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17 Ingenious Ideas for Small-Space Living
With the magic of a few carefully-chosen buys, even the smallest of spaces can be transformed
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Hands up who wants to spend time in a cramped, cluttered room? That’s what we thought… and which is why we’ve come up the most beneficial ideas for making the most of your smaller spaces.
No place to store your coats or bedding? Worktops full of kitchen essentials? Or, maybe you’re tired of trying to squeeze past your bed to get to your wardrobe. Whatever your dilemma, there’s a solution to help. Read on for some key pointers on how smart furniture buys can make your life that bit easier and your home look super stylish.
No place to store your coats or bedding? Worktops full of kitchen essentials? Or, maybe you’re tired of trying to squeeze past your bed to get to your wardrobe. Whatever your dilemma, there’s a solution to help. Read on for some key pointers on how smart furniture buys can make your life that bit easier and your home look super stylish.
In the Kitchen…
1. Use your walls. Hanging items from handy storage rails in the kitchen is a great way of saving on worktop space and will make your wall space work extra hard for you. From wooden spoons and oils, to cookbooks and herbs and spices, keep your kitchen essentials neatly stored, easy to reach and all in one place.
Bonus tip: For a more streamlined finish, keep the hanging rails to just one wall so that your other walls can be kept clear and allowed to ‘breathe’.
2. Maximise corner cabinets. They may not provide the easiest of access to your everyday items, but corner cabinets are full of space and a very practical way to squeeze in as much storage as possible. Bonus points for adding internal drawers to keep your items organised and easier to reach.
1. Use your walls. Hanging items from handy storage rails in the kitchen is a great way of saving on worktop space and will make your wall space work extra hard for you. From wooden spoons and oils, to cookbooks and herbs and spices, keep your kitchen essentials neatly stored, easy to reach and all in one place.
Bonus tip: For a more streamlined finish, keep the hanging rails to just one wall so that your other walls can be kept clear and allowed to ‘breathe’.
2. Maximise corner cabinets. They may not provide the easiest of access to your everyday items, but corner cabinets are full of space and a very practical way to squeeze in as much storage as possible. Bonus points for adding internal drawers to keep your items organised and easier to reach.
3. Work a breakfast bar into your scheme. If you don’t have room for a dining table in the kitchen, bring your work surface out past the cabinetry, to create a small breakfast bar. Ideal as a spot for you to enjoy a coffee, or for the kids to eat at or do their homework while you cook.
4. Research space-saving alternatives. Choosing your furniture and appliances carefully can help to combat some of the problems that arise with small-space living. There’s lots of cleverly-designed pieces to choose from – from slim fridges to smaller kitchen islands – so make sure you do your research before you buy to find the ideal item for you.
4. Research space-saving alternatives. Choosing your furniture and appliances carefully can help to combat some of the problems that arise with small-space living. There’s lots of cleverly-designed pieces to choose from – from slim fridges to smaller kitchen islands – so make sure you do your research before you buy to find the ideal item for you.
In the Bedroom…
5. Go for sliders. We all know that having a bedroom free of clutter can help enable a good night’s sleep, but if you don’t have the luxury of a large bedroom, this can be tricky to achieve. However, there are a few ways you can help free-up space and turn your bedroom into the streamlined scheme you deserve. If you’re tight on space, then wardrobes with sliding doors are a great option as you won’t have to battle to open them or squeeze to get past if one is open.
6. Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors. Mirrors help create the illusion of more space and offer the added bonus of bouncing light around the space.Go for wardrobe doors with a mirrored front and you’ve also saved the need for a separate floorstanding mirror.
7. Swap in shelves. Chunky bedside tables aren’t always easy to squeeze in, so consider floating shelves instead, which will leave your floor space free, while still offering you a place to pop a glass of water or book.
8. Be smart with lighting. Installing wall lights on either side of the bed, instead of having bedside lamps, will save you even more room – especially if you don’t have space for a bedside table.
5. Go for sliders. We all know that having a bedroom free of clutter can help enable a good night’s sleep, but if you don’t have the luxury of a large bedroom, this can be tricky to achieve. However, there are a few ways you can help free-up space and turn your bedroom into the streamlined scheme you deserve. If you’re tight on space, then wardrobes with sliding doors are a great option as you won’t have to battle to open them or squeeze to get past if one is open.
6. Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors. Mirrors help create the illusion of more space and offer the added bonus of bouncing light around the space.Go for wardrobe doors with a mirrored front and you’ve also saved the need for a separate floorstanding mirror.
7. Swap in shelves. Chunky bedside tables aren’t always easy to squeeze in, so consider floating shelves instead, which will leave your floor space free, while still offering you a place to pop a glass of water or book.
8. Be smart with lighting. Installing wall lights on either side of the bed, instead of having bedside lamps, will save you even more room – especially if you don’t have space for a bedside table.
