Living in Small Spaces

Whether it's a matter of personal choice, or due to limited budget, there are many homeowners who occupy small spaces. Here are some brilliant ideas that I have come across for decorating small spaces.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a problem that most of us have faced at some point or another: How do you fit in a bed, a big couch, and a guest room in an apartment? Here's an innovative solution from Danish textile designer/potter Antero Kjaer: a couch/bed made with two twin mattresses, hooks, and foam.

Living in a 67 metre square apartment requires innovative thinking on ways and means to fit everything in and still have room to move around. This solution enables the family to configure either a sofa or a double bed.

During the day the beds are pushed in an L-shape to create a comfy sectional, but at night the beds are locked together for a bed ideal for overnight guests. The mattresses have hooks on the legs to ensure that each piece remains locked together in any configuration. The sofa backs also double as a headboard and are made of foam folded over and strapped down.

If you want to try this for yourself use low density foam for the "arm rests" as this will be easier to fold over. Wrap the arms with nylon straps - available from any fabric store - and close with hook and loop (velcro).

 

 

 

 

In small spaces opt for furniture that stacks out of the way and with unfussy lines that don’t visually clutter the room and a room will instantly feel larger. Lucite tables or chairs and glass tops all give the impression of openness while still delivering the function you need.

And keep an eye out for pieces that serve a dual purposes such as a storage ottoman, or a coffee table with storage compartments. Your small space will feel much larger when furnished with moderately sized or even slightly smaller furnishings. It's all about scale.

In narrow open plan rooms try to carry the theme from one area to another, or include small or large amounts of the same colours in each area. Divide the rooms by means of rugs, carpets or tile borders.

Window treatments also help to visually enlarge a small room. Hang curtains around the outside of the window or even where there are no windows. Hang them floor to ceiling to create height, or have them flow from a cornice that hides the curtain rod.