Anyone challenged with space knows just how difficult it can be to design small spaces. While small spaces can be a challenge, they do have some advantages over larger spaces. First, because of their small size, they are naturally warm, cozy, and inviting. But they also force you to stay in control of clutter and keep possessions down to what you genuinely love and enjoy.
A well-designed small space is possible, but you do need to be smart and creative about it. To start, consider what it is you are trying to accomplish with the space. How are you using this space? And will that continue, or will that change with your redesign? These questions apply to whether your space is a small apartment, condo, or even just a workspace or bedroom.
Here are five tips to design your small space:
- Embrace Minimalism
Small spaces require keeping furniture to a minimum. For a workspace, this is a desk, chair, and some storage space. For a bedroom, this is a bed and storage for your clothing. Unnecessary or extra furniture pieces can leave the room feeling cramped and cluttered. Keep this in mind when adding decorative items too. A gallery wall may seem overwhelming in a small space, whereas one eye-catching print can make the room feel stylish and sleek.
- Think Vertical
A great way to keep furniture to a minimum is to make use of your vertical space. Unlike furniture, walls take up no extra space. Floating shelves are more popular than ever. The style is visually lighter than traditional shelves, and they reduce the footprint and bulk of bookcases. Take items that typically stay on a table or desk and shift them to the vertical space you have in the room.
- Multi-functional Furniture and Storage
Anyone living in a tiny apartment knows the most significant challenge with small spaces is storage. Consider furniture with built-in storage such as beds, coffee tables, and sectionals. Place a console with cabinets and drawers in an entryway. If your space needs to be multi-purpose, look for furniture like Murphy beds and Murphy desks or console tables that easily expand to seat multiple guests for dining. You can really have some fun designing with this smart and creative furniture.
- Appropriate Colors
Finding the right furniture and accents is one part of designing a small space, but choosing the right colors is just as important. For example, dark colors can overpower small spaces. Instead, you should opt for neutral and lighter colors, which can help make the room appear more spacious. Pantone’s Colors of the Year® for 2021 Ultimate Gray and Illuminating both works in small spaces.
- Maximize Lighting
Lighting is also essential in a small space. Maximize the amount of natural light by keeping window coverings as minimal and sheer as possible. For added lighting, especially at night, you, of course, need to rely on lamps. But in a small space, you want to keep your lighting options off the ground. Use sconces or ceiling lights in the room to avoid taking up any unnecessary space.
Make the Most of Your Small Space
When designing a small space, you want to think about storage, multi-purpose furniture, and leveraging vertical spaces. Additionally, you want to use the right colors and lighting fixtures. Combining these tips will help you keep the space light and allow it to feel bigger than it is.
Ready to design your small space? Contact us today at 248-906-9300 to schedule your complimentary in-home design consultation.
