Top 10 Ideas to Small Space Living – Part B

This is a 2 part series about small space interior design ideas.
Have you read Part A ?

Designing for a small site can be challenging and frustrating. It may be hard to break the mold of modern thinking which tends to pursue the grandiose. However, a small house is simply a big house without all the unnecessary parts.

With a little ingenuity and thorough planning, you can create a successful design within a small space. To make it easier for you, we have compiled another five tips that will assist you in making your small space work.

(If you have not seen the first 5 in the list, then check it out HERE).

No. 6  –  BUY SPACE-EFFICIENT FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES

While it is common sense to select small furniture for a small space, the size of household appliances is often overlooked.

Storage areas and linen closets are often dramatically undersized or non-existent in tiny apartments, so buy well-designed appliances that are space-efficient and multi-functioned where possible.

No. 7  –  LIMIT CIRCULATION SPACE

The greatest loss of space in home design is often in the circulation areas. Overlapping the use of spaces within the home eliminates the need for separate circulation corridors and improves the efficiency of floor space.

For example, have you considered utilizing a long corridor as a children’s play space or incorporating a study nook within a staircase landing?

No. 8  –  DECLUTTER

Collecting items of desire is a natural human behaviour. However, when your space is tight, you must be selective about what items are necessities and what are luxuries.

Cramped and cluttered spaces not only feel smaller, they are smaller. So put your space on a diet and de-clutter!

No. 9 – BE CLEVER ABOUT STORAGE

There is no reason to reduce your storage space simply because you have a tiny site. With a little inventiveness, you can create ample space for all your storage needs.

Have you considered incorporating drawers into your staircase or movable wall storage units that double as room dividers?

It may also help to think about possible ‘high’ and ‘low’ storage spaces such as under-bed storage and shelving space above doorways. For more novel storage ideas, check out this article Beautiful Storage Ideas for Small Houses.

No. 10 – SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Sometimes illusion is the only trick to make a space feel larger. A framed mirror, particularly when placed perpendicular to a window, can make a room feel twice as large and twice as open to the outside.