When you live in a small house or apartment, fitting in everything you need is difficult. Trying to fit everything in and make it look good is an even bigger challenge, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun and create a really stylish and unique look when decorating a small space.
In the past, there have been certain rules about decorating small spaces. Some of these rules included limiting the colour of your walls to white, reducing the size of all your furniture, and maintaining a minimalist aesthetic. All these rules made decorating a small space such a bore!
Today we look at our favourite 7 design tips when decorating a small space. Whether you live in a studio apartment, in a complex, are downsizing homes, or want to get more out of a tiny room in your home, these small space design ideas will maximise your space while giving you optimum style. Plus, we show you how you can break some of those boring rules!
1. A single large piece of furniture
It is untrue that you need to scale down all your furniture. Sometimes a single piece of bulky furniture will add a lot of appeal to a small space. Stuffing a small nook with several small-scale furniture pieces will make the space feel cramped, crowded, and bitsy.
However, filling most of the space with, say, a large sectional sofa, as seen above, makes this small living room feel cosy and inviting.
2. Sometimes more is more.
We often hear that less is more, but sometimes more is more, especially when decorating a wall in a small space. Though it may sound counterintuitive, covering a wall from floor to ceiling can make a small space feel larger.
An assortment of framed works draws the eye up in the example above, making this small studio apartment feel more expansive.
To make sure this look pulls together, keep your walls and furniture in soft shades; this will set the stage for colourful wall art.
3. Rugs create zones.
Another misconception is that you should use one area rug to anchor the whole room in a small space. When done right, rugs can create different zones and can add texture and warmth when decorating a small space.
In this above example, a large rug is used to establish the living room, and a smaller one is used to zone off the home office area.
4. Colour, contrast, and shine.
Another outdated rule is that you should only paint your walls and cabinetry white in a small space to make it look bigger. This is absolutely not the case! Colour, even dark colours, can add interest and depth to a small space. The trick is to use glossy tiles or paint with a satin or semi-gloss finish that reflects light, making the space feel airier. Another important tip when decorating a small space is to contrast your colours with lighter shades.
Above is an example of a tiny kitchen that uses glossy blue and white tiles as well as semi-gloss blue paint on the cabinets. Contrast, shine, and colour all work together to create this stunning effect.
5. Shrink your dining table.
Although certain bulky furniture pieces, such as a large sectional sofa, can work well in a small space, it is better to ditch the giant rectangular table and give yourself extra space by using a cosy, more intimate round table instead.
6. Customise your storage.
Bespoke built-in storage tailored to your exact needs can maximise every sliver of available space in your small home. You don’t lose nearly as much square footage when your storage is part of the walls.
Fineline Wardrobe Solution’s built-in cupboards are custom-made and made to measure. They are designed to optimise the layout of your specific space, and they are measured to fit perfectly. Whether you live in a new, modern apartment with simple rectangular-shaped rooms or a quirky period property with awkward alcoves, sloping ceilings, and uneven floors, our Fineline team can measure your space and ensure that your cupboards fit perfectly.
Fineline’s custom-built wardrobes can be made to fit into L-shaped corners (as seen above) or designed around windows to make the best use of space in your room. This way, you can use alcoves and odd corners that usually remain out of action and integrate your wardrobe with your existing room layout. Not only does this free up your precious floor space, but it also offers maximum storage.
Another necessity of small spaces is that you use as much vertical space as possible. We construct our wardrobes from floor to ceiling, providing ample height for storing your essentials.
Fineline’s cupboards and wardrobes are fitted only with sliding wardrobe doors, which is a must in small areas. With sliding doors, you don’t have to worry about hinged doors bumping into other furniture or opening up into tight spaces, such as passageways, as seen in the example above.
Use your sliding wardrobe doors as part of your decorating.
Our sliding doors can be manufactured in a range of different materials, such as mirror, glass, woodgrain or solid colour melamine, or even a combination of materials. This allows your wardrobe to match your unique style and become an integral part of decorating a small space.
7. Mirrors work magic.
Using mirrors is the oldest trick in the book and is an undisputed decorating gem. Mirrors will make your space feel larger, lighter, and airier by reflecting light and space.
Fineline’s mirror sliding doors are incredibly effective in maximising small spaces. Floor-to-ceiling mirror doors brighten your space and make it look instantly bigger. In a small space, it is important to make every furniture piece count to provide maximum functionality and style. Fineline’s cupboards with sliding cupboard doors do exactly that!
Here are some more tips on how to use mirrors in a small space to maximise light and style.
Even though decorating small spaces can be challenging, there are clever solutions to overcome these obstacles, making the process all the more rewarding in the end. We hope some of these design tips and hacks when decorating a small space have inspired you to create the most functional yet stylish, unique spaces possible.
If you are looking for custom-built, stylish storage solutions for your small home or apartment, contact us at Fineline Wardrobe Solutions today.
For more creative tips and ideas, look at our trendy blog.
