Small spaces, big makeovers

Anika Amin | 29 March 2021 | 10:25 am | 196

Small spaces, big makeovers

We often feel confused when it comes to small places. Whether you live in the quintessential studio apartment or want to get more out of a small room or tiny nook in your house, use these small space design ideas to make the best use of available small spaces while decorating your home.

First, think about all the things you do in a space — work, sleep, relax, eat — and then establish separate zones for those activities. Subtle demarcations can help the space feel larger. You can evoke “rooms” with multiple seating areas, a tented or curtained bed, a window seat or built-in banquette, or even just a smartly placed table and chair.

Second, choose elements that switch-hit. Find a table that can function as both a desk and a dining table. Get daybeds or deep sofas that can double as guest beds. A storage ottoman can provide an extra perch, a little table, and a secret hiding place. Invest in pieces that can be rearranged to transform the use of a room: Murphy beds, folding chairs, collapsible or flip-top tables. Pieces like nesting tables and secretaries take up less space than conventional furniture when not in use. Exploit wireless technology wherever possible to make it easy to reposition lighting, speakers, or home-office gadgets. And put furniture on casters, so it’s easy to move.

Third, create an impression of expansiveness by exploiting decorative sleight of hand, from floor-to-ceiling curtains and see-through furnishings to strategically placed mirrors.

Fourth, it may seem counterintuitive, but outfitting a small space with just a few large-scale pieces (rather than a mishmash of pint-size furniture) can actually make it feel grander. That said, don’t be afraid of filling up the space. When a room is populated with furniture, it actually appears larger.

Fifth, splurge on sumptuous materials and exuberant treatments. Play up the petite size to heighten the sense of coziness. Give grandeur to subsidiary spaces like hallways with a salon-style hanging of artwork or a library-like installation of books.

Finally, exploit the often under-utilized space between the tops of furniture and a room’s ceiling with hanging or high-mounted elements. They’ll draw the eye upward. Take bookcases and cabinets all the way up.

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