DECORATING SMALL SPACES IN A GREAT WAY

Hey everyone!

So, I just moved in with my hubby and we both realized that the space was suddenly too small for both of us, since our apartment wasn't ready as at the time of the wedding. But we had to devise a way to fit both our stuff until a time that we can conclude our moving arrangements. This situation inspired me to write this topic. To help people living in small spaces manage it properly.

It can be quite difficult designing any space at all but designing, organizing and decorating a small space has to be done with even more effort.Thank goodness I'm an interior designer. A few weeks ago, I posted something on tips and tricks to organizing, you can check it out here. Today, I'll be focusing more on how to make your small space look adequate if not large. Some major items need to be taken into consideration and they include:

• Storage: This is very very essential. It can not be over-emphasized! Really!!... The only way to make your space not look cluttered and jam-packed is if you have everything in their own proper homes. You are lucky if you have an in-built closet in your room. (Most Nigerians apartment and even homes have this. They don't have a walk-in closet like the western world.) So, you got a in-built closet? great! half of the problem is solved, just make sure it's properly partitioned to store more things. So there's a separate area for shoes and clothes and accessories, even the bed linens and towels have their very own section. That's exactly what I did at my new home. 

• Furniture: Don't go getting huge furniture pieces, it could crowd up the space and make it look even smaller. Buy small furniture that's adequate for the space. For your bedroom, you may need just a bed with storage drawers underneath for storage. A small reading table with side drawers and/or bookshelf attached, may come in handy, and of course your wardrobe (armoire). The living room could have minimal furnishing, like a sofa and an armchair or two, depending on the size of the space. A coffee table and maybe a dining table. Just as long as it doesn't get crowded.

• Make use of the walls: This is also inclusive of storage but I started it with a different bullet to emphasize its need. Instead of hanging up artwork that are just for beauty, put up floating cabinets. It can also serve as a feature wall. Have a look here. A lot of designers believe in darker colors for the walls, but I believe quite the opposite. Bright colors like white or cream, even a lighter shade of any color like pink (baby pink), blue (sky blue), green (mint green) or yellow could go. For that darker shade, use it a one wall as a feature wall with a POP! of color. Infact, you can have the pop of color and floating cabinets together on one wall as your feature wall as shown below. Even better when the cabinets are done in white.

• Lighting and accessories: Most small spaces come with at most 2 windows, so you'd need as much light as you can get. Ensure that your blinds are light so as to let in natural light as much as possible. You can also accessorize with beautiful lamps and lighting fixtures. Thick curtains just make the space feel choked up. Another important thing to accessorize with are mirrors. They make the space look larger, maybe even twice as large.

• For kitchens, try to create space by taking everything up, even the plate racks and microwave. Keep the work surfaces free for cutting up and cooking.

So the next time you are on a budget and can only afford a small apartment but need much space, just take these tips and you are good to go. 

Cheers....

Photo Credit: photobucket.com & morguefile.com