Are you living in a smaller space? An apartment or studio-type dormitory of some sort, perhaps? Some people live in a small apartment or home because they’re tired of taking care of a larger place and want to “downsize.” Others, however, live in a small apartment because that’s all they can afford, and they’re grateful for it. Small homes are easier to maintain, practical, and is actually a good choice if you’re single and just starting out on your career. Don’t get us wrong, of course it’s still a better choice to have a larger space especially if you can afford it. But when the blanket is short, we need to learn to curl up under it. Not all of us are born with a silver spoon, you know?
However, don’t let that limited space of yours hinder you from making it a livable, cozy, and ironically, spacious home! It may be, on paper, small but we have to improvise, don’t we? So don’t sulk if that’s all you can afford. Let us help you turn that little sanctuary into a somehow bigger, luxurious, perfect safe space for you and the crew! (Hint: It’s all about illusion)
Light ‘em up
The volume of natural light that goes into your rooms can really affect not only your mood (unless your a Nyctophilia, or someone who has “love of the dark”), but also the amount of space it virtually adds up to any lit space. Often, natural light is trapped by the door or window. We’re not suggesting that you should kick that door open the whole day or keep all your windows wide open as soon as the sun comes up, but we found a way to make the most out of the natural light that goes in. Sounds good?
Quickly evaluate the space you wish to start on. Where does the natural light gets in? Do you see any dark canvass that could potentially suck up all the natural light? If so, you should consider getting all those stuff stashed away. Any room will look larger if it’s well-lit, either by natural light or artificial lighting. So can consider getting some additional lamps or recessed lighting as well.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Aside for the purpose of asking who’s the fairest of them all, mirrors can also provide a much needed value for enhancing small spaces; expanding walls, amplifying light, breaking up visual clutter, they can be used to solve most any design dilemma. Optimally, it is best to place a mirror behind a light source, and directly opposite one another. The seemingly infinite set of reflections does not only create a larger more open-feeling space, but you’ll also be giving depth to the space without weighing things down.
Colour ‘em white
In small spaces, everything counts. Yes, even if your favourite color is black you’d want to set aside personal preference first if you really like to work out a spacious scheme for your room. For the most part, you’d want to use neutral and light colors in the room. When using light and bright hues, paint trim and doors a fresh bright white to keep the walls from closing in visually, which keeps the room feeling larger. Just try to have as much light colors on blank spaces as you can, this will instantly create an illusion of added space and softer overall ambiance.
Cut the clutter!
We know this one is pretty obvious, there’s nothing that makes a small space feel cramped more than having too much stuff. Keep everything minimal in quantity, most especially for furniture. Having too many “small” furniture can clutter up your space easily. Few bigger size furniture is better than many tiny ones. Additionally, the more “white space” you can have around a big item, the better. It creates an illusion which makes the area seem to have more depth. Lastly, keep the floor as clear as possible. This is one of the most important ways to maintain a sense of spaciousness. Take out large rugs to create the illusion of more floor space.
