SMALL SPACES
Smaller condos call for creative clutterfree furnishings
Keeping a small condo neat and tidy is no easy feat; when all you have is a couple of hundred square feet, it tends to feel disorganized as soon as a few things are out of place.
What to do? According to Natasha Kozlowski, the interior designer behind Natasha K Design and the woman who refers to her own 450-squarefoot condo as “my little shoebox in the city,” a smart closet design is the first step, while decorative storage is a close second.
“A practical closet configuration is key,” she said. “I incorporated a mixture of pull-out drawers and hanging rods, tailored to my storage needs. When items have a designated home, it makes tidying up that much easier.
“Storage baskets and boxes will become your best friend when decorating a small space. Not only are they attractive to look at, they serve a purpose. Since they’re exposed most of the time, I recommend selecting ones with a pattern or texture.”
Tracy Platt, a style and design expert for Canadian Tire, agrees. “Baskets are a go-to/no-fail storage solution for every sized space; they can be placed on top of cabinets, stashed under side or console tables, or left in plain view for things you need often,” she said. “Some of the new baskets from Canvas are so great looking you wouldn’t want to hide them.”
Choosing furniture that doubles as storage is another effective strategy.
“With limited square footage, it’s important that a few key pieces serve a dual-purpose, adapting as your needs change,” Kozlowski said. “I incorporated a secretary desk in my living space, which allows the flexibility to work from home. At the end of the day, I can close the flip-down door, concealing my computer and paper work, returning the space back to a living room. When hosting, the chair is used as extra seating.”
According to Platt, choosing furniture that offers both maximum functionality and style is key, as is choosing pieces that take up more vertical space than horizontal.
“Multi-functional furniture is so versatile,” she said. “Small, light accent tables that fit together nicely make great impromptu coffee tables and can be moved around easily.
“A great-looking console table can be a place to drop your keys and bags, but can also be used for working on a laptop or setting up a bar or appetizer area.
“Tall pieces have a greater capacity to store items without taking up a ton of room.”
Another must when keeping a small space organized is using every square inch available for storage.
“Areas that homeowners tend to forget about are under sofas and beds,” Kozlowski said. “I recommend purchasing shallow roller bins that neatly tuck under these surfaces. I store seasonal clothing, giftwrapping and other items not used on a daily basis in these bins.”
Getting creative with storage is another strategy.
“New condos are a great clean slate for decorating, but they often don’t have enough storage, which means you need to get creative,” Platt said. “Take advantage of walls to hang shelving; a small nook in a kitchen or bathroom can be a great place to add space for spices, mugs, or small canisters of essentials.”
Designating specific areas for different tasks and/or activities — such as working, relaxing and entertaining — and designing a practical layout helps create an inviting home environment, no matter what size the space is.
“Since I enjoy cooking, and entertaining, I widened my kitchen island to allow for extra prep space and to accommodate casual counter seating,” said Natasha Kozlowski, who also removed an entire wall of upper cabinets (which she replaced with floating shelves) because she felt they made the space feel closed in.
“This omitted the need for a dining-room table, which would have consumed too much floor space.”
Once everything is organized and stowed away, there are a couple of tried-and-true techniques that can make a small space look bigger.
“Think about colour and light,” Tracy Platt said.
“White-painted and blonde woods with a Nordic influence feel lighter and can make a space appear larger. Glass-front doors or fine table legs also have a lightness to them.”
Kozlowski suggested using a monochromatic palette to create the illusion of more space in a small condo. “I recommend adding visual interest to a neutral base through textures and patterns,” she said. “Using mirrored or glass furniture and other reflective surfaces will also help light bounce off those surfaces, and give the illusion of a larger space.”
The coffee table she selected for her own “little shoebox in the city” is made of a mix of glass and chrome, and has a bottom shelf made of glass, which she naturally uses for — you guessed it! — additional storage.