Let’s be realistic: the cost of living is insane. Bear in mind I’m only talking about the basics – simply just putting that roof over your head makes the melancholic song of watching the numbers drop from your bank account a very, very tough song to hear.

Let us not forget that we are young, and free, and we want to “arrive alive”, so living in the heart of town, just a stone’s throw away from every trendy bar with at least one naughty hipster in the corner, is such a necessity. Nay, ’tis a right.

But combine our “responsible” live mid-town ways and less than average salaries, and what do you get? A shoebox. You get a teeny tiny shoebox apartment.

Look, it’s better than nothing. We don’t all have access to mommy and daddy’s bank account, so we need to learn to make do. So, for those that actually work hard during the day and don’t get to over-browse Pinterest (seriously, that’s a good thing), and possibly hoard a little more than you can afford to, here are a few realistic tips for you to make the best of your living situation:

1. Decor wise, slap on a slick of dark paint. According to Manhattan-based interior designer Samuel Masters, “dark walls make a place feel cozier, and actually make tight corners less noticeable”.

2. Use crates. Seriously – I have two and they are so amazingly useful, it’s not something one looks back on. They’re affordable, nice to look at, and can be used to store things inside or even as seats.

3. Keep things simple. Get things out of the house that you don’t particularly need. Be strict with yourself. Send your things on a vacation to Stor-Age. You get the space to keep all your stuff safe and clean, and you have the key to access it whenever you need, and a spacious looking apartment.

4. Make spaces multi-functional. These guys used an old steamer trunk for an office space. When not in use, it closes up and looks beautiful.

For more ideas on how to make your cluttered place look impressively stylish, look here.