Interior Design Advice for Small Homes

Not everybody craves the spacious luxury of a large home. Some prefer a more bijou space - far cosier and easier to manage. There are many benefits of living in an apartment, studio flat or even a bungalow, including a reduced environmental footprint and cost efficiency.

Whether you’re passionate about your compact environment or not, there are ways to maximise space and make your home your castle - albeit a very small one.

Use Lighter Wall Colours

It’s so secret that lighter colours give the illusion of space. Darker shades may make a space appear smaller, even claustrophobic, while busy patterned wallpaper can make a room feel overwhelming. That’s not to say your walls have to be devoid of personality - if you want a pop of colour or texture, add a feature wall while keeping the remaining three relatively plain and neutral.

Utilise Vertical Space

Once you run out of space, the only way is up. You can make use of vertical space with shelving units and overhead storage to free up more space down below. Suppose you have a penchant for houseplants but nowhere to put your new addition - grab the drill and install a hanging plant cradle. You could even install built-in floor-to-ceiling shelving for peak organisation.

Mirrors

If your small property doesn’t get a great deal of natural light, make the most of what you do get by introducing multiple mirrors - not only will this brighten up your space, but it will make it appear larger. Where appropriate, place your mirrors opposite windows and nearby lamps so they reflect as much light as possible.

Declutter

The best thing you can possibly do for your small home is keep clutter to a minimum. An accumulation of unnecessary items is never practical for a compact environment. If you enjoy keeping various trinkets and keepsakes, use vertical storage and shelving to save your ground-level surface area for more practical uses. Try to keep on top of general household clutter, and consider sifting through your belongings for things to sell or give to charity.

Smart Furniture

Filling your small home with large items of furniture will severely limit your ability to move around freely. However, a two-seater dining table simply won’t suffice for those who love to host. Choose innovative furniture options such as nesting coffee tables, fold-out futons and extending dining tables that can be pulled out and folded away as needed. This way, you’ll be able to accommodate company without overfilling your home.

Layer Lighting

Lighting can make or break the appearance of a room. Harsh overhead lighting can trigger headaches and exacerbate eye strain. On the other hand, soft pools of overlapping light from various sources create the illusion of a bigger room with a warm, cosy atmosphere. Consider installing a dimmer switch and introducing several lamps to your space. Candles are also a good option but remember they can be hazardous in overcrowded rooms.

Lose The Doors

This may seem like a strange suggestion, but taking away your doors can give your home an open-plan illusion with more depth. Removing doors is far from a complicated DIY undertaking, and you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. If you’d prefer not to remove them entirely, you could replace your standard wooden doors with internal glazed doors to allow more light to travel through your home.

Embrace Minimalism

Minimalism may not be your preferred aesthetic, but it can truly highlight the charm of a small home. Minimising distractions and showcasing just the essentials creates a calm, relaxing environment and may also lead to decreased levels of anxiety. If you need a little more convincing, consider that a minimalist home takes barely any time to clean!

Opt For A Loft Bed

You may associate bunk beds with your childhood bedroom, but why grow up anyway? A loft bed is a fantastic space-saving option for any adult bedroom, enabling you to use the space below for whatever you like - storage, office space or even a reading nook. A loft bed can be exceptionally cosy, provided you don’t mind going up and down a ladder to go to the toilet in the middle of the night.