If you are moving out of a rural area into an urban city, chances are you are trading in your sprawling home for a city apartment or condo.  It might seem as if you are squeezing into a shoebox.  While you might be sacrificing your spacious kitchen and living area, you are trading it in for a central location in the heart of a thriving metropolis.  Living in a small space might seem tough at first, but there are plenty of things you can do to ease the adjustment to a compact living space. 

Create the Illusion of More Space

While you might not be able to knock down walls and physically add more space to your home, there are some easy things you can do to create the illusion that your space is bigger than it really is.  Start by choosing light colors for your walls and accenting with light rugs and plenty of mirrors that will reflect the light.  Be careful about the placement of your furniture.  Avoid pushing your furniture up against the wall.  Even the smallest amount of space between the couch and the wall can make the space appear larger.  Finally, don’t overcrowd the space with too much furniture.  Instead, choose one or two larger pieces to fill the space. 

Organize Your Belongings

Keeping your small space organized is the key to not feeling cramped.  Take advantage of clever storage solutions such as furniture that doubles as a storage container or boxes that can neatly slide under your bed.  You can also hang racks inside your closets and pantry to create more space for organization. 

Rent a Portable Storage Unit

One of the biggest adjustments to small space living is finding a place for all of your things.  This can easily be handled by renting a storage unit.  Instead of feeling pressured to get rid of items, you can simply store them in a unit until you need them.  Storage units are ideal for seasonal décor, sporting equipment, bulky winter gear, and sentimental photos and albums.  You can save space in your home while enjoying the peace of mind of knowing that your belongings are safely stored in a secure unit. 

Spend Some Time Outside

The fact of the matter is, no matter how organized and skillfully designed your small space is you will still need to get out and about to avoid feeling cramped.  Make it a point to take walks through the neighborhood or visit local parks.  Stroll through the city and explore the adventures around you.  Remember, you chose to move for the location and not for the space. If you happen to have a balcony, create an outdoor sanctuary where you can spend time relaxing.  Just getting a change of scenery now and then can help you adjust to living in a small space.

Don’t Overindulge

When you are living in a tight space, you don’t have the luxury of taking advantage of every sale.  Think about your purchases before you make them and avoid buying too much stuff that will end up cramping your space.  Stick to the basics of what you need and make sure anything you purchase will have a space in your home.

Giving up your spacious home doesn’t mean you have to give up your happiness.  There are plenty of perks to living in a small space.  Living in the city comes with its own rewards and you will soon discover that you didn’t need all that space after all!