When it comes to home renovations, space saving and interior decorating we often need a hand when deciding how to make the most of our space. It can be very easy to create an over cluttered and cramped room when you are short of room. The ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui suggests that placing objects in such a way that allows the easy flow of Qi; a natural energy that flows through everything, and affects all aspects from the layout, colour, and materials. This can become even more apparent in a small house where every inch of space is precious. There are some simple tips and ideas that can help you make the most of the space in a smaller home; no matter how teeny tiny your living spaces may be:
1- Adding light and depth to your living space
How do you add light and depth to your living space? Adding extra lighting can be one of the simplest, yet effective ways of creating the illusion of space in your living area. Large windows allow a greater amount of light inside, and using a light colour pallet on the walls of the home also enhances this further. Simply by reflecting the light, rather than absorbing it, light interiors create the look of a bright, airy room rather than a small, claustrophobic cave. If larger windows aren’t an option, then another fun and great way of adding extra lighting is the use of mirrors that reflect the light into other, maybe darker areas such as alcoves and corners.
Even once the sun goes down, electrical lighting such as uplights will bounce the light around your space, or the use of candle lanterns can really light up a room, using natural ambient lighting to create a soft candlelit glow.
2- Reduce your clutter
How to reduce clutter in the home? Even the largest of houses can become victims of the dreaded clutter, but a small home is always more susceptible to overcrowding. Children’s toys, clothing and knick-knacks can easily be left lying around without a suitable home, but there are ways of adding extra suitable storage without compromising on space or the overall aesthetics of the room.
It is good to incorporate furniture into the home which has more than one use when trying to save on space. Using functional furniture such as an ottoman is a great storage solution, as not only is it handy storage, but also looks the part and can double up as a great coffee table for the living room. Similarly; why not use a storage bench underneath a window or at the bottom of a bed? A storage bed with plenty of space underneath is a great option. For extra toy space, storage chests are great in the kids room too!
3- Use your walls to create more space
How do you make the most of your wall space in the home? The effective use of wall space is often overlooked, especially when space is limited, but using the walls as part of your clever space saving project can really help. One way of doing this is by installing shelves and bookcases above doors or high up on walls where space isn’t always used. This leaves the lower wall space for your other furniture and storage units and doesn’t compromise on work and living space. Having high shelf space also helps keep your precious items out of the reach of children and pets, whilst easily displaying them and making them a feature in your room.
Space beneath windows can be often overlooked too, so why not put book shelving there also, making it easily accessible whilst creating a great feature. In bedrooms, wall hooks and clothes rails look great as an alternative to wardrobes, especially if the room is small or has a low ceiling, or where fitted wardrobes aren’t an option.
4- Make the most of your outdoor space
How do you make the most of your outdoor space? We’ve talked plenty about space saving inside the house, but what about if you want to take these ideas outside? Extending your living space outdoors can definitely help the home to feel much more spacious. Our gardens and outdoor spaces are often linked to better mental health, and studies have proven that being in and around nature improves our wellbeing, so it’s only natural that we’d want to bring what we do indoors, outside too!
Creating a patio or decking space to allow for simply relaxing with a book, alfresco dining, or entertaining friends is a great way to create more living space, especially when you have extra visitors. If it’s chilly then a fire pit is great for extra warmth, as well as becoming a fun gathering point for guests. Add some lanterns or solar lights and you’ve got a cosy nook for a relaxing evening…
5- Use small space saving furniture
How do you optimise furniture to save space? A sideboard in the dining room looks fantastic as a feature piece, but also is a handy space for your favourite tipples, dining tablecloths or placemats, and table decorations. Even the fine china and cutlery look great inside. Why not consider a small sideboard or vanity cabinet in the bathroom too; fold away towels and say goodbye to toothpaste tubes and shampoo bottles littering the windowsills, keeping them all together in one compact space.
Nesting tables are perfect for being savvy with space. These can be grouped together when not being used and then spread around the room when guests arrive.
Remember that big pieces obviously take up more room, and in a small space may dwarf other pieces or make the room look cramped and cluttered. Reducing the size of your furniture will also reduce your visual clutter. Similarly, if you look to eliminate obstructions in your room then it will feel more spacious; if you avoid blocking views from doors or windows, the larger the room will seem! A nice simple idea is to make sure to keep spaces tidy when at all possible; as this will not only improve your Feng Shui, but will also help improve your mental health and wellbeing and give a sense of achievement within the home.
