and sell old papers and bottles to the local hawker. With all the useless stuff out of the way, you'll have a cleaner looking apartment as well as storage space you never knew existed.

Custom-fit

Sometimes a little DIY spirit is all you need to maximize space. When you take control of your furniture, you can control the size of what you're making and also customize for the things you'll need to display or store.

And if you're not up for it, luckily it's really easy to get hold of a carpenter in Bangladesh. Take some measurements, check out a home décor magazine, and make a sketch of what you'd like.

Think vertical

Take a look at your walls. Use unutilized wall space by installing wall shelves and shelf brackets. If you don't want to make a commitment, get tall standalones instead. Take your bookcases and cabinets all the way up.

If you don't want to invest in large furniture, you can always opt for stackable units. These can be cheaply custom-made and are perfect for the entryway or the bedroom. Nobody likes a messy overflow of shoes near the front door and shoeboxes take up more space than you'd think.

A wall mirror instead of a stocky dresser or an almirah can also free up space. Hang up hooks or a pegboard for your stray purses and bags. A pegboard is also ideal in the kitchen for all your pots and pans.

Double-duty solutions

When you're living in a small apartment, you can't afford to be messy. Nothing makes a space seem smaller than being able to see everything. The solution? Double-duty furnishings. Find a table that can function as both a desk and a dining table. Or a lidded box that can double as a coffee table in the living room. If you can't accommodate guests, get a trundle bed or a sofa that can fold out into a bed.

Final words of advice: Even though you've been advised to make the most of your living space, don't clutter rooms with many small pieces of furniture. Don't be afraid to take up space, but always outfit a small space with a few large meaningful furnishings. More furniture also absorbs more light, making your room look small, dark and dingy. Think smart and happy decorating!