As a designer and mother of two, I know the impact good design can have on your home environment, especially if that home is under 1400 square feet. My family of four (plus a tenacious Beagle) currently lives in a small Spanish-style bungalow that we adore but often feel limited in our storage space and private corners to hide. I can’t lie, there are days (especially these days) I yearn to climb up a flight of stairs to escape into a spacious master bedroom suite where I can restfully read a book and feel miles away from the sounds of my children bickering or barking dog.
The trick to surviving “Small Space Living” is to maximize your spaces by utilizing purposeful, multi-functional items and living with less. Our rule of thumb is to only fill our home with things that are meaningful and that we cherish. If it isn’t working for us and our lifestyle, we let it go.
Here are more Design Tips to consider when it comes to maximizing your spaces:
TIP #1 – SCALE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF GOOD DESIGN
SCALE is one of the most important design elements, especially when it comes to small space living. Adding too bulky and cumbersome furniture can overwhelm a room and visually weigh it down. Furniture doesn’t have to be tiny but keeping furniture and décor proportional to the space is important. A good rule of thumb is making sure an anchor or statement piece (sofa or bed) is no more than 2/3 of the wall behind it. Also, pay attention to the features of furniture you choose. Incorporating pieces with more slender arms (or armless chairs), narrow legs, lower height frames, etc. can save on space.
Small scale nesting tables from West Elm - Photo courtesy of Jaccard Interiors
TIP #2 – UTILIZE MULTI-PURPOSE FURNITURE
To avoid overcrowding in your rooms, use MULTI-PURPOSE FURNITURE pieces. These take on more than one role for the space. Look for features with versatility, clean lines and easy to relocate within your home. Incorporating a sofa sleeper, storage ottoman, drop-leaf table that acts as a dining or side table, coat rack with a built-in bench, a counter stool that can be pulled into other rooms, etc. are all good examples of pieces that offer versatility.
Multi-purpose coffee table from Homary
TIP #3 – KEEP IT LIGHT AND BRIGHT
When square footage is limited, always go with a NEUTRAL BACKGROUND to open up the space. Also, try to stick with a unified color palette throughout. It’s OK to use darker colors in accent pieces. Painting the walls, trim and ceiling the same paint color will make the walls appear to ‘fade’ into the background and add more visual height. Some of my favorite paint colors for light, bright interiors are: “Simply White” from Benjamin Moore, “White Heat” from Dunn Edwards, and “Alabaster” from Sherwin Williams.
Adding more BRIGHT LIGHT will make a small space feel larger. It’s always good to have (3) light sources in each room: primary (overall room lighting –ceiling pendant), accent (highlight artwork - table lamps), and task lighting (direct lighting: wall sconces, floor lamps). Using plug-in wall sconces on either end of a bed or sofa will eliminate the need for table lamps and free up end table surfaces.
Plug-in wall sconce - Photo courtesy of Jaccard Interiors
TIP #4 – WHEN IN DOUBT, GO VERTICAL
Take advantage of your VERTICAL SPACE to maximize your rooms and storage requirements. Bookshelves, floating shelves, and large framed artwork will draw your eye up and make the space appear taller. Using open shelving with minimal design features will make the area more open and less busy.
Wall-mounted bookshelf from CB2 - Photo courtesy of Jaccard Interiors
TIP #5 – EDIT, EDIT, EDIT
And finally, one of the most important things you can do to maximize your space is to EDIT, EDIT, EDIT! Make sure every piece in your home has meaning and purpose. Avoid too much clutter as it can quickly weigh down a space and create a sense of chaos in your surroundings. With a bit of savvy, you can find storage solutions you won’t mind looking at; like vintage wood boxes, ceramic bowls or woven baskets. By creating designated homes for all your belongings, you’re more likely to avoid accruing random piles of stuff and feel less bogged down by your possessions. As the saying goes, “the more things you own, the more they own you!”
Photo courtesy of Jaccard Interiors