Small But Beautiful Interiors

Interior design is about creating a space that works for you, both in terms of practicality and style. It’s a common misconception that interior design is only for big houses, it is just as important to style a small room or space carefully. When space is already at a premium, making small spaces more efficient within our homes is a key service for us.

One of the top reasons that people move house is because there is a lack of space in their current home. In our experience space is often used inefficiently which means that space is simply underused and wasted. Don’t rush to move house; you have options for your home, however big or small.

Small Office Spaces

Lockdown has forced us to face the challenge of working remotely, without a home office. For many, this is now a longer term situation as an increasing number of employers will not be asking their employees to return to offices full time. This has meant fitting in a working space in our homes. For those who don’t have the spare space to set up a complete office, there are space saving and stylish options.

You could choose a unit, like The Talist Secretary’s Desk from La Redoute. It is a desk when you need it, but when you’re not working you can have everything concealed and tidy; the perfect choice for a space-saving desk.

If you want something that you can access all the time, but only have a small amount of wall space, a ladder style desk will suit you. Prop it up where you want it, pair it with your perfect chair and you have you own working space tucked away. The Dionara Desk from Wayfair has desk and storage space, and at less than a metre wide will fit in tight spaces.

Maybe you don’t have a suitable space that you can fit in a desk, but you do have a dining table or breakfast bar. Make your table dual purpose; a dining area for meal times and your desk during work hours. Make use of a portable desk organiser so that the transition is seamless. Choose this antique brass desk tidy from Notonthehighstreet.com and have the storage you need with a stylish look.   

Making awkward spaces work

The space under the stairs is often under-utilised – it can be an awkward shape, not easily accessible or simply used as inefficient storage.

One option for making better use is to open up the space, as long as this is structurally viable, and create space for a home office. The addition of a slimline desk, shelves and pull out storage on wheels will give you everything you need to get working.

Create a reading nook, somewhere to take some time out and relax. Choose a chair or bench that fits the space, add plush cushions and a blanket or two. Don’t forget the lighting; a floor lamp can be tucked under the stairs for much needed light.  This floor lamp from Made.com is a great option when you want a light above you.

Hints and Tips

Multi-function items of furniture come into their own when making the most of limited space.

Choose fine-framed rather than bulky pieces of furniture to enhance the feeling of space and ensure the maximum amount of floor remains visible.

Invest in built in storage to ensure that you maximise every centimetre you have available.

Keeping your home clutter free helps maintain a sense of space.

Install shelves around the perimeter of your bedroom or living room walls about 12 inches from the ceiling. This is a typically under-used spot, but it could give you so much extra storage!

Use mirrors and reflective surfaces to give the feel of space. Lighting and smart colour choices will add to the spacious effect.

Don’t waste space with a media console and mount your TV on the wall.

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Interior Design for a Home Office

It’s back to school and work now we’ve hit September, so we’re thinking about how to make the best of our home office spaces! Maybe you own a small business and work from home permanently, or periodically you spend a day working from home instead of the office. Whatever the scenario, you need to make sure that you have a suitably designed environment where you can focus and concentrate. But where to begin when you are designing the room?

 

An office needs the right balance of comfort, practicality and character. A bland, generic office space, however practical, will not entice you in to work. Likewise filling the space with beautiful furniture that doesn’t serve the practical service won’t be a satisfactory end result. As an interior designer, it’s our job to put together the perfect space for every client’s needs.

 

The key pieces required in the majority of home offices are a desk, a chair and some storage.

Desks

 

We like this desk from Ikea for space saving, which we recently recommended to a client for space saving. This is what it could look like in situ.  Other items of furniture can be used as desks if you need more space or a space for the occasional email rather than lots of files. We recently used this gorgeous Anthropologie dining table as a desk in a client’s luxury home in Surrey – we love the gold legs and fine frame that enhance the feeling of space in the room.

Chairs

 

This desk chair from My-furniture is a bargain at just £49 in the sale or if you’re at your desk all day and need support and comfort this chair from Made.com is great for a home office as it’s stylish as well as practical.

 

Storage, be it drawers, shelves or cupboards, provides a practical element to the room, as well as a way to keep organised. You can choose open storage and display your items as a feature, such as a classic book collection on show or you can choose to keeps things hidden away and maintain an uncluttered space; we love this upright sideboard from Dwell for a contemporary office space that needs plenty of storage but in a compact area. The pieces you choose can add to the style of the room; practical doesn’t need to be boring.

 

You will need to ensure that you have adequate lighting including task lighting from an angled desk lamp, this little gold number is on our desk here at Interiorsat58! You can introduce texture and colours with your choice of curtains and blinds.

 

Accessories, such as a piece of artwork or ornaments, enhance a room but take care to avoid overcrowding in the room which could lead to distraction. Choose pieces that inspire you and you won’t go far wrong!  We love this quirky stapler for injecting some personality to your desk space – its predecessor the Dachshund Stapler was regularly featured in the style press and this one is just as fun! It would look great with this super stylish desk set!

 

If you need help or guidance with interior design for your office, whether it’s home or commercial, contact Interiorsat58.

 

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