ROOM FOR ASMALL ONE?
Streamline your style and find your space with our creative style solutions for compact homes
DON’T WORRY, IT’S ARMLESS!
Consider small sofas that will give you somewhere to snuggle up but don’t take up too much room. Modern designs with thin arms (or no arms at allfl) waste less space. Choose a style that has legs to give your sofa a lighter, airier look, so that it doesn’t dominate the space. Avoid the temptation to store things under it as this will spoil the effect. Instead, pair your sofa with an ottoman footstool.
SWIPE RIGHT
Switch to a sliding door to save on floor space in smaller rooms. You’ll have more flexibility when it comes to arranging your furniture as you won’t have to avoid obstructing a swinging door. If you love the door you already have, then all you need to do is install a sleek sliding track.
THINK BIG
Large-scale rugs draw the eye to the boundaries of the room, tricking your brain into thinking the space is larger. Look for the biggest rug that you can find within your budget and place your sofa and chairs on the edge of it. When you can’t see where the rug stops, your brain will believe the room is more expansive than it actually is.
HANG OUT
Turn single shelves into double-decker storage with undershelf inserts. Because they’re easy to remove, you can use them to store things you want to clear up quickly, such as post or craft items. Airy wire designs, like the one pictured above, are great for storing items that need to be kept dry, such as garlic and onions in the kitchen.
NEW HEIGHTS
Put the wall to work with high-rise storage. This neat design from IKEA combines a narrow, bar-height table with convenient racks. Use the table as you might use a kitchen island for extra worktop space, as well as an informal place to eat. Find stools without backs that can be completely hidden under the table so that the floor space is kept clear. The rails provide space to display essential items, like saucepans and pots of herbs.
PLEATS PLEASE
Do away with bulky, space-invading tables with clever folding designs. Wall-mounted styles neatly tuck away when they’re not in use, giving you much more floor space outside of mealtimes. Pair your table with folding chairs for ultimate flexibility in creating extra room.
OPEN UP
Don’t forget about the backs of doors. They’re a brilliant place to pop a little extra storage. Over-the-door hangers and bags are easy to access when you need to keep things handy, but neatly tidied away. They’ll transform your relationship with deep cupboards, particularly those below waist height, as you won’t need to reach down so far to find what you need.
BED IN A BOX
Avoid buying beds that are ready-made as narrow hallways and twisting stairs can make it impossible to get a bedframe into a small room. Swyft’s flat-packed beds in boxes are easy to manoeuvre, and its choice of velvet and linen upholstered frames have a beautiful and high-end feel, so no one will know that you put it together yourself.
MULTITASKING MARVEL
This clever design from IKEA is several pieces of furniture in one. It’s a stylish daybed, which folds out to make a comfortable double bed. It also contains three deep drawers, perfect for storing bedding and pyjamas. Style it up with bolster cushions at each end to turn it into a stylish sofa with heritage good looks.
A LITTLE LIFT
Make a double bed work harder by choosing a divan frame with plenty of storage underneath. Underbed boxes are great, but they sometimes require a lot of floor space to slide them out. Ottoman beds lift straight up to reveal a huge amount of storage space within the frame so it’s easy to get your hands on things you might need every day.
BESPOKE BEAUTIES
Make the most of every inch of available space with custom-made storage furniture. Fitted wardrobes are an investment but if they’re well designed, they can add value to your home. Check out companies that give you a DIY option so that you can save on installation. They’ll also make your room appear larger, as they neaten up your scheme. Try mirrored doors for creating a sense of a larger room, or use sliding doors for a neat, streamlined look.
BOX CLEVER
Make use of fiddly features, such as immovable chimney breasts or boxed-in piping by creating built-in shelving around them. You’ll need to check with a builder to ensure that this won’t make the structure unstable, but the inches you’ll gain will be worth the extra effort. Use them as quirky, built-in bookcases and display shelves.
CLEAR THE DECKS
Streamlining your look is an easy way to make your space seem larger in an instant. Cut down on the number of colours you’re using in your schemes and hide away toiletries with loud or bright branding. Decant your shampoo and conditioner into unfussy pump bottles for a neat-looking shower or bath.