Jennifer Laing

On the one hand, the small size of most New York City apartments makes decorating a fairly manageable endeavor. On the other hand, making the most of a small space requires a certain amount of design savvy. Here, according to Apartment Therapy, are the top mistakes to avoid when putting together a tiny apartment:

At 284 square feet, to call this studio co-op in Central Harlem small is an understatement. But for a comparatively modest $1,150 a month, this apartment’s got a lot going for it: hardwood floors, south-facing windows, and a separate kitchen with decent counter space, new cabinets and—from the look of the photograph—enough room for a small table or a stand-alone kitchen island and some bar stools.

Summer may be winding down (so long half-day Fridays), but there’s no reason to sink into a post-Labor Day funk. Here, Apartment Therapy suggests some tips for freshening up your apartment—and by extension your spirits:

In Case You Missed It: Every so often, BrickUnderground digs through the archives to find the best advice our experts have shared through the years.