As smaller homes are becoming a trend ..here are some tips to help you design your smaller space...

Small can be beautiful...

Having a small home doesn’t mean you can’t flaunt your style. Decorating a small space, just like decorating a large one, simply requires ingenuity and a good eye for what works and what doesn’t. And while the focus is naturally going to be a little bit different when you’re working with less space, the general rules of design are pretty much the same.

A small space doesn’t have to be a big challenge! ?So whether you’re trying to figure out how to put a personal spin on your new studio apartment or need some guidance on making the best use of space in a not-so-spacious apartment, follow the tips below for decorating a small space and make your home shine.

Let there be light

A small room can really open up with the right lighting. In addition to letting natural light shine in through the windows (skip the blackout blinds!); use additional lighting throughout your space to bring in some additional warmth. If you don’t have the room for floor and table lamps, choose lighting options that don’t take up too much space, like string lights, wall sconces, or pendant lighting.

Keep bigger items on the perimeter of rooms

There’s no reason that you have to ditch large furniture items when you’re decorating a small space, but you do want to be strategic about where you put them. Maintain feelings of depth in a room by keeping larger items—think sofas and bookcases; up against the wall, instead of in the middle of the floor.

Look for multi-purpose and/or folding furniture

Furniture that can do double duty will save you both space and money. And thanks to the tiny house/tiny apartment trend, there is no shortage of ingenious furniture items that either serve multi-purpose uses or fold up to make space in your home when they’re not in use. Desks, dining tables, and even king-sized beds come in styles that can easily be put away to make more room to move around. Likewise, you can find furniture that serves a multitude of purposes, such as sofa beds and side tables that can convert into desks.

Make use of mirrors

Speaking of double duty, mirrors add both additional light and the feeling of additional space into rooms by reflecting back natural and non-natural lighting and giving an illusion of a larger space. They’re also practical on their own. Use one large mirror or arrange a few smaller ones throughout a room. You can even create a gallery wall of mirrors like you might do with art.

Get rid of stuff

One of the big benefits of living in a smaller space is that it forces you to really edit down the amount of belongings that you have in your home. In turn, you end up getting rid of the things that don’t really serve a purpose in your life, be it because they’re impractical, useless, or just don’t bring you joy. If you struggle with the ability to get rid of stuff, there are?resources?that can help you learn how to do it. Decorating small space needs a bit of inventory taking, otherwise you run the risk of overcrowding your space.

Beware of clutter

Less is more when it comes to creating a well-designed small space. On the same note as the tip above, you want to keep the general amount of stuff you own to a minimum when you don’t have a ton of room to work with. But keeping clutter down goes even further than that. Be mindful of leaving plenty of open space in your small house or apartment, both for ease of movement and for maintaining utility. This applies to all visible areas, from the floor to your countertops to the amount of space you allow between furniture items.

Get creative with storage

There are so many great storage options out there that also serve as beautiful pieces of décor. Choose furniture items that provide you with additional storage solutions, like ottomans that can store linens and under the bed storage that looks like cool cabinetry. Try to find ways to store your items without just shoving everything into a closet.

Go bold

Small spaces lend themselves very well to bold colours, prints, and textures, just make sure you mix in some neutrals as well so that you don’t overwhelm the room. If you’re worried about going?too?bold, use colours and prints in smaller ways: such as on an accent wall, throw pillows, or even just picture frames. Or, go big and put up some bright and colourful wallpaper or finally buy that blue velvet couch you’ve always wanted. As long as you secure some balance in the room, there’s no reason you can’t also add in a touch of daring colour.

Use large rugs

Decorating a small space is all about tricking the eye into seeing more than there really is. When you use small rugs in a small space, you see, and think small.?Decorating with large rugs, however, give a sense of grandeur and the feeling of a larger room. Ultimately, the shape of a room and the furniture within it will dictate the best size rug to purchase, but always aim to go as big as you can.

Take advantage of vertical space

Don’t neglect your walls. Making the most use of vertical space means both playing around with taller items and affixing your walls with things like shelving and art that add vertical depth in addition to the spaciousness you’ve worked to create on the floor. If you have a piece you really love but can’t find a place for; a beloved vase, for instance, hangs up a secure shelf and put it on there instead. And when you’re hanging drapes, install the rod only about 5cms below the ceiling which adds an illusion of extra height.

Brighten up with plants and flowers

Adding greenery and flowers to your small space can breathe additional life and style into it as long as you’re careful not to overcrowd. Do keep in mind however that dead or dying plants will have the opposite effect. If you’re worried that you won’t be able to keep up with the responsibility of maintaining your plants and flowers (or if you just don’t have much of a green thumb), there are great options for fake ones that look like the real thing

Play around with symmetry

We’re naturally drawn to symmetry—in faces, in nature, and in homes. If you’re really intent on having a ton of seating in your tiny living room or you just can’t do without some extra storage cabinets, make them work by having the pieces mirror each other in the room. It will make the space feel cleaner and appear more pleasant to the eye.

Utilise nooks and corners

A nook that you might otherwise leave empty in a larger space can be used in a small space for additional functionality, such as putting in a desk area or a bar table. If it won’t clutter the room too much, try to think of creative ways to take advantage of often under-utilised nooks and corners instead of chalking them up to wasted space.

Divide and conquer

You can divide up your small space without making it feel too tight by using sheer curtains or open shelving to create separate spaces without cramping up your living area. All of these options allow light to continue to shine through, which is crucial for keeping your space feeling as airy and open as possible. These sorts of dividers also act as dramatic design elements in their own right, and add additional flair to your home.

Work with your intuition when decorating a small space, and don’t try to work in anything that doesn’t feel or look right. Ultimately, the goal is to take as much advantage as you can of the space that you do have, maximising its possibilities and really showing it off at its best. And while no design rule is set in stone, the tips above should help you do just that.

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