BY Editor

Condo living can be a dream if you know what you’re doing. It’s close proximity to business districts, shopping centers and restaurants make it an ideal dwelling for those who want to be at the heart of the city. But depending on where you live and your price range, condos can be small, tight spaces where the most premium commodity is space.

Condos in New York tend to be cramped, while condos in Montreal tend to be roomier. It all has to do with the population density of the city. More people = less space. Choosing the right appliances can be a challenge. I know you’re excited to go shopping, but don’t go and buy anything you fancy just yet without following this guide and formulating a plan.

Remember, there’s nothing more unsightly than a small space with gargantuan appliances and furniture!

The Blueprint

• Get a copy of the floor plan for your unit so you can lay out exactly where you want to place your furniture and appliances.
• Take note of all the available space in all the rooms, especially the kitchen and living room.
• Take note of all measurements concerning door and window positions, corners and built in cabinets.

Do some Recon

• After preparing your floor plan, head off to the appliance and furniture stores and don’t forget to bring a copy of the floor plan, a notebook and a tape measure.
• Scope out area thoroughly, inspecting every single appliance and piece of furniture that catches your eye. Look out for the essentials: refrigerator, couch, bed, dishwasher, table, etc.
• Depending on your needs, you have to decide what you want buy. If you love to cook, prioritize kitchen appliances. If you can’t boil an egg, maybe a microwave and an induction cooker is all you need.
• Measure everything you like and jot down the measurements in your notebook. Check the floor plan to make sure what you’re planning to buy can actually fit.
• Take pictures of the appliances you want to purchase so you won’t forget what they look like when you get home.

Visualize it and Buy

• Get any free program that will let you draw your own floor plan, place furniture and see it all in 3D.
• Download and install Google Chrome and go to the Chrome web Store. Search for Planner 5D and install it.
• You can also try FloorPlanner and Autodesk Homestyler. I ultimately settled on Planner 5D. It was the easiest to use and configure among all the planners I tried.
• Input all your measurements such as the floor area for each of the rooms. Once you’re done, you can place windows, doors and the actual furniture and appliances.
• Adjust the sizes of the appliances/furniture to the ones you measured in the store and place them in their designated places.
• View it all in 3D to have a visual of what your new condo will look like.
• Once you’re satisfied, you can go back to the appliance store and purchase everything.

Final Word

When I was on the lookout for condos in Montreal, I was like a drunken sailor and did a lot of impulse buying. I just knew what I wanted, but I didn’t consider the other stuff, like measurements and where to actually place them. The result was a mismatch of epic proportions! Nothing fit and my new condo looked like a poorly maintained warehouse.

I sold most of the stuff that was too big, followed the same plan I outlined above and got everything up to spec. Now, my place looks like a page from Architectural Digest! If you just bought a condo and are ready to furnish it, follow the simple steps outlined above so you can have your own designer pad.