Small homes can have both good and bad qualities. On the one hand, they can feel cosy and compact — perfect for snuggling up on a chilly evening. On the other, the lack of space can feel a bit claustrophobic, and even chaotic if there’s clutter everywhere. To find a happy medium, people often take advantage of tips and tricks that can transform a small home and make it appear more spacious. If you’re looking for ways to maximise space in your small apartment or house, take a look at these easy ideas.
Use mirrors
Mirrors can be one of the best accessories to use in a small home. With the right placement and size, using mirrors in the home can create the appearance of a more open and spacious environment.
One great way to do this is to place a large mirror opposite a window. This way, natural light and greenery will be reflected into the room, instantly making it appear larger. Another option could be to layer framed artwork against a large mirror. This creates the illusion of a bigger space as it’s harder to see where the mirror starts and the room begins, while the frames on the artwork will blur the lines of the edges of the mirror. Large round mirrors are another popular choice, particularly when used in a room full of rectangular shapes.
Decorate with light colours
Dark coloured paint in a room tends to absorb light and make a room look much smaller than it already is. Since this is something you want to avoid if you’re looking to improve the appearance of space in the home, you should think about redecorating with lighter colours. Neutral shades like white, beige and cream work well, along with hues of light blue or other pastel colours.
These type of colours will make your home appear bigger and brighter while maximising the effect of natural light. One other idea could be to paint the trim of your walls in a lighter shade, which will make the walls themselves feel farther back and create the illusion of more space. If you need a bit of inspiration, look at how property companies like RW Invest are making use of these shades in their buy to let rental properties. This company, amongst others, understand the effectiveness of lighter colours, using them in their student and residential apartments. Even in a small studio apartment, light and minimal paint shades can really influence the appearance of a property and avoid it feeling too cramped.
Utilise storage options
Filling each room with clutter isn’t going to do your small home any favours. If you’re serious about maximising space in your home, you need to do a thorough clean and de-clutter. Throw out any old items you no longer need, rather than just cramming out-of-date makeup items or random bits and bobs into a drawer! Once you’ve got rid of any items you’ve been hoarding, create some new storage options to keep the things you do need.
In a smaller home, you need to be more creative with storage in order to maximise space. Consider ‘secret storage’ furniture like an ottoman bed or table and install some built in wardrobes if possible. Other good storage options for smaller rooms include floating shelves, wall cabinets, or coffee tables with built-in drawer
Small homes can have both good and bad qualities. On the one hand, they can feel cosy and compact — perfect for snuggling up on a chilly evening. On the other, the lack of space can feel a bit claustrophobic, and even chaotic if there’s clutter everywhere. To find a happy medium, people often take advantage of tips and tricks that can transform a small home and make it appear more spacious. If you’re looking for ways to maximise space in your small apartment or house, take a look at these easy ideas.
