7 Expert Design Solutions for Smaller Spaces
Designing a small space is always tricky. If you have a smaller home, apartment, or condo then it may be challenging to furnish it effectively and find the right pieces that fit. If your space is feeling cramped and cluttered or you want to restyle your home to make it function better for your lifestyle, keep reading for our expert tips for smaller spaces.
Multifunctional Furniture
When working with a small space, you want to get the most out of your furniture. The best way to do this is to select furniture that is multifunctional. That way you’re really making every square inch count. Try a headboard with storage or a bed with drawers for extra storage space under the bed. Think about incorporating pieces that fold away, like a folding desk or table, you can tuck away when you have guests over.
Try an ottoman that also functions as a coffee table or a couch that can transform into a bed for guests. Really there are some great solutions with multifunctional pieces.
West Elm
Shine On
One way to make a small space feel larger is with light. So this means you should have good lighting, from natural light to light fixtures. Try layering lighting at different heights - like overhead lighting, pendants, sconces, and table lamps to get a nice effect.
Also, make use of mirrors and surfaces that reflect light, they also go a long way in brightening up a space. It’s the oldest design trick in the book. Try hanging a mirror on a wall across from a window to maximize the amount of light reflected. Incorporate some metallic finishes and glossy surfaces to bump up the shine.
Scale Appropriately
Select pieces that are scaled appropriately for the space. This means avoiding bulky furniture that takes up too much room. Pedestal sinks and vanities are great solutions for smaller bathrooms. Think slim delicate nightstands in a smaller bedroom or petite side tables for a living room.
This doesn’t mean everything has to be tiny and miniature. You can select a larger, bold statement piece for a room to add drama including large wall art or area rugs, but just be sure you have one focal point balanced out with regular and smaller sized pieces.
Don’t forget to edit the amount of decor and pieces in a room, if you fill it too much it’ll feel overwhelmed and cluttered.
If you’re having trouble finding certain pieces to fit a specific space you can always look into custom furniture options so that a piece is scaled and proportioned perfectly to make the best use of the room.
Architectural Digest
Opt for Light and Neutral Colors
Utilize your color scheme in the same way as your lighting. Lighting helps brighten a room, making the space feel open and larger. When in doubt, light and neutral tones help the room look and feel brighter.
If you like color, you can still incorporate fun and bold color, but keep your palette more limited and make sure the design is cohesive. In general, light walls help reflect light making a space feel bright and airy, while darker colors absorb light, making a room feel smaller.
The Spruce
Create Defined Areas and Zones
If you have an open-concept space or a studio apartment, it’s important to define the function of different spaces and create zones. Use curtains, a partition, or pieces of furniture to create division in the space.
Make the most of your space by creating multi-use areas. Transform your living space into a living room and create an area for a workspace or a play area for kids. Or that spare room can be an office and a guest room.
Scandinavian Home
Use Vertical Space
It’s easy to forget to utilize vertical space, but it’s a great solution for smaller spaces. Mount your TV on the wall instead of wasting space with a media console. Use tall vertical wall-mounted shelving for storage. Open shelving in particular works wonders in helping helping a space feel larger.
Try hanging some plants, if you don’t have room for potted plants. Similarly, go for overhead, pendant lighting, and wall sconces rather than floor lamps which take up precious square footage. Dress your windows in floor-to-ceiling curtains to make a space feel taller.
One Kings Lane
Transform Awkward Spaces
In the spirit of making use of every square inch of space in your home, take this as an opportunity to transform an awkward space you haven’t been able to use effectively.
Get creative and take that unused nook, closest, or area under the stairs and transform it into a workspace. Or create window seating in a bay window area with some extra storage.For more tips and ideas check out Elle Decor’s series of articles for Small Space Solutions.
Studio McGee