There are two kinds of people in the world: those that love to decorate and those that view decorating as an absolute last priority. No matter which group you fall into, it is important that you follow these tips to help make the most out of the space you have.

Measure by Measure

Before you do anything else, buy a tape measure. Your apartment is smaller than you think and all of those grand plans you have may not fit into the space you have allotted. This is especially true if you are moving from a house that had a ton of space into an apartment that doesn’t. Measuring before moving is about as popular as reading the instruction booklet that comes with your new electronic toy, but it can save you a real headache later.

Less is more

Sure, we all enjoy owning material possessions, but moving around your apartment is more important. Open space can be a real plus in most apartments. More open space means that you own less and you have plenty of room to move around. The last thing you want is too many rugs, too many tables and too many sharp angles you have to move in between, especially in the middle of the night when you get up for a glass of water. When it comes to decorating your apartment, less really is more.

Map it out

You don’t have to be Picasso, but go ahead and map out where you want things before you move them in. Use those measurements you took and plan out where your bed is going to go, where your dresser is supposed to be and so on. It’ll make the act of moving things in and out much easier and you won’t be greeted with any special surprises when you discover you can’t open your bedroom door all the way.