Small spaces - make the most of them

Living space is getting more expensive, so many tenants and home owners will have to compromise when it comes to buying or renting. It’s either space or location and so many of us will end up having a small space in their home that they’d like to optimise. But let’s face it, decorating small spaces is not that easy when you want your space to meet a number of requirements and it might seem like a daunting task to face.

Work with what you’ve got: accepting your small space

The most important thing to remember is that small spaces can also have their advantages. You won’t need as many pieces of furniture for small spaces and they aren’t as expensive to heat or maintain, so once you’ve started to focus on these aspects, having a small space can actually feel quite liberating. It forces you to declutter, question your habits and needs and also focus on what’s essential: functionality, quality and style.

Furniture for small spaces

Before buying furniture, ask yourself what you want a your furniture to do for your space. Don’t buy something simply because it’s on sale, but look at your living situation and see, if a certain piece is really functional and fulfilling its purpose. Built-in furniture is a great way to use those nooks and crannies and make the most of your small space. Frameless door wardrobes by Urban for example are built in and have sliding doors, which means that the doors don’t extend out into the bedroom when opened and you don’t have to leave valuable space clear to be able to reach your clothes.

Use lighting and colours to enlarge small spaces

When decorating small spaces, remember that lighting and colour are your best friends. Lighting, not only on the ceiling but also on shelving, desks and in corners, brightens up your room and gives the illusion of more space. Bright colours or shiny surfaces have the same effect while dark colours and matt surfaces make your space appear smaller.

Organise a small space

The most important thing when organising a space, no matter how small, is that sticking to your organisational routine doesn’t become a chore. It must feel natural to follow certain steps and there are lots of organisational tools and systems that can help you. If you don’t know where to start, I would recommend watching the YouTube videos of Alexandra Costello. She’s a genius when it comes to organisation and I find it amazing how she makes the most of even the smallest spaces.

Limited Outdoor Space

Having limited space outdoors isn’t such a bad thing, and there are ways you can add features to your exterior that will allow you to make the most of what you’ve got. For example, if you are looking to enhance the security and privacy of your driveway but don’t have much room to work with, you should consider getting bifold gates. These are the perfect solution if you are unable to install swing or sliding gates. If you don’t have the right amount of space, swing or sliding gates can risk hitting your parked car, walls, or the house. If you’re looking to add plant pots to your small garden you could make use of shelves and hooks and add these to the wall. This will free up some space on the floor. Alternatively, you could add some planters underneath your kitchen window to grow herbs. You just need to be savvy when it comes to making the most of the outdoor space.

Have you got difficulties finding furniture for small spaces or making the most of the nookes and crannies in your house? Leave a comment below and tell me how you’re making your small spaces work for you!

This is a promotional post with images from Gallery Hip, Urban Wardrobe, Vizimac and Home Designing.