Making the Most of a Small Space When Furnishing a Room

1. MAKING THE MOST OF MAKING THE MOST OF A SMALL SPACE WHEN A SMALL SPACE WHEN FURNISHING A ROOM FURNISHING A ROOM Living in Melbourne, most of us have gotten used to apartment living. For young professionals new to their salaried careers, micro-living allows them to not only save money and reduce running costs, but smaller spaces can actually seem more cozy and homey. But there are a few tricks for keeping your place looking cozy, not cluttered, some of which we’ll discuss below. From choosing the right couches in Melbourne to playing around with colour, there are many options for people living in smaller spaces. LIGHTER PAINT COLOURS ARE YOUR FRIEND Neutral colours like beige, white, greys and cream open up a room and make it look brighter and more spacious. This is because light bounces off lighter colours more readily, giving the illusion of space. On the other hand, darker colours absorb light and make the room look smaller than it is. Similarly, painting your ceilings and walls the same colour will also make the room look bigger and taller because it’s harder for the eye to see where the wall ends and the ceiling begins. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR FLOORING Don’t pick a different tile or floorboard for each room of the house. Instead, to make the space appear bigger and more spacious, choose flooring that can work for every room of the house, such as a floorboard. This is because when your eyes cannot trace the edges of the room, it is more difficult for it to see where one room ends and the other begins. Additionally, if you’re putting down rugs, choose colours and prints that are on the simpler side, as too many patterns and colours can make the room look too busy and cluttered. OPEN UP THE WINDOWS As in the case with lighter, neutral colours, letting in natural light also makes a room appear more open and spacious. Heavy, ornate curtains that block any light from passing through them can not only make a room appear smaller but also takes up valuable real estate. Rolling blinds in neutral colours are often the best options for smaller rooms, as are sheer curtains. MINIMALISM IS KEY choose a few tasteful pieces from your collection to put on display and store the rest away. Mirrors are a terrific way of making light bounce around the room and make it appear larger, and placing paintings lower on the wall will create the optical illusion of the walls being much higher than they are. For gallery walls, stretch the painting to the top of the wall, again to draw the eyes up and make the room appear larger than it is. YOUR CHOICE OF FURNISHING MATTERS It is commonly believed that you can’t add large, statement pieces to a small room without making the entire area look cramped. The truth is, putting too many smaller furniture pieces is actually the culprit! When your room is cluttered with chairs, armchairs and small tables and odds and ends, chances are it is going to look like a mismatched mess. Instead, be thoughtful in your choice of furniture and buy only what you need. Multi-purpose furniture, such as couches that can transform into a bed at the end of the day, an ottoman that can double as an end table, or a coffee table with built-in storage can all help you save valuable real estate. Minimalistic, yet functional, pieces of furniture are the key. https://www.gainsville.com.au/