How to make the most of your space in a smaller home

Posted on Friday, November 16th, 2018

Having a large home is not the be all and end all. There are actually several advantages in having a smaller home, not least that it is easier to maintain, it takes less time to clean and there is less temptation for you to accumulate unnecessary clutter.

There are lots of tips and tricks to help you make the most of your space in a smaller home meaning you will not be missing out on not having that extra space.

Accessorise carefully

The last thing you want in a small living space is clutter. A cluttered room is not somewhere you can easy relax and unwind and the living room is the one room you should be able to relax. Decorate your living area carefully with a few larger accessories. Large coffee table books and big art pieces will compliment the small space nicely whereas a number of smaller pieces will just leave the room feeling crowded.

Accessorising your small space with few pieces of furniture that are larger in scale will also help the room to feel grander. A mix-up of smaller sized furniture will only further highlight the lack of space.

Prioritise floorspace

When it comes to smaller living rooms, media consoles are often the biggest space wasters. Of course, we understand that you cannot go without a television in your living room but to save space, mount your TV set on the wall. By doing this, you will regain necessary floor space. Your flooring should also be light in colour, light oak for wood flooring or a cream-coloured carpet will make the room appear much brighter and therefore more open. If living in a flat, ensure that you get the necessary consents before putting down wood flooring as there can often be restrictions in place regarding this.

Make the most of mirrors

Whilst using light-coloured flooring can help a room to feel much bigger, mirrors can also give the illusion of more space and bounce light around the room, this is particularly effective in small bathrooms.

Find a focal point of a room and angle your mirror toward it. This will help to create the illusion of more depth and as mirrors reflect both natural and artificial light, the room will appear much brighter. Whether it is day or not, the light will bounce deep into the room making it seem much bigger.

For a more open feel, mirrors on the walls and glass tabletops will work wonders. You can also place a mirror near a window to reflect the outdoors.

Double duty pieces

Versatile pieces are key. A deep sofa that can double as a guest bed, a table that functions as a desk as well as a dining table, and cubes that can serve as both a coffee table and seats are all small changes that can go a long way.

In the bedroom, use a bed with drawers or acquire some pull-out storage boxes on wheels under the bed to hide away any clutter for two-in-one storage.

Savvy storage

In further regards to storage, push any furniture right up against the walls as this will help to maximise every inch of space. With shelving or storage units, raise them off the ground and onto walls as this will help to maximise the use of any floor space and make the room appear larger.