Small spaces, BIG design!
This month we are learning design tips for small spaces! Smaller spaces don't have to be deprived of beautiful style!
A lot of us have downsized, or are now using our rooms differently. For example, more of us prefer to have a home office. You don't need to build a home addition, we can be creative, and use existing small spaces to supplement our needs.
For example the "Cloffice". A closet transformed into an office space. The space is already there, remove the doors or leave them on, just close the doors at the end of the work day. This cute "Cloffice" has everything you need.
photo-thewonderforestblog
Or find an out of the way small wall, and mount a wall desk, with shelves👉.
photo-HouseBeautiful
Mirrors are a must in small spaces.
Mirrors reflect light and create a spacious feel. This dramatic mirror almost creates a whole other room!
👈🏻
photo-houzz
Window treatments can block light and make spaces feel closed in. But if you hang them over and outside the window, it can make the room appear brighter and larger!👉
photo-TidbitsTwine
Hang them high and hang them wide!
👈🏻
photo-DIYPlaybook
Also choosing light and sheer window treatments can create the illusion of more space, and lets the light in!👉
photo-ShabbyChic
Declutter. Creative storage. This in my own home. We have an empty hallway upstairs, it is the perfect place to house storage cabinets from Ikea. Each cabinet can hold up to 4 plastic tubs, now the clutter is out of sight! Not having a basement, garage or attic, we needed a place to put Christmas decor, china and my business inventory. I really love how it turned out, so fresh and clean! And it didn't break the bank!
Awesome creative storage idea; shoe holder/ entryway console. What a perfect way to hide all those shoes piled by the door!
photo-apartmenttherapy
There are many thoughts on small space furniture. Make sure it is to scale for the room, too large will make your space feel cramped. Too small, everything will feel tiny. And the room has to function, so keep pieces to a minimum.
Appropriate Furniture Scale
Can a sofa be too large for a room?
Yes!
Home Furniture DIY has the answers!
Learn more here
photo-homefurniturediy
👉Just right! Smaller scale sectional leaving room for foot traffic and placed away from the wall, creates the illusion of more space.
photo-MeganOchoa
Furniture with legs make the room appear larger because the eye can see under
and around the pieces.
Check out books on the "tiny home" craze. They have so many space saving ideas that can be used for any size home!
"living in tiny homes, Big Ideas for Small Spaces"
by Marion Hellweg here
Grouping furniture on a large rug and bringing away from the wall, tricks
the eye into thinking the room is larger.
photo-lovejenmarie
chart-construction2style
When you want to make a space feel larger, choose light shades, paint the walls, ceiling and trim all the same color. Dark shades can be your accents.
Draw the eye up with a unique light fixture. Drawing your eye upward helps your site expand, and room appears larger.
photo-lampsplus
If you are able, install a pocket door! the door goes right into the wall, and does not need room to swing open or closed.
This door is from IKEA.
photo-HouseBeautiful
Create zones. Use partitions or floor screens to create separate spaces. For example, use a room divider to specify between a bedroom from a living room. Or place your desk or a reading chair behind a floor screen for privacy.
photo-HouseBeautiful/FantasticFrank
Organized Storage.
Brilliant! I REALLY want to do this.
Store all small appliances in a designated cabinet.
More storage tips here
photo-My Domain
photo-thespruce photo-hammersandhighheelsblogspot photo-chateaustyle
Find space in unexpected places! Add plants on a shelf above a doorway, or turn your radiator into extra seating with attractive radiator cover.
You can save so much space by putting your bed on storage cubes.
Brilliant!
Free Printable room planner to help arrange and design your small space. It is better to make placement on paper before the heavy lifting. Make sure to get measurements of your room and, furniture measurements. You can't place an 8 foot sofa on a 7 foot wall.
Download room planner sheets with directions here: By BrooklynBerryDesigns.com
Look for "small-space Decorating" , Better Homes & Garden, on your news stands.
So many great ideas!
Happy Decorating!
Sources:
Cover Photo;ItsMyFavoriteDay, Cloffice;TheWonderForestBlog, Wall Desk;HouseBeautiful, Houzz-MirrorWall, Window treatments; DIYPlaybook, ShabbyChic,TidbitsTwine, declutter; apartmenttherapy, HomeFurnitureDIY;furniture arrangement tips, photo;MeganOchoa, legged furniture; westelm, comfyco, "living in tiny homes, Big Ideas for Small Spaces" by Marion Hellweg,
sofa on rug; lovejenmarie, placement chart; construction2style, neutral paint palette; SherwinWilliams, unique chandelier; LampsPlus, pocket door;HouseBeautiful/Ikea, room divider;HouseBeautiful/FantasticFrank, small appliance storage ideas; MyDomain, room planner printout; BrooklynBerryDesigns, BHG small-space decorating magazine, ChatfieldCourt; "tips for small decorating", 2/2021, TidbitsandTwine,"MakeHomeUniquelyYou" ;byKim, 3/19/2019, ApartmentTherapy,"14 SneakyWaysToAddMoreStorageToSmallSpaces"; Danielle Bundele, 9/03/2020,DoveCottage;"7TricksTo Make YourHomeBigger",9/11/2017,