Small space style is enjoying a Renaissance all over the world, led by young urban professionals with money to spend, rejecting the idea that a studio flat can’t be stylish. While some of the tricks out there are beyond the average budget or might not get the go-ahead from the most generous landlord, there’s plenty of low-maintenance small space style ideas which can transform cramped and cluttered into inner-city chic. If your home is small but perfectly formed, read on for a beginner’s guide to living large in a tiny space.
Smart lighting cuts the clutter
The first tip is about avoiding clutter, both real and visual. Take advantage of the sharing economy to get rid of bits and bobs: sell or give away what you don’t use often enough, and rent it when you need it. This applies to books and DVDs but also to high-end frocks, suitcases shared with friends and even electronics.
Once you’re down to the basics, getting rid of visual clutter is trickier. Go for monochromatic or subtle colour palettes, keep walls and floors consistent throughout your home, and choose plain or textured fabrics rather than loud patterns. Gentle, oblique spotlighting and simple window treatments, mounted high and wide, give the illusion of a light, airy space.
Storage furniture is your new best friend
The more you can keep out of sight in your small space, the clearer and more streamlined it will look. This is particularly important in a studio where living, dining and sleeping all happen in one space: a perfectly-made bed, a cute mid-century sideboard and a chic sectional are what you want your guests to see, not your clothes, winter blankets or suitcases. But where do you store the things you really do need but don’t use every day? When you don’t have a spare room or any built-in storage, and can’t sacrifice floor space for bulky wardrobes, it can feel as if everything’s on display.
The trick is to get everything off the floor and out of sight: learn to love storage furniture. An ottoman in front of the sofa can store magazines, slippers and a throw for winter, a storage bed with drawers or a lift-up front can store winter clothes, spare duvets and shoes, and a sofa with drawers underneath will house board games, games consoles and DVDs when your shelving runs out.
Make space wherever you can find it
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in a clean, modernist flat with square or rectangular rooms, this next tip might not be a problem. For the rest of us, however, our period properties latterly split up into little flats are full of awkward angles and weird empty spaces. Turn every unused space into a storage place: if it isn’t holding clutter or being occupied, it’s wasted. Be prepared to go bespoke or get creative in order to get the best out of awkward spaces: a floating shelf in the entryway to take keys, handbags and post is a good start, and shelves above doorways are a classic. Low bookshelves or storage window-seats under windows make space, as do glass shelves across deep-set windows. If you own your home or have a permissive landlord, you might be able to carve out shallow storage spaces between studs: tile a little alcove in the bathroom to hold lotions and potions and keep them off the floor.
Author bio
The author is a home and lifestyle blogger, writing regular dispatches on life as a first-time homeowner, including a DIY diary and renovation tips. When researching lights and lighting, she visits The Lighting Superstore website.