The challenges and opportunities of living in a small space are unique, whether you’re planning to build a tiny house or just live in an apartment or house that’s smaller than average by necessity. Whether it’s design or storage, the usual rules don’t apply to tight spaces. There’s no need to live in miniature and clutter isn’t inevitable because of small spaces. Using these essential tips, you can transform a tiny space into a warm and inviting space.
Make your furniture multi-purpose
It is better to have furniture that serves more than one purpose or provides unexpected storage space if you live in a small space. If you want to make a coffee table out of a trunk, turn your large kitchen island into a dining table, or hang hooks on a bookshelf, you can do it.
A household multifunctional wooden folding sofa bed are obvious options that add much functionality to a room, but a general trend toward downsizing has also led to a wide array of creative and unexpected multifunctional furniture options that offer both style and functionality to a space.
Make Your Stuff Streamlined
Living in a small space gives you the opportunity to reevaluate your possessions as a whole and get rid of pretty much everything but the essentials and those things that will bring you joy. Your small space will only become cluttered and untidy if you hang on to last year’s receipts and old magazines. Organizing and storing less clutter will make your space feel larger, and you will have more space.
You will have a harder time streamlining your household if you have a larger family size. To reduce the storage pressure on your home’s small footprint, you might consider renting a small storage unit if your situation requires it—and your budget permits it—to house certain items (like seasonal décor, beach chairs, and camping gear) separately.
Getting organized
For those of us with average abilities, it can be challenging to organize as some lucky people seem to have been born with organizational superpowers. It’s still important to find ways to organize your small space in a creative way because small spaces work best when they’re highly organized.
Adding open shelving to your kitchen could make it feel more spacious, or lofting your bed would add more floor space. Invest your time and energy into practicing the adage: everything in its place and everything in its place.
Don’t let it get out of hand
It is easy to make your small space feel claustrophobic and messy when you leave out just two or three things. Keeping things organized will be easier if you’ve already reduced your clutter and created some organizational systems. By contrast, the insta-clutter effect caused by small spaces is an excellent motivator for picking up after yourself and cleaning a little each day instead of waiting until everything piles up.
Make the most of color
You can dramatically change the look and feel of your small space by painting it, regardless of whether you rent or own. When your walls have painted with lighter hues, your space will appear larger and more airy. If you want to expand a space, consider painting it a dark color like black. An illusion of space has created by black walls, which add depth to a room.
The best way to visually expand a room is by using neutral colors. It is ideal to incorporate pops of color and texture into your space, but keep large prints and loud patterns to a minimum, as these can dwarf your space and make it appear even smaller.
Choose smart design options
Your small space living experience can be greatly influenced by other design choices in addition to color. Furniture should generally expand the visual space of your home. Seating with a low profile can make ceilings appear higher. Glass, acrylic, and wire mesh tables, chairs, and shelves appear more airy, and open shelving looks less bulky than cabinetry. If you want to add subtly to your space, opt for upholstered furniture that has exposed, slender legs (rather than slipcovers). To avoid creating a miniature dollhouse look, include one or two larger furniture pieces in smaller spaces.