Living in a small space doesn’t mean you have to think small. With each of our children moving into small rental accommodation for study I have learnt some great tricks for making a small space not only functional, but beautiful.
Here are my top tips for creating a designer look:
- The No.1 tip is one of the best ways to create an illusion of space. That is paint the room in a light neutral tone such as light grey, off white, pastel shades of aqua, green or your favourite colour.
White with clever black stripes - Let in natural light by removing heavy window furnishings. This helps open up the space. Use sheer drapes that are light or a blind that can be opened each day.
- Declutter! Only display what you really love and be a little on the minimalist side and don’t fill up every empty space.
- Use multifunctional furniture. It is also effective to use furniture on legs so that the floor is visible streamlining the look.
- Choose furnishings with a small print and patterns for accessories in bold colours or choose furniture that is similar to the wall colour to blend in to make a small space look larger.
- Use wall space effectively. A long slim shelf will elongate the space, floor to ceiling bookshelves or quirky hanging systems provide much needed storage.
- Large art works or wall hangings create the illusion of grandeur.
- Mix and match distinct finishes such as leather, marble, glass or timber with common detailing to give a natural flow to you décor.
- Scale – a common mistake is to think that small pieces of furniture are best for a small space. In fact one or two larger pieces help give the room a grounding and grandeur. Decorate with large statement pieces for large scale character.
- Hanging mirrors reflect light and by using glass or transparent pieces the light can create the feeling of space.
