Size does matter
Property prices condemn lots of us to shoeboxes but some hard-working furniture can help make much more of less
When you’re short on space, it’s what you do with it that counts. And with the property market once again only going in one direction many of us are finding ourselves still living in cramped, rented accommodation or, worse still, raising families in what was only ever meant to be a starter home.
So how do you make the most of your 60sq.m digs?
Ask any interior designer and they will tell you if space at home is limited, the furniture you fill it with needs to work extra hard to justify its place.
Luckily many of the big retailers are now catering to the renter generation with a growing trend for slimline and compact furniture offerings.
Harvey Norman, for instance, introduced a range of neat twoseater sofas and office desks aimed at apartment dwellers. Marks and Spencer’s new collection offers a host of shelving with a small footprint while Ikea’s designers took inspiration from young urbanites who are never in one place for long for its PS collection which includes a series of lightweight multifunctional pieces.
But there are also some expert tips you should tap into.
‘Freestanding, flexible storage is the renter’s best friend,’ advises Joanna Thornhill, author of Home
For Now (CICO Books), ‘it requires no attachment to walls (and therefore no holes to upset landlords).
‘Also, consider using items outside of their intended purpose: a chair or stool makes for a quirky yet practical nightstand, and can easily be moved over to your dining table when extra guests are coming over to eat.’
Thornhill also stresses the value of multi-functional furniture such as foldable dining tables, sleek sofa beds and modular pieces that can be easily reconfigured within a space to meet your changing requirements on a daily basis.
Annabel Kilner, country manager of the design-focused online furniture retailer Made.com is also an advocate of space saving strategies.
Kilner lives in a tiny London flat – it measures just 37sq.m – but you’d never guess it looking at the pictures of her stylish abode. By employing some savvy storage solutions and good design ideas she’s made sure every piece of furniture and decor earns its keep.
‘My flat hardly has any furniture, it’s mainly built-in storage. My bed and sofa are placed in an alcove between the storage so it helps to create more space,’ says Kilner.
Other furniture that has made the cut includes a mini Bouji chair (from Made.com) and four Perspex chairs – the see-through material gives the appearance that the chairs take up little to no space. She’s also opted for a neat Zable side table (also from Made. com) over a coffee table.
To further maximise her living area, Kilner has ensured not to overload her small home with too many colours and patterns instead limiting her palette on the core furnishings.
‘I’ve used two tones mainly – soft grey and white. This creates the background, then you can add accents like cushions and art. Even the flooring, it’s all the same throughout, except the kitchen.
‘There’s lots of glass including a mirrored wall, this makes it feel dou- ble the size and all the storage has glass handles, for a lighter touch.’
Another good trick to add character and personality is to think vertically when it comes to decorating says Thornhill. Houseplants are officially trendy again and a really affordable option but If you’ve got limited surface space in your rental, Thornhill suggests hanging planters instead.
‘Suspend them from a single nail, or from edges of furniture or the ends of curtain poles if you don’t want to make any holes and upset that landlord!’