Decorating A Small Space

I love living in Hong Kong! I moved here in January of 2008 from Scottsdale, Arizona. Scottsdale is desert living at its best. Lots of golf courses, resorts, sunshine year round, and tons of space. Basically the complete opposite of living here in Hong Kong. I must admit, I absolutely enjoy this urban city, and am quite concerned that I may never be able to live the suburban lifestyle again! The fact that I can walk out of my building and be steps from stylish boutiques, posh restaurants, crowded street markets, and all the action is just fantastic. There isn't a single day that goes by that I don't discover something new....whether I'm in my neighborhood the concrete jungle of Mid-levels or venture off to places like Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, and Stanley. Every side-street, alley way, and street corner is loaded with hidden treasures and fabulous finds. I'm always amazed when I enter a building and every floor is packed with shops I never would have known about had I not pressed the wrong elevator button!

One of the biggest challenges for me when I moved here was realizing that my apartment was going to require some serious creative design and decor to feel like I actually have space. I have learned to be really organized (well, I'm actually working on that!), and creative in finding a place for all my things (under the beds, couches, anywhere). I've also discovered some tricks that really make a difference...


White is an ideal choice for decorating. It reflects light and totally brightens up the space.

Fill your apartment with furniture that is functional. Tall shelves with drawers are great for storage. Something I always need more of here in Hong Kong.

If you live in a studio or just want to divide two rooms, use backless bookshelves to create a separation without blocking out light. Sunshine really adds to a room and makes it feel more open and airy.

The nice thing about Hong Kong is that it is inexpensive to have items custom built. I recommend adding to your space a low wall or banquette to create extra rooms. I love the above photo with the built-in bench.

The key is to think out of the box and make use of every little area that you have!