Design to Make the Most of Small Spaces
In our modern world, space can be a bit of a luxury. More and more, particularly in big, built-up cities like London, we are seeing the small spaces converted into flats and homes. This presents a challenge for interior design. So we have a few suggestions for how to get the best out of the space when decorating and furnishing small rooms and homes.
1) Think: Zones
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If you’re living in a studio flat or a home with an open plan layout, create ‘rooms’ by thinking about the space zonally. Define specific areas for each activity you do in the space ie sleeping, relaxing, eating, etc. Creating zones gives small spaces definition, can help to make it feel bigger and makes it work better.
2) Think: Big Furniture
Many of the sofas in our Corner Sofa range, would work well within this kind of space.
Conventional wisdom might tell you that you shouldn’t place big furniture in a small room, as you would think it would dominate the room and make it looked cramped. In fact, filling the small spaces will make it look bigger. However, a few larger, bold items can often be more space-efficient than several small pieces of furniture. A modular and/or corner sofa is particularly good as you’ll get far more seating out of a smaller area, and it will allow for better traffic flow than if you have to move around a smaller sofa and one or two chairs. Just be wary of choosing furniture with thick arms as you want to make the room as streamlined as possible.
3) Think: Vertically
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You might not have much square footage, but your floor isn’t the only area to think about when placing furniture. You’ve got (usually) four walls surrounding you, make use of them! Not only is utilizing the space for artwork or shelving practical in terms of creating extra display/storage space, but it also draws the eye upwards, giving the space a more expansive feel. So be sure to make those new bookshelves floor-to-ceiling ones!
4) Think: Sight Lines and Light
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Maximizing light in your space is a great way to make it look bigger. Hang mirrors and go for glass furniture where possible – such as coffee tables and shelving units to create reflections and allow light to flow through the room. You also want to think about sight-lines. If possible, take out walls or doors that obscure the space and make it feel boxed in, allowing to you look down the whole length of the room. And stick to soothing, even-toned colour schemes, as again, they add to the lightness of the room and make it seem more spacious.
5) Think: Make it Count
When there is a lack of space, it’s important to make every inch of it count. Create bespoke built-in storage that utilizes tiny bits of space that would otherwise go to waste. And choose furniture that is versatile, so you get more practical use out of it for the least space possible. Our Marco sofa range is ideal, as not only does it have built-in storage, but you can choose to make it a sofa bed – meaning you get three pieces of furniture in one!
Post written by Julie Fisher.
