NHG Lifestyle Blog

How to make the most of your small space

If you are living in a small house or your living space isn’t as big as you would like, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. There are plenty of things you can do to maximise the space you’re working with, and it does not necessarily require making major changes to your home. Small spaces are cosy and easy to manage and we’re offering you the best of both worlds by giving you some great ways to make the most of your small space. 

The first thing you should do in a small area to maximise space is completely de-clutter the area! If a room is messy and busy, it’ll always look smaller. Free shelves of books you don’t read and empty walls of old photos to give yourself a fresh space to work from. Starting from scratch gives you a different outlook on the space and will hopefully inspire you to grow the area. Going for a more minimalist design in a smaller room will definitely add space. 

Reflective furniture and accessories are a must in a small house or room. Use a large mirror to create a feature wall and seemingly double the size of the room. Mirrored or glass accessories are really fashion friendly and will definitely increase your space; see through items can create the illusion of emptiness without making a room look plain and bare. 

If you’re lucky enough to have large windows or full length sliding doors in your home; expose them! Don’t cover them with blinds and curtains as the glass will open up the area and connect it to the outside space. Make sure they are open as often and as wide as you can to allow natural light to flood the rooms and grow the space.

Built-in furniture is a great way to seemingly increase the size of a room. While initially it might seem like a section of the original space is missing, it saves you from having to add cabinets, wardrobes and shelving which takes up smaller sections that you often can’t build a small room around. If there really isn’t the space for built in cupboards or shelving, using tall, slim furniture has a very similar effect. Ultimately, it gives you less space to work with, but by not being able to move them, it gives you a more realistic view of the area you have. 

If you’re a person with a lot of ‘stuff’, hidden storage is a brilliant way to prevent your small space from looking cluttered. In the bedroom, opt for a bed with space for storage underneath or with built in drawers. Sofa beds are also a great substitute for spare bedrooms as they fold away and maximise space. Buy an ottoman and convert it into a seat; it looks different and exciting and makes for a large, well disguised storage space.