Decorating a small space can be challenging. Whether it’s your first apartment or you are downsizing after your children have moved out, you can still make the space feel stylish and functional. Don’t be afraid to get creative with layouts or design. You never know where inspiration may come from. We are going to highlight some ways you can maximize the space you have while still feeling like you have room to breathe.
Declutter and Organize
First things first, before you start designing your rooms, it’s time to declutter and get organized. If you are unsure where to even start, take it space by space and room by room. The ever-famous junk drawer is a great starting point. Then move onto closets, bathrooms, the kitchen, and so forth. Remove items that are blocking walkways or valuable floor space. Sell, donate, or toss items that you no longer use, do not fit, or are not functional. Once you know what you plan to keep, label items and have a designated space for each item. It can be displayed or placed into another piece of furniture or out of sight in a closet.
Get Creative with Storage
Look for spots in your house where there is wasted space or under-utilized areas. Under the stairs is a great way to add storage. This can be open shelving with baskets, or you can install drawers with panels to hide everything underneath.
Did you know you can add shelves above your bathroom door for extra towels or toilet paper? Use behind the door storage for electronics, hair accessories, extra pantry space, or cleaning supplies. Add storage space above your kitchen cabinets to display serving dishes, cookbooks, or seasonal items.
Create Multifunctional Spaces
Make your smaller room multifunctional. For example, install a murphy bed in your office. This allows guests a place to stay without having to give up valuable workspace. Have a bonus room or loft area? This could double as an added guest room or play space for kids. A day bed would be an excellent addition. Not only does it serve as seating, but many daybeds come with trundles allowing for two separate sleeping spots. Many newer floor plans no longer include a formal dining room. That’s ok! Turn your kitchen into an eat-in kitchen/dining room with banquette seating, a bench under a window, counter/bar seating around a peninsula or island, or a small bistro set.
Furniture that Pulls Double Duty
Furniture with built in storage is a simple way to make use of small space. For your bedroom, look for a bed with drawers underneath. This is a great place to keep extra linens or seasonal clothing. Storage beds are also a great addition to kids’ rooms so they can have places to put away toys and books while maximizing play space during the day. If you find that you need a drop zone for kids when they come home, purchase a hall tree or bench that opens or has baskets underneath for shoes, coats, gloves, or other items they need each day.
Invest in Larger, Quality Furniture Pieces
Many times, an investment piece of furniture is larger in scale. While this might sound confusing, having lots of small furniture such as loveseats and chairs can make a room look smaller and more cluttered. Maximize the space you have with a well-built sectional that provides more cohesive seating. Add in a lift top coffee table to complete the room and allow you a place to keep remotes, magazines, and other items needed in your living room.
New Uses for Current Furniture
Perhaps you have a piece of furniture with sentimental value that you aren’t ready to part with or do not have the budget to buy something new. Get your creative juices flowing by looking for new ways to use what you have. If you have a buffet that matches your dining table, use it behind your couch as a table while still storing your extra linens and silverware. A bookcase could be used as a room divider to separate sleeping and living spaces in a studio space.
Look for Wheeled Wonders
Smaller kitchen or bath? Shop for a storage solution on wheels. A bar cart, wheeled island, or bathroom cart can provide storage for extra staples like glassware, spices, or towels. These items can be easily placed in a closet or off to side when guests arrive to create a more open concept.
Find the Perfect Neutral
We aren’t saying you can’t have any fun or bold colors in your small space, but you should primarily focus on a neutral palette for walls. This will allow for the spaces to flow together without looking choppy. However, you can always add pops of color with rugs, upholstered furniture, and accessories. You can easily change out décor as the seasons and your taste changes.
Let the Light In
Embracing natural light is the easiest way to open up your small space. Use carefully placed mirrors to reflect the light in your space to brighten the room. A bright room will always seem larger and more inviting than a dark room. If you need a little privacy, consider sheer curtains. Light will still come in, but your entire room won’t be visible from the outside. If you do not have many windows, add lighting.
Mount reading lamps or sconces in your bedroom or in living room to save precious floor space. Consider under cabinet lighting in your kitchen to illuminate workspaces. You can find kits to install these in just a few hours.
Furnish Your Small Space with Amish Elegance
Decorating a small space yields endless opportunities if you think outside the box. Try incorporating new and old items to create homey and inviting rooms. Still not sure of your next design steps? Visit Amish Elegance! We specialize in hand-crafted solid wood furniture that is built to last. We feature several designs with storage options perfect for your small space. Explore our Inspiration Gallery or work with one of our experts to design custom furniture that fits your style. Custom furniture is a great way to have the perfect fit while maximizing space.