A shared room is practical: you save money by sharing the kitchen and bathroom with others. And it's just more fun to live with others t...
On the other hand, a room in a shared apartment has to be everything that is divided into several rooms in a larger apartment or house: it is a living room, bedroom, and study all in one. And occasionally a buddy or girlfriend should stay the night if it got later at the movie night or at the flatshare party. Then your little place will also become a guest room.
Basically, that's not a problem: With a few interior design tricks and well-thought-out furniture, your small room in a shared apartment can be all that without you having to feel cramped. We have put together a few tips for you on how to make the best use of the space.
What do I really need?
First, you can think about which furniture you really need in everyday life, and what might be nice, but not absolutely necessary.
The bed
Everyone has to sleep, so you need a bed. But with beds, in particular, there are many different ways to kill several birds with one stone in a small space.
The loft bed
A loft bed has the advantage that you can use the space underneath for other purposes. Your desk can stand here, a guest couch, shelves, or a TV table. You can set up a cozy seating area underneath or store your beloved record collection. A loft bed is always a practical solution for small spaces.
The sofa bed
A sofa bed has the advantage that you can use it as a bed at night and turn it into a comfortable couch during the day by hiding the bedding in the couch box. Many sofa beds are also equipped with a pull-out function. So if you have visitors, because one of your buddies can't walk home alone after the happy flatshare party, or because your girlfriend wants to stay with you, you don't need an extra guest bed, you can simply use your sofa bed.
The trundle bed
If you are someone who likes to have visitors, you can think about a trundle bed. It slides under your own bed and you can use the wheels to get it out at any time. When your guest has left, it disappears again to save space.
The crate bed
If you only have a small room, you need one thing above all: storage space. Books, CDs, records, work utensils or small sports equipment, they all have to stay somewhere. Since your bed takes up a lot of space, it's handy to give it a second function. Some manufacturers, therefore, offer beds with matching boxes on wheels. You simply slide them under your bed and take them out when needed. Here you can store everything that you wouldn't otherwise have space for, saving you additional shelves or cupboards.
Extra tip: TV with wall mount
Relaxation and fun must be. But with a TV you can not only watch entertainment films but also educational videos or online seminars. A TV with a wall bracket is recommended for your small room because it takes up the least space. With a swiveling model, you can easily switch back and forth between bed and couch or desk.
The desk
The desk and bed are the two things that cannot be missing in a shared room. After all, you have to read at home, rework for the lectures or write homework. And many student jobs can now be done at least partially in the home office. There are also practical, space-saving solutions for a desk.
The folding secretary
Even our great-grandparents often only had small apartments available. That's why you might still know it: the fold-out bureau. At first glance, it looks like a cupboard with many compartments, but there is a writing surface in the middle that can be folded down if necessary. When you have finished your work, you simply close it again. These old secretaries are now being made again, also in more modern versions. Thanks to the many drawers, they also offer a lot of options for keeping small items sorted.
The folding table
If you do most of the work in the university library, then you can also consider whether a simple folding table would be sufficient for you. Here, for example, you can still work on your laptop on Sundays or in the evenings when the library is closed. For the many other days, you're working away, the little table can disappear into a corner. Or you can use it as a storage table for snacks and drinks at the next flatshare party or at a movie night.
The hanging desk
A third, space-saving solution is a desk that you install on the wall. Such hanging desks are folded down to work, like the secretary from grandfather's time. They often have an additional wall shelf where you can store the most important books and documents.
The wardrobe
Wardrobes are usually large and bulky and therefore not suitable for small shared rooms. But who actually says that it always has to be a solid wooden cabinet? There are also simple ideas for storing your clothes in a space-saving way.
The clothes rail
This solution can be quickly integrated into any small room: With a clothes rail, you can easily hang jackets, sweaters, and trousers on hangers. You can use a curtain rod that you put between two walls, or you can buy rods on casters. You simply push this into the corner where there is currently space.
Cloth wardrobe
On the one hand, wardrobes made of fabric are cheaper than those made of wood, and they can also be assembled more quickly. Because fabric wardrobes come in all different sizes, you can choose a model that fits the number of clothes you have and doesn't waste extra space.
The wardrobe with curtain
Slightly narrower than a closet is shelves, which you can of course also use to store your clothes. The compartments make it easy for you to sort everything. So that your clothes don't get dusty, you simply hang a curtain or a large cloth in front of your clothes shelf. In this way, you can also show your personal taste in your room, because you can have everything printed on such a cloth, from your favorite rock band to the Chinese mantra or the Latin technical terms for all body organs!
shelves
If you have little space, you have to build up. Therefore, high shelves are a good solution for every small shared room to be able to store all your personal belongings. If you want to build to the ceiling, then make sure you have a small stool ready so that you can reach your things at any time. Such a stool is a versatile piece of furniture anyway, which you can use as a seat as well as storage space. Because stools with a folding seat are also available for purchase.
What else is possible
The stool bedside table
A bedside table is necessary: your reading lamp is here, or you can put a glass of water down for the night. Your smartphone or the book you are reading can also be here. You can save space by getting a night lamp for the wall and using a stool as a bedside table. You can offer it to your guests to sit on during the day or use it to get to your upper shelves.
hanging baskets
Not every man is a born flower fan, but one or two indoor plants ensure a pleasant indoor climate and help you to be able to concentrate better at work. Hanging baskets can be attached to the ceiling with a hook. This way you don't have to find a suitable place for them and they don't stand around in your way.
