We all know that making the most of small spaces can be a challenge. When you have a multitude of bits and bobs, it can be difficult to find a place for everything. The trick is to find intelligent design solutions that are multifunctional meaning that you can use different furniture pieces to serve a variety of purposes.
Making your small space work for you will drastically improve your quality of life as well as ensuring that your home suits you and your needs. You must determine what spaces you need in your house and how to best make use of the space; do you work from home? Which rooms do you use the most and for what purpose? Answering these questions will help you better design your home. As they say, a tidy house equals a tidy mind.
Discover our top tips for turning a small space into somewhere that is stylish, practical and operative!
Bookcases are not just for books!
Whether you are a bonafide bookworm or you simply like the aesthetic of beautiful bookcases, they are a great storage method for knick knacks and other bits and pieces. Although it is lovely to have a bookcase littered with classic works of English literature, not all of us are avid readers; some of us just need some extra room for all our stuff.
Bookcases can be used as a way of breaking up a room and dividing it into more compact sections. People often think that small spaces look bigger by taking furniture and objects out, but actually through using dividers and creating many little spaces, you can help to make rooms feel larger by altering the natural flow of the space.
There is a delicate balance between making a home feel cosy and making it feel crowded. When trying to make your small space appear larger, stay away from clutter and embrace functional furniture; bookcases can to help solve your storage problems as well as clearly defining the spaces within your home. Whether your bookcases are free standing or strategically tucked into a corner, they can do wonders for the space in your house.
There is a common misconception that small spaces should utilise small pieces of furniture, however this is not always the case. Sometimes, using large furniture, such as floor to ceiling bookcases, can make a room feel bigger than it actually is; this is because it draws the eyes from the floor upwards, making the ceilings appear higher.
Bookcases can also be used as a statement piece with curated objects like picture frames, vases, house plants, magazines, records, art canvases and more. These objects can be carefully arranged to make a sort of ‘gallery’ feature that adds a stylish, boho vibe to any room. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colour and texture; use colours that compliment each other, such as greens from the plants and whites and beiges from your picture frames; this will create a centrepiece in your home that acts as a storage solution, a divider, and a statement piece.
To find some furniture pieces that will make your small space double in size, browse our collection of high end, designer bookcases.
The Power of the Mirror
We have said it before and we’ll say it again, make the most of mirrors in your home! Mirrors are not only used for checking our reflection in the morning, but they actually work as a clever design solution for small spaces. Given that mirrors reflect light, they can make rooms feel brighter and airer, meaning that it feels more spacious. If you position your mirror opposite a window, making sure that it captures as much light as possible, this will work in your favour in terms of lightening your interior space.
Mirrors can also act as a window, so if your small space is windowless and lacks daylight, mirrors are the perfect solution. Tall mirrors work in the same way as large furniture pieces for small space, meaning that they draw the eyes upwards towards the ceiling making them seem higher than it is in reality. The bigger the mirror, the bigger the space looks.
Curate your Colour palette
The colour palette of your interior design will certainly depend on your own personal style and what suits your personality; however, there is a particular colour palette which works well in small spaces.
Think neutral. Neutral colours such as creams, light greens, whites, browns and other earthy colours work wonders in terms of opening up a space.
The reason for choosing these colours is because they reflect more light into the room and, in the same way as mirrors, make the space feel airier and more spacious. These colours also invite a sense of calmness and serenity into a room, ensuring that your small space becomes cosy and relaxing.
The Season of the Spring Clean…
Lastly, have a clear out! If you live in a small property, every inch of space needs to be used wisely and so you need to figure out what you really need and what is just taking up space.
Clutter can make a space feel claustrophobic and boxed in; by having a good old Spring clean, you can get rid of the things that don’t add value to a space and replace them with things that are useful.
Read more about how to spruce up your home for Spring in our recent blog.
There you have it! Although your interior space might be small, there are so many little things you can do to make it seem brighter, bigger and more homely.
