With property prices rapidly on the rise, many first-time buyers are opting to save money by buying a smaller property, such as a studio apartment or the increasingly popular ‘tiny homes‘. While these spaces are undoubtedly compact, cozy, and functional, sometimes they can feel a little claustrophobic.
If your home is lacking a lot of space, interior design is more important than ever. The right furniture and arrangements can make even the tiniest of rooms look spacious and inviting. Read on for our best tips on how to add space to a small home.
The Growing Popularity of Smaller Homes
Undoubtedly, the price is one of the main reasons why more people are choosing small properties. First-time buyers will likely have an idea of how much they can borrow after applying for a mortgage-in-principle, or MIP, through a trusted mortgage broker like Trussle, for example. Plus, if you’ve done any research on this or read any guides on buying your first home, you may find that by investing in an apartment or small house, you can get a lot more bang for your buck.
However, saving money isn’t the only allure of a small home. People who choose this lifestyle cite many reasons, including:
- Small homes encourage minimalist living
- They’re easier to clean/maintain
- Reduced environmental impact
Even if you’ve never considered a smaller living space, they’re definitely worth looking into.
Making the Most of Your Space
‘Small’ doesn’t have to mean cramped and uncomfortable – in fact, if you follow these design tips, you’d be surprised how spacious your small home can look.
Utilize Natural Light
If you’re lucky enough to have plenty of natural lighting in your small home, make the most of it. Replace heavy drapes with lighter curtains, and avoid blocking windows with furniture. This will make the space feel larger and brighter.
Don’t fret if the sunshine access in your home isn’t great; a similar effect can be achieved with artificial lightings, like lamps, candles, and strip lighting.
Keep Colors Light and Neutral
Painting your walls white or a similar light color will make your rooms feel light and airy; this is because lighter hues reflect light, whereas dark colors absorb it. Match your upholstery and furniture to the walls by using colors from the same family, and keep patterns to a minimum.
Photo by Nico on Unsplash
Reflective Surfaces
A wall featuring lots of mirrors can create the illusion of more space. If you put up some tall mirrors, they’ll draw the eye upwards and make the ceiling look higher too.
The general rule is that the bigger the mirror, the better the illusion of extra space.
Get Creative with Storage
When you’re living in an apartment or small house, you won’t have a lot of storage space. Lots of shelves and/or boxes will make an already small room look cluttered and cramped, so look for furniture that doubles up as storage (such as a bed frame with drawers).
If you’re particularly good with your hands, you could even have a go at building some nifty storage spaces.
Overall, buying a small home doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to feeling like you live in a cupboard. By following these handy interior design tips, you can transform the tiniest room into a spacious, airy haven.
Cover photo by Erika Osberg on Unsplash