9. Invest in storage furniture. Being smart with your furniture means opting for pieces with hidden storage, where you can store all those items you don’t need day to day. For example, ottoman beds with lift-up frames are ideal for stashing extra bed linen and duvets, or bulky items that you have nowhere else for.
Bonus tip: Storage furniture works well in other rooms, too – coffee and dining tables with drawers, for example, are handy for everyday clutter and dining essentials.
10. Buy multi-purpose pieces. Furniture that has more than one use are essential pieces for small-space living, be that in the bedroom or elsewhere in the home. Sofa beds, for example, are ideal if you don’t have a guest room but need an extra bed occasionally. Ottomans can provide an extra seat as well as attractive storage, while a nest of tables comes into its own when you need extra surface space for guests – and then slot neatly back underneath each other at all other times.
11. What’s under the bed? Alternatively, make the most of the space underneath your bed with some pull-out storage bags – perfect for keeping clothes you’re not wearing this season or extra bed linen.
Bonus tip: Storage furniture works well in other rooms, too – coffee and dining tables with drawers, for example, are handy for everyday clutter and dining essentials.
10. Buy multi-purpose pieces. Furniture that has more than one use are essential pieces for small-space living, be that in the bedroom or elsewhere in the home. Sofa beds, for example, are ideal if you don’t have a guest room but need an extra bed occasionally. Ottomans can provide an extra seat as well as attractive storage, while a nest of tables comes into its own when you need extra surface space for guests – and then slot neatly back underneath each other at all other times.
11. What’s under the bed? Alternatively, make the most of the space underneath your bed with some pull-out storage bags – perfect for keeping clothes you’re not wearing this season or extra bed linen.
In Living Spaces…
12. Choose smaller furniture items. Using compact furniture, with pieces that are slimmer in design, will help create the illusion of more space around them. It also means you’ll have more room to be able to open cabinet doors or drawers, walk around the furniture easily and give a general feeling of space and flow.
13. Trick the eye. Furniture with tapered legs will help you see underneath, showing more floor space and tricking the eye into thinking the room is larger. The same goes for glass furniture that you can see through, and which will help a small room from looking too busy with bulky or heavy furniture.
14. Zone your room. Open-plan spaces that aren’t on the large side can often feel busy and cluttered – however, if you ‘zone’ each area you can give it a clear space of its own. Clever ways to do this include laying an area rug; defining a “zone” with pendant lighting; or using cleverly-placed furniture. Which brings us to…
15. Be smart with your layout. Use modular sofas, rugs and open storage to designate each area, tying in colours to help the scheme feel cohesive. Room dividers with shelving are also good for giving you extra storage while dividing two areas – add castors to the bottom so you can change the position easily when needed.
12. Choose smaller furniture items. Using compact furniture, with pieces that are slimmer in design, will help create the illusion of more space around them. It also means you’ll have more room to be able to open cabinet doors or drawers, walk around the furniture easily and give a general feeling of space and flow.
13. Trick the eye. Furniture with tapered legs will help you see underneath, showing more floor space and tricking the eye into thinking the room is larger. The same goes for glass furniture that you can see through, and which will help a small room from looking too busy with bulky or heavy furniture.
14. Zone your room. Open-plan spaces that aren’t on the large side can often feel busy and cluttered – however, if you ‘zone’ each area you can give it a clear space of its own. Clever ways to do this include laying an area rug; defining a “zone” with pendant lighting; or using cleverly-placed furniture. Which brings us to…
15. Be smart with your layout. Use modular sofas, rugs and open storage to designate each area, tying in colours to help the scheme feel cohesive. Room dividers with shelving are also good for giving you extra storage while dividing two areas – add castors to the bottom so you can change the position easily when needed.
16. Mix-and-match your storage. Need extra storage but prefer a more eclectic look? Create interest by adding smaller storage solutions alongside larger pieces of furniture. Invest in a modular range, so you can pick and choose which pieces suit – and fit – your living space.
17. Don’t forget the display
As much as it’s nice to have clutter hidden away, it can be equally good to have some decorative pieces out on display to keep your rooms looking homely. Opt for furniture that features both closed-in storage, in the form of cupboards and drawers, and also open shelving where you can show off more attractive items and add personality to your room.
Bonus tip: If you don’t have much space for lots of storage, opt for pieces of furniture that are narrow yet taller in height, to make the most of the height of your room.
Tell us:
What’s your biggest small-space living dilemma? Share with your fellow Houzzers in the Comments section below.
17. Don’t forget the display
As much as it’s nice to have clutter hidden away, it can be equally good to have some decorative pieces out on display to keep your rooms looking homely. Opt for furniture that features both closed-in storage, in the form of cupboards and drawers, and also open shelving where you can show off more attractive items and add personality to your room.
Bonus tip: If you don’t have much space for lots of storage, opt for pieces of furniture that are narrow yet taller in height, to make the most of the height of your room.
Tell us:
What’s your biggest small-space living dilemma? Share with your fellow Houzzers in the Comments section below.
- This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
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