DESIGN TIPS FOR YOUR SMALL HOUSE

 

Here are eight proven and efficient home design tips for your small house:

1. Make your kitchen go on a diet

Replace bulky fridges and stoves with trimmer models. Many companies sell slim appliance models specifically designed for people who live in small spaces. Limit the number of appliances you have to those you actually use or find appliances that serve a multitude of functions, like a toaster oven as opposed to a toaster.

2. Keep your sightlines clean

One of the biggest principles of efficient home design is preserving the illusion of space. When buying accent pieces or functional furniture, choose a material that won’t obstruct sightlines. In other words, look for mesh chairs, stools without backs, acrylic lamps, and other less intrusive designs. Additionally, look for textured items instead of plain. For example, go for rough glass instead of smooth, clear glass.

3. Reflections everywhere

Mirrors are a basic decorating “do” for any sized room, but especially for small rooms. Feature them where you can. Hang them on your walls and doors or lean an oversized mirror up against a wall. Not only will it let the natural light flow more freely, but it will also create the illusion of more space.

4. Make it round

One of the best ways to preserve space in a small house is to cut corners. Literally. Fill your space with rounded furniture for easier mobility in small spaces. Your knees and shins will thank you.

5. Color for space

Decorating experts will advise you to paint your walls a soft, light color to pull your focus to things that are more interesting, like a view outside of your window if you happen to have one, or a particularly interesting piece of furniture. Darker colors tend to close in spaces and minimize space. If your spaces are naturally interesting, featuring exposed brick or hardwood, keep as much of it unobstructed as possible and use complementary colors.

6. Less is more

Remember: Clutter kills space. Don’t crowd the walls with your massive art collection. Don’t cover your furniture with knick-knacks—just choose a few. And if you just love all of them, then rotate them every so often. It’ll make you feel like you just remodeled anyway.

7. Store things out of sight, or make storage look good

This goes along the lines of the aforementioned idea: Less is more, clutter kills space. If you’ve been known to over-collect, try keeping some of the excess stuff in storage, or give things to family and friends. Maybe sell some of it on eBay. But don’t cram your space with stuff. And if you really must keep some of it around, be creative with storage. Buy ottomans that can be filled with your belongings. Put a chest at the end of your bed and store excess items in there.

8. Find versatile designs

Instead of buying a desk and a table, consider having a piece of furniture that can act as both, or consider a built-in. In really small spaces, have a day bed that can also function as a couch, or a Murphy bed that folds into the wall. These ideas create flex spaces where the configuration can change based on what you need it for; such as turning a home office into a welcoming guest room in the blink of an eye. There are plenty of ideas on sites like Pinterest and Houzz.com that can help you to achieve your desired look and preserve space.