4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Small Space
Modern living often necessitates living in a smaller space than we’d like, in order to be able to afford our rent or live in a desirable area. However, living in a small space can easily make you feel overwhelmed and cluttered, and if you share this space with another person, it’s clear to see how the close quarters can drive you up the wall! To help you inject style and serenity into your small space, we talked to some of the country’s leading architects and interior designers for their pro tips.
Be selective with your furniture choices
The experts at Hotondo Homes encourages us to carefully choose the right furniture items.
“In a small home, it’s tempting to fill it with lots of smaller pieces of furniture that fit the space, which can lead to a home that’s crowded with too many items in every room. Instead, focus on purchasing a few larger, key pieces of furniture for each space. For example, buying a bed with storage under the mattress will eliminate the need for a dresser in the bedroom, and in the lounge area one larger modular couch will suit the space better than multiple smaller couches and armchairs. The larger pieces will create an atmosphere of space, and prevent the rooms from feeling cluttered.”
To deck out your home in the right furniture pieces, check out the MyDeal Furniture range.
Think outside of the box
Living in a small space doesn’t mean you have to miss out on anything! Just because you don’t have an entire room to devote to a study, for example, doesn’t mean you have to go without a work area. It just means you have to think outside of the box – can you squeeze in a desk on your landing or in a hallway nook? Or are you able to mount a desk to your wall to save on floor space?
Similarly, who says you need a TV cabinet? Mount your TV on the wall if you can to make the most of your limited space.
Another clever technique is to create the illusion of height by choosing furniture that sits low to the ground, making your ceilings appear higher than they are.
Have a bright idea
According to Rara Architecture’s Wesley Spencer, lighting is key to making a small space feel bigger.
“Small spaces look and feel smaller when dark. Remove heavy curtains that reduce natural light entering and replace with sheers. Harsh ceiling mounted lights will make the ceiling feel like it’s closing in on you. Don’t use them. Replace with lamps – it’ll place less emphasis on the presence of the ceiling (especially if it’s low) and divert that to your favourite artworks on the walls.”
If building a small home, ensure you include lots of large windows for maximum natural light.
Minimise clutter and create a focal point
Having masses of stuff is a sure-fire way to make your space feel even smaller. Marissa Towndrow from Renovating Mums Sydney tells us:
“My tip for those living in a small space is to ensure the room has a focal point I.e. feature mirror that reflects light around the space as well as drawing the eye. Mirrors are also good at giving a sense a depth to the room. Keep surfaces clean & uncluttered with a ‘home’ for each item. This will ensure your eye is not captured by ‘visual noise’ and will give the illusion of space.”
Stock up on some smart storage units, ottomans or shelving so that you can put items away. See if you can even get rid of some items to truly free up space.
Try joining the Renovating Mums Facebook group for endless motivation!
With the above tips, you can create a stylish and inviting home that fully utilises every nook and cranny!
