How to Maximise Space in a Small Area

We don’t all live in lofty apartments and mansions with more rooms than you know what to do with. Living in a compact space is not about squeezing everything in, irrespective of how and when you need or want to use it. It isn’t about throwing all your stuff out so that you live in a blank canvas. It is, say designers, a question of thinking outside the box.

Some of these hints and tips will suit you and your family, and the home in which you live, and some may not. But the lesson is this: with some tweaks of the traditional, you can have a small space that is light, airy, full of storage options and a fun space to live in.

Paint it white

White is a great colour. Made up of all the colours of the rainbow, it reflects light in a space, allows it to play and bounce around. In some spaces, it may not be a practical colour; it shows up scuff marks and other stains that come with happy family life. My suggestion is to always invest in a high-quality white paint, that boasts a range of properties from low odour to tough and washable.

If you feel that white it simple too stark, then opt for paints in light colours that are a ‘hint of’ a shade. Blues are great for making a space feel bigger, but if you need more warmth in the colour, opt for beige or cream shades.

Think in sections

You need several functions out of a space – you may live and eat in the same space and thus, you may want a space to eat that then folds away, leaving you with lounging space.

Nothing has to be fixed in a small space but when they are, think minimal as well as stylish and functional. For example, glass shelving with glass clamps create the perfect storage solution, with a minimal impact on light and the feeling of space being consumed.

Use different colours in different spaces

Painting walls and ceilings white gives you a blank canvas but it can also have a side-effect in a small space that once you have your stuff is in situ, it looks chaotic. The reason for this is simple: there are too many colours and no order, nothing pulling it together.

Interior designers suggest that by using a limited palette of similar colours in one space, you can create a far more ordered look to it, far more pleasing on the eye but also a key factor in maximising space in a small area.

Full-size furniture

Admit it! You have thought that because the space is small, it makes sense to use smaller items of furniture. Here in lays the problem: small furniture (half height furniture and so on) make the room appear smaller.

And it offers less in the way of storage. Thus, as counterintuitive that it seems, use full height and full-sized furniture as this can be very helpful in hiding the things you don’t want on show.

Art work above eye level

Another clever trick that until someone points it out to you, you will not have thought of! Gather together your favourite bits of art work and photos and hang them as high as possible up the wall, toward the ceiling because this clever trick alone, will add a sense of height.

Multi-purpose furniture

There are all kinds of clever furniture solutions that bring dual-purpose to a small space, making it a valuable addition;

• Guest space – struggling to accommodate an overnight guest? A slimline day bed doubles as an occasional ‘put-me-up’ but most of the time, acts as a pleasant day seat. I have a day bed in our office/guest room and is a perfect funcional space saver.
• Storage space – utilise furniture to store things such as a bedframe with integral drawer space to store bedding, towels, shoes and clothing.
• Additions – there can be wasted space in even the most cleverly designed pieces of kit. Adding components utilises more of this space, like wire rack, stand-alone shelving in kitchen cupboards.

And sometimes, the most obvious storage solutions are ones that are deemed fit for another purpose. For example, glass shelving has long been associated with the bathroom but makes the perfect solution for the lounge, the kitchen, the hallway…

Constant editing

You may not have the immediate ‘skills’ to live in a small space but they come with time and experience.

When you live in a bijou pad, you need to be constantly editing. You need to be tidy with immediate effect, no allowing things to hang about for a while until you clear them away. As your things change and your life changes, you may need to seek new storage solutions.

What have you learnt from living in a smaller space?