Use every inch
of your space
It’s so important to use all the vertical/horizontal space on your walls smartly. Put some shelves or a tall storage unit into a space. Avoid furniture pieces that use up your valuable floor space, and consider instead of a bookcase use shelves on your walls.
Invest in a closet
organizational
system
If you’re serious about expanding your living area, then having a nice and organized closet is a must. You’ll be surprised at how much an organized closet will help. If you have to, have a professional designer design it for you, so you can have the most out of your limited space.
Consider built in
systems
There is never enough space for clothing, books, CDs or your electronics, so instead of getting separate furniture like a desk, dresser or cabinets to manage them, consider using built in furniture and systems to use your space wisely. I often incorporate built-in furniture as it can be configured to fit your space whether it’s wall-to-wall, or floor to ceiling and the best thing is that they’re compact.
Using lighter
colour palettes
We all know that lighter colours make the space look bigger. You can go just with a white palette, or you can go with light greys and beige. All these colours are good options; you just have to decide what kind of look you want to go for. The perk of going with a neutral colour is that you can just dress up the accessories and accents in your house and have a completely different look each season.
If you’re like me and you’d like to expand your living space and you’re tired of everything being cramped up in your place, then you’re probably looking for someone to show you the light on how to make your small space look bigger. Our design firm often works with small spaces and believe it or not, there are many simple ways to give the illusion of more space
Mirrors
Large mirrors give the illusion of more space. Using them in your small space is a really smart idea. Mirrors help in magnifying any space, so remember mirrors are your best friend in small apartments and living areas.
Multipurpose
furniture
Try to look for multiple uses in each piece of furniture you purchase. As an example you can buy a coffee table that has storage area, so it will cover up a portion of your clutter; or a storage bed allows you not to have a separate dresser. Also remember to use furniture that is mobile and easy to move, this way you can just pick them up and move them to suit your needs.
Another good tip is to use furniture that blends in with your walls or floors, either the same colour or just clear furniture. Clear furniture can do wonders in terms of making your space look bigger.
Use lots of lighting
Ensure you have enough lamps and lighting; this makes your place look brighter, hence look more spacious. >
Use wallpapers
or big art
Don’t be afraid to use art or wallpapers. You don’t need a big place to be creative with it. Try to make your space look visually interesting in the space that you do have.
Use furniture to fit the scale of your apartment
It seems obvious, but many of us forget to incorporate this in our place. Keep in mind that if you have a small space, you need to use small pieces of furniture to make your space look bigger; for example use small side tables instead of a big coffee table. It will give your place a visually interesting look and it’s very practical.
Quick Tips:
• Be organized and have a place for everything. When there is a space for every single thing in your house, you’ll just put them back when you’re done, and this avoids unwanted clutter.
• Keep in mind that furniture items with legs look less heavy than furniture sitting on the floor. The negative space in the furniture will trick the eye into thinking there’s more space.
• Arrange your space in the way you truly use it, and try to invest more on where you spend your time most.
by Aisan Ahmadi
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