In a small house, it can be difficult to realize all of your design goals, but there are a few tricks you can use to make your room appear bigger than it is. Here are some layout suggestions to make the most of each square inch.
1. Increase floor space, first.
Smaller homes develop a cluttered feeling more rapidly than larger ones. Making the most of the available floor space is one technique to open up a tiny room in addition to routine cleaning and organization. Look for pieces of furniture that take up the least amount of room on the floor, such as wall sconces in place of floor and table lights, floating shelves in place of bulky bookshelves, and wall-mounted cabinets in place of large nightstands. Additionally, search for couches with shallow depths and tables with skinny legs. Then cover the floor with a sizable, vivid rug to give the illusion that the room is larger than it is.
2. Use vertical space to your advantage.
To increase your storage capacity, use the vertical space available. To add more storage for goods you use seldom, built-in kitchen cabinets and bookcases can be extended to the ceiling. By putting a shelf above a bed or couch, you may create your vertical storage option. And ceilings may be used for more than just hanging chandeliers; in the kitchen, try hanging plants or a pots and pans rack.
3. Invest in furnishings with several uses.
You can spend money on versatile furniture that also serves as storage if you live in a small house. Consider a console table with drawers for storage, which offers both surface and concealed space. A captain’s bed includes shelves and drawers for additional storage. If a coffee table has shelves beneath, it can serve as storage space in a compact living room, and ottomans can be used as both seating and storage.
4. Opt for foldable furniture.
Choose an extendable dining table and keep a stack of low-profile stools or folding chairs on hand for larger parties if you live alone or with a partner but want the flexibility to host a large group for supper. Even changing from a rectangular to a round dining table can free up space and enable more flexible seating arrangements. In a tiny house, there are numerous possibilities for a guest bed: Try a daybed that also serves as a couch if you don’t like the way a pull-out sofa bed looks or don’t have the right space for a Murphy bed.
5. Increase the amount of daylight.
A small space can appear larger and more open thanks to windows and natural light. Make sure the window treatments are not completely covering your windows. To strategically reflect the light that comes through windows, use mirrors. If there isn’t any natural light, utilize a variety of fixtures to combine a warm glow. Using a translucent shower curtain can help a small bathroom feel more spacious. When planning a new facility, think about including skylights to bring natural light into confined areas without windows. Also take into account your color scheme: Darker colors absorb light, while white walls reflect it.
6. Use different ways to divide rooms.
The lack of doors can save space if you live in a studio apartment or a tiny house with an open-concept living area, but it can also make it more difficult to distinguish between different rooms. To separate a dining area, laundry room, or home office inside a bigger space, try building numerous nooks. To do this, place the furniture in a way that makes it obvious how each space is used, rather than using room dividers. In a compact home or apartment, sliding doors and curtains can also help create separation without taking up much room.