Interior Design Ideas for Small Spaces

If you only have a small living space, bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom, you may not feel as if there is much scope for interesting decor in these areas.

However, there is actually a great deal you can do to spruce up small spaces – and even to give the illusion that they are bigger!

Below, Property Solvers offer a number of clever tips to help you make the most of the more compact rooms in your home.

Reduce Clutter

It may go without saying, but you need to be ruthless with the items you store and display in your smaller spaces. Keep ornaments and “non-functional” items to a minimum and ensure that shelves and other storage is clear of clutter.

Wherever possible, take a minimalist approach to your furnishings and decor to give yourself as much room as possible.

You can still display decorative items like photos – just consider hanging them on walls instead of setting them out on surfaces.

Consider “Floating” Fixtures

Instead of standing shelf units, side tables, and other pieces that take up floor space, consider wall-mounted fixtures instead.

For example, a “floating” breakfast bar will take up much less room in your kitchen than a four-legged dining table might, and shelves affixed to walls will offer a much more compact option than a bookcase.

Use Corners and “Dead Space”

Invest in corner shelving and over-door storage to make the most of space that would otherwise be inaccessible and blank.

You can install carousel units and pull-out larders in corner cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom, and small racks can be hung from shower fittings and screens as well as below mirrors and cooker hoods.

This kind of creative approach will provide far more options for storage – reducing or redistributing the items that might otherwise clutter your space.

Double Furniture as Storage – Or Choose “Stowable” Pieces

Consider ottoman sofas and footstools, coffee tables with drawers, and other handy furnishings with built-in storage.

Not only is this another great clutter-clearing technique, but it may even reduce the need for bulky cupboards, cabinets, shelves, and wardrobes – freeing up that space to allow more room for circulation.  This is something that renters (or short-term rent-to-renters) often seek.

It’s also a good idea to consider fold-away beds or futons (which double as seating), stowable or extendable tables, and other items that can be brought out as and when required instead of constantly encroaching on valuable space.

Harness Light and Reflection

The hanging of mirrors is an age-old technique to give the impression of more space.

Not only do the reflections they provide trick the eye into seeing a room “beyond” the wall on which each mirror is placed, but any reflective surface will aid in the flow of light – making spaces feel less cramped and poky.

For this reason, metallics and materials or accessories with a patent shine may be used to great effect in more compact rooms.

These are just a few of the subtle and clever techniques you can use to make the most of a small space.

Of course, every room is different – as is every individual’s taste – so feel free to pick and choose from the above tips or try out your own ideas until you are satisfied with the result.