Modern living for a lot of people these days means living in small spaces. As house prices have risen substantially over the past two decades, the struggle to get a foot on the property ladder has meant small flats and houses have become increasingly more appealing.
Once you have found your new pad, the next step is to make it as homely as possible, while making sure there is minimal clutter 
and that it’s welcoming for yourself as well as visitors. I know that this can be hard.
The following interior design tips for smaller properties will hopefully help towards making the most of what space you have, and in turn make the space look bigger than it actually is.
1. Open plan living areas
You should opt for chairs and sofas with small arms or even ones without them to give the illusion that there’s a bit more room. Ensure to position the larger pieces against the walls so they don’t take up more space than is necessary. Bi-fold doors are perfect for bathrooms and kitchens, this is because they only take up half the room of a standard door and the bonus is that they are a quirky design feature in their own right.
2. Open up the room with lighter colours
Darker shades of wallpaper or paint on walls only have the closing in effect in a room, and that can be an awful look for a small living space. Softer tones of cream, greens and browns will provide a brighter and lighter hue. With this you can accessorise with bolder cushions, throws, bed linen, or even in what you choose to put on your wall to decorate your room such as paintings and photography.
3. De-clutter
Be ruthless with your any items which are not necessary. If you don’t using it often, find somewhere to store it. Having a lot going on in a room can make a space look too cluttered, especially in a smaller room. Try using shelves to store your books and music, there are some great options for using curtains to cover shelving. There is a lot of scope to be inventive and use the coordinating material throughout the room to provide a classy look.
4. Don’t over-dress your windows
Big, thick curtains can be an overpowering presence in smaller rooms. Choose roman blinds that provide a clean, straight line on your windows. These blinds are designed to roll up evenly in a stacking fashion when closed but hang straight when open. You can also choose the type of material or fabric and the colour to match with the rest of the room.
5. Let the light in
Allowing as much natural light as possible to flow into a space is the best way to make a room appear bigger. If you don’t have a lot of natural light, additional lighting to corners or, for even on shelving, can create a brighter area when position positioned s in key areas. Of course you should keep your window treatments open during daylight hours for as long as possible.
6. Choose furniture that’s functional
Try to use multi-functional pieces, such as a sofa bed or beds with drawers incorporated in them. Coffee tables that have storage drawers can even reduce the need for open shelves or cupboards.
This post was written by Michael Turner, an enthusiast in home improvement, technology and design.
Related articles
