If you live in a home with a smaller floor plan, it can be difficult to think about being able to take on too many interior design projects. Many people think that a smaller home isn’t really a suitable candidate for home upgrades and may feel like they constantly need to sacrifice on their personal style or comfort.
However, even a smaller home can benefit from a wide range of design changes so long as you follow the right strategies. Even with limited space, there are many different subtle and not-so-subtle improvements you can make to not only help improve the aesthetics of your property, but also significantly improve its functionality.
Below, we’ll cover some helpful tips you can follow to maximize your space when updating smaller design spaces.
Select Multi-Functional Furniture Options
Most homeowners don’t tend to replace their living room furniture that often. This is why it’s crucial that you take the time to look for different furniture options that can give you the best value for the money you spend. This often means investing in furniture pieces that can serve more than one purpose.
Selecting multi-functional furniture pieces is a great way to help you get more use out of each room in your home. For example, choosing a comfortable sofa that also converts into a bed lets you transition your living room into a temporary bedroom space as needed. You can also look for end tables that are easy to stack and store when not in use to help you create open floor plans whenever you need additional space to work with.
Another common strategy for making more use of smaller spaces is to install a temporary folding desk on walls or the back of door frames. This enables you to turn a small den into a working office whenever needed without taking up much space.
Leverage Your Vertical Space
Depending on the type of room you’re trying to improve, you might be focused on general aesthetics, furniture pieces, or lighting to help increase usability and comfort in the space. However, when working with limited space, you never want to forget about the valuable vertical real estate you have to work with.
By maximizing your use of wall space, you can greatly improve the functionality of even smaller rooms while also helping them feel larger. For example, by placing low-profile bookcases that reach to the ceiling or hanging various shelving units, you can get a lot more practical use from smaller rooms without cutting off too much walking space.
You can then use these add-ons to hold plants, artwork, or sentimental items while reducing the need to clutter up valuable square footage on floors and walkways.
Use Layered Lighting Styles
The type of lighting you use throughout your home can make all the difference when trying to make a smaller room feel more spacious. Using layered lighting helps you to make an atmosphere feel warmer and more welcoming, and can be much more versatile than just relying on a single overhead fixture.
The room that you’re trying to redesign and its overall function can also impact your lighting decisions. LED lighting, for example, can be useful for creating different brightness levels, colors, and lighting temperatures to mimic natural sunlight and help to avoid the harshness of most traditional artificial lighting.
Make Strategic Use of Mirrors
There are certain tricks you can apply in smaller homes that help you to give the illusion of having more space than you actually have. Mirrors, for example, are incredibly helpful in this area and can help you add more light to a room and give the feeling of spaciousness.
Still, there are certain ways to use mirrors to help you get the most value from them. A good place to start is to consider using a larger mirror on a wall positioned in a main living area. This helps you to maximize its visibility and achieve the desired effect you’re looking for. You can also get the same effect by investing in reflective furniture pieces.
Also, whenever possible, try to place your mirrors across from windows or near a light source. This will allow them to reflect the maximum amount of light around a room and help you to illuminate darker areas of the home.
Implement Smart Storage
When you have very limited space in your home, anything extra that takes up room can make rooms or hallways feel even more restricted. This is especially the case if you allow clutter to unnecessarily take up valuable floor space.
One way to help keep clutter at bay is by investing in smart storage solutions. This could include adding storage containers underneath beds or investing in furniture that has built-in storage options. You could also consider redesigning a small empty corner of the room specifically for added storage, to give yourself some more flexibility when trying to keep different spaces tidy.
Pick The Right Color Palettes
Whether you know it or not, the colors you choose in each of your rooms can also play a role in helping each area feel more spacious. The right color choices can actually completely change how rooms look and feel, and help you to create a more welcoming atmosphere even without making any major home renovations.
For your walls or even larger pieces of furniture, it’s a good idea to stick to lighter and more neutral colors, such as white, cream, or soft grays. These colors help make a space brighter, which can naturally make it feel bigger and more open.
When you use a lighter color palette, it can also help you to add some more personality to a room. Using these neutral base colors allows any displayed artwork or accent colors to stand out more, and can give you an opportunity to showcase your original style.
Get More Value Out of Your Living Space
No matter how much square footage you have, there are a lot of interior design strategies that can help you make the most of your home. By using the techniques discussed, you’ll be able to maximize every inch of your living area while also making each space feel more open and inviting.
Author Information
Author Name: Rebecca Denis
Author Bio:
Rebecca Denis, Head of Design at Revive Real Estate, is an accomplished and highly creative interior designer with over ten years of experience in the industry. With a passion for transforming spaces and a keen eye for detail, she has successfully completed numerous projects ranging from commercial spaces to custom show homes.
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