9 Ways to Love Living in Your Flat
Embrace apartment living with these inspiring ways to make the most of your space
Amanda Pollard
1 November 2016
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
If you dream of moving into your own house, with stairs and a garden guaranteed, you’re certainly not alone – especially in cities, where space is tight, budgets are stretched and millions of us live in flats. But flats can be wonderful spaces to inhabit. So what’s the secret to giving your apartment the sparkle that will make you smile every time you walk through the door? Read on.
Embrace the community
If you’re a people person, you’ll love living in an apartment. While some might prefer to have more space around them, others will revel in the close proximity to their neighbours. By nurturing relationships, you can build a lovely community within your block.
Maintain a good rapport with your neighbours by keeping noise to a minimum, tidying communal areas, and doing anything else that makes life easy for fellow residents.
If you’re a people person, you’ll love living in an apartment. While some might prefer to have more space around them, others will revel in the close proximity to their neighbours. By nurturing relationships, you can build a lovely community within your block.
Maintain a good rapport with your neighbours by keeping noise to a minimum, tidying communal areas, and doing anything else that makes life easy for fellow residents.
Enjoy the view
If you’re in a top floor floor flat, you may not have a garden but on the plus side, your windows probably look out from a higher position than most houses. If this is the case, and you have the bonus of a great view, make the most of it by placing frequently used seating next to it.
This desk is perfectly positioned in front of a window. It’s the ideal spot for working, as you can easily take a break and look out for some inspiration.
Discover how to position your desk for success
If you’re in a top floor floor flat, you may not have a garden but on the plus side, your windows probably look out from a higher position than most houses. If this is the case, and you have the bonus of a great view, make the most of it by placing frequently used seating next to it.
This desk is perfectly positioned in front of a window. It’s the ideal spot for working, as you can easily take a break and look out for some inspiration.
Discover how to position your desk for success
Don’t scrimp on life’s pleasures
Don’t let a lack of space hold you back from having guests over. A smaller kitchen than you might have on the ground floor of a house can still accommodate dinner with friends.
This narrow space, for example, has units on one side and a long dining table on the other, pulled out only when it’s needed. There’s plenty of room for the owners to hold a dinner party for eight, or even 10 guests.
In smaller spaces still, in a similar, occasional, vein, options might include a drop-leaf table, a round table, a built-in booth or tucked-away bench seating with storage.
Don’t let a lack of space hold you back from having guests over. A smaller kitchen than you might have on the ground floor of a house can still accommodate dinner with friends.
This narrow space, for example, has units on one side and a long dining table on the other, pulled out only when it’s needed. There’s plenty of room for the owners to hold a dinner party for eight, or even 10 guests.
In smaller spaces still, in a similar, occasional, vein, options might include a drop-leaf table, a round table, a built-in booth or tucked-away bench seating with storage.
Add some stunning features
A simple apartment can have the wow factor with the help of a few clever architectural features. The Crittall door here divides the living and bedroom areas, and transforms a basic flat into a beautiful space.
By using glass instead of a solid wall, the owners have made this main room feel more spacious and light.
More ideas for internal glazed doors
A simple apartment can have the wow factor with the help of a few clever architectural features. The Crittall door here divides the living and bedroom areas, and transforms a basic flat into a beautiful space.
By using glass instead of a solid wall, the owners have made this main room feel more spacious and light.
More ideas for internal glazed doors
Bring the outdoors in
No garden? Think of it as a bonus. There’s no need to mow the lawn or worry about heavy weeding. Instead, you can create an easy-maintenance indoor garden. This window ledge looks simply gorgeous with the display of plants along it. The owners can enjoy nature even when it’s raining outside.
No garden? Think of it as a bonus. There’s no need to mow the lawn or worry about heavy weeding. Instead, you can create an easy-maintenance indoor garden. This window ledge looks simply gorgeous with the display of plants along it. The owners can enjoy nature even when it’s raining outside.
Get creative with storage
As an apartment dweller, you can pride yourself on your clever use of space. Embrace the fact that you don’t spread your things everywhere and learn some ingenious storage tricks.
This small hallway has been cleared of clutter with a neat, streamlined cupboard. There’s plenty of room for shoes and accessories inside, but its proportions take up little room in the entrance. A narrow area to the side even provides space for CDs.
As an apartment dweller, you can pride yourself on your clever use of space. Embrace the fact that you don’t spread your things everywhere and learn some ingenious storage tricks.
This small hallway has been cleared of clutter with a neat, streamlined cupboard. There’s plenty of room for shoes and accessories inside, but its proportions take up little room in the entrance. A narrow area to the side even provides space for CDs.
Be sociable
Flats offer the opportunity for sociable living, with bedrooms and living areas often on the same level. This makes for a cosy, friendly vibe, but it needs some clever planning.
Create clear zones in the space to separate areas and ensure household members don’t feel as if they’re living on top of each other. Here, a rug and dummy wall clearly divide the living space from the kitchen and dining area.
Flats offer the opportunity for sociable living, with bedrooms and living areas often on the same level. This makes for a cosy, friendly vibe, but it needs some clever planning.
Create clear zones in the space to separate areas and ensure household members don’t feel as if they’re living on top of each other. Here, a rug and dummy wall clearly divide the living space from the kitchen and dining area.
Love the location
It’s often easier to find an affordable flat in your desired location than a house. This is especially true if you prefer a city centre spot near local amenities, bars and cafés. So if your apartment is ideally located, chances are you can walk everywhere, or even cycle.
If two wheels are your favoured way to get around, you’ll probably need some storage. This simple bike rack is perfect for a small area, as it uses vertical rather than valuable floor space.
It’s often easier to find an affordable flat in your desired location than a house. This is especially true if you prefer a city centre spot near local amenities, bars and cafés. So if your apartment is ideally located, chances are you can walk everywhere, or even cycle.
If two wheels are your favoured way to get around, you’ll probably need some storage. This simple bike rack is perfect for a small area, as it uses vertical rather than valuable floor space.
Relish easy cleaning
One of the best things about living in a flat is how easy it is to clean. If your home is on one floor, you’ll never have to lug a vacuum cleaner up the stairs, or run up and down searching for various household tools.
Make the most of the even floor surface by storing your cleaning products on a nifty trolley like this one. Gather everything in one place then simply wheel it from room to room when you need it.
Do you love living in a flat? Tell us what you particularly like about it in the Comments below.
One of the best things about living in a flat is how easy it is to clean. If your home is on one floor, you’ll never have to lug a vacuum cleaner up the stairs, or run up and down searching for various household tools.
Make the most of the even floor surface by storing your cleaning products on a nifty trolley like this one. Gather everything in one place then simply wheel it from room to room when you need it.
Do you love living in a flat? Tell us what you particularly like about it in the Comments below.
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The U.K. Is one of the few countries where families tend to live in houses. In other parts of Europe, Russia, Asia etc it's normal for families to live in apartments.
I love the low maintenance factor of an apartment. I can vacuum the entire space of my apartment (65sqm) from a single power point! :-)
Agree with
janedale
These spaces looked architecturally interesting to start with so had a little love factor built-in.
Recently got back to designing some apartments (boss won't let me call them flats), so started visiting developments all over the city and was very disappointed with the lack of feeling and any sort of variety amongst the flats I saw.