Living in Berlin - How your small apartment can can look bigger

Berlin, Germany's largest city, is home to more than 3.5 million people. The many different people bring with them the most diverse lifestyles and cultures and ensure that Berlin is a metropolis of art, culture and diversity. But Berlin does not only have beautiful sides. Due to the mass of people, the housing market is more than tight. Many are forced to live in very small or extremely old apartments. This brings with it a whole new set of challenges, but also offers a place where you can live out your creativity. Find out how you can turn limited living space into a cozy home here.

The power of colors

Colors can give even small rooms a certain atmosphere and make them feel more homely. However, the choice is not always easy when painting and the wrong color can have a negative impact on the flair of the home. A little research is therefore required when choosing, as this is the only way to find the right colors for your home.

Especially if the apartment is small, you should opt for light colors. In contrast to darker tones, these make rooms appear larger and wider. Different colors are also suitable depending on the type of room. This can be explained by color psychology, as colors not only have an effect on the look of your home, but also on your state of mind. If you want to paint the different rooms differently, the following colors are suitable:

• Colors such as pink, blue or purple are suitable for the bedroom. These have a calming effect and create a relaxing atmosphere.
• In the living room, more vibrant colors such as green, orange or blue can create a cozy and sociable atmosphere.
• Friendly colors such as yellow and orange are also suitable for the dining room and kitchen. These lift the mood and encourage creativity.

Make sure that you are authorized to paint a rented apartment the way you like it. Some landlords are very strict about this and want to be informed about the color scheme.

Many Berlin apartments still have woodchip wallpaper. There are a few things you should bear in mind here. Painting woodchip wallpaper is a little more complicated than painting a smooth wall. The rough wall texture requires certain painting utensils to ensure that the paint gets into the gaps. It is better to refrain from using standard foam rollers; fluffy paint rollers work much better on textured walls.

Lighting elements for a cozy flair

Small apartments often appear larger when they are bright. You should therefore not only take this into account with the wall colors, but also with the light. Natural light is particularly suitable for everyday life in a small apartment, so make sure you don't block the windows with heavy curtains. Translucent fabrics and window areas that are as open as possible ensure good lighting in your living area. To capture even more daylight, large mirrors can be placed in such a way that they reflect the light in the apartment.

Small, deliberately placed lighting accents are suitable for creating a relaxing atmosphere and a cozy flair. Several lamps or LED strips with warm white light distributed around the room ensure that you feel comfortable within your four walls. To give you a certain degree of flexibility, dimmable lamps are also suitable, which you can make bright enough to work in your home if necessary, even without daylight from the outside.

Furniture and furnishings

Small living spaces are not easy to furnish. Many Berliners opt for minimalism and multifunctionality in their furniture. Pull-out sofas or bunk beds offer exactly that and are therefore found in many Berlin households. There is often a lack of storage space in small apartments. Shelving systems that go up to the ceiling and hidden space, for example on cupboards or under the bed, are ideal for storing the things you don't need every day.

If you want to furnish your new apartment in Berlin, try not to clutter it up too much. When it comes to furniture, less is more and an open, uncluttered apartment is usually much cozier than one that is totally cluttered.

The right decoration

As with furniture, too much decoration can also make an apartment look cluttered and chaotic. However, a few well-chosen elements that fit into the room can create a beautiful and pleasant atmosphere. Plants in particular are great for decorating, as they bring a sense of nature into the home in a big city like Berlin. Small plants and flowers look particularly good as decorative elements on cupboards, shelves and windowsills.