Tag: Small room design

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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How to Design a Small Room

When it comes to designing any room there are always challenges, but with smaller rooms the design difficulties are even more apparent. However, if you follow some simple guidelines you can maximise the space you have and make even the smallest room feel airy and spacious!

Décor

When maximising space you need lightness and brightness. The use of too much of a dark colour can shrink any room. Pale, neutral colours are perfect for an airy feel in a room. Brilliant white on walls can be a little stark, but with a wide variety of white, there is something for everyone. Farrow and Ball have a range of white paints to create a stylish look; click here to see their colour range.

Horizontal lines on wallpaper create a simple optical illusion, making a room seem larger by drawing the eyes across the room. You could also install a long horizontal shelf on a wall to give a similar effect and at the same time introduce some additional functional space.

Furniture

A lack of space doesn’t need to restrict your living, but you need to make considered choices. A dining table that folds away can be a great choice and dining chairs with a rounded back mean they are easier to walk around in a snug kitchen. Sofas and armchairs with legs give a sense of space on the floor and you should avoid pushing them right up to walls to give them a ‘floating’ feel within the room.

Here’s some inspiration for your home:

Living

Often a living room is the hub of the home so it needs to be comfortable and suitable for your lifestyle. With sofas being one of the larger pieces of furniture in your home it needs to work for you. There are so many options, but careful choices will give you the perfect sofa for any room. Choose a sofa with high legs and that isn’t too deep; we love this sofa from Swoon and it’s just 80cm deep!

The addition of a footstool will give you added comfort and can double up as a coffee table when necessary; small rooms love multi-purpose furniture. If you are opting for a separate coffee table, choose something narrow. This glass coffee table from Wayfair would look great piled on the bottom with beautiful books and candles.

Dining

When you have your dining area in either a kitchen or living room you often need to consider a more creative design to fit everything in seamlessly. For a table, glass and slim framed pieces work well for a tighter space. This contemporary table from Oak Furniture Superstore would look great in a modern home – the glass will make the room feel spacious and the position of the legs in the middle ensure you can seat the maximum number of people.

Transparent furniture, in general, is perfect for any small room; embrace these acrylic Ghost chairs from Amara to use with your dining table.

Sleeping

Every bedroom needs a bed, but an undersized room might leave you sleepless thinking about how to fit in everything you need. When choosing a bed for a smaller bedroom keep the frames fine rather than chunky and choose styles with high legs such as this stunning copper bed frame from Dunelm. Positioning the bed by a window ensures that you’re not wasting any of the precious wall space.

General Rules

  • Reflect light where you can to create a feeling of space. Mirrors and lighting can be used to accomplish this
  • Keep clutter to a minimum in rooms; a plethora of ornaments and accessories will make a room feel crowded and closed in
  • If you are pushed for space in a small bedroom wall or ceiling mounted bedside lights will save valuable bedside table space
  • Don’t let a lack of space restrict your storage. There creative solutions and furniture that has craftily concealed storage aplenty.

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March 2019

Interior Design Inspiration for Awkward Spaces

It’s not often that you find a home full of large, rectangular rooms with not a challenging corner in sight. Our homes, and therefore the rooms, are all unique. While that leads to a lot of variety, it can leave home owners confused about how best to decorate and furnish an awkward shaped room. Maybe you have a long narrow living room, and L shaped bedroom, or a room with sloped ceilings or curved walls. There is a design for every place.

Have a look at our tips for dealing with some spaces to give you some ideas:

Asymmetry

We often strive for symmetry in a room, but with a small or awkward space this may be compromised. Try for balance rather than symmetry, for example if you are using a tone or pattern in one area of the room for curtains use it on lampshades or cushions in another area. With the right choice of furniture and accessories, it can be a stylish space that doesn’t feel compromised.

Zone a Large Room

You may not consider a big room to be awkward to design, but sometimes a bigger space leads to too many decisions resulting in a confusing or muddled space. Use furniture and colours and patterns to divide a room into different sections with different functions. The result is a well-organised room with clearly defined areas.

Embrace the Quirk

Instead of trying to hide or disguise an awkward, embrace it, for example an awkwardly shaped alcove could become a desk space with the help of a simple shelf! Use bespoke elements, maybe an usually shaped mirror, or make a feature with a bold pattern or accent colour.

Nooks and Corners

Utilise the space with fitted storage. A bespoke storage system will make any space functional and can be designed in keeping with the rest of the room. This technique is also useful for a small or awkward shaped bedroom where you need storage built around the bed. In narrow spaces consider a sliding door rather than one opening into the area for a more spacious feel, and use mirrors to bounce the light around the room.

With space planning and thinking outside the box, any room can reach its full potential. Work with the space you have and don’t be afraid to be bold.

For more ideas for small and awkward spaces, see our Facebook page and check out the May edition of ‘Ask the Expert’ in House Beautiful.

Interior Design Tips For Transforming Small Rooms

At Interiorsat58 we love to make the most of a space. A misconception is that interior design is for large houses, big rooms and massive budgets; but this isn’t so. Small rooms are often crying out for some creative thinking so that you can take advantage of every inch.

Here are some of our top tips for smaller rooms.

• A well-placed mirror will maximise any space. Installing a mirror next to, or opposite, a window will mean that the natural light is reflected and you are giving the effect of another window. Having a mirror behind a lamp will also maximise the light in the room, stopping it from feeling poky and dark, however small.

• Make sure colours blend together well and are tonal.

• Keep clutter to a minimum. Accessories and artwork can add colour and character to a room, but choose them wisely. Plain walls with a statement framed picture will give a room a classic finish. Lots of ornaments can create a very busy look which gives the impression of a smaller room.

• Use soft lamp lighting and textures to make the room cosy.

• Plan your room. Put together a mood board with the colours and styles that you like and make sure that they work together to form a complementary finish; an interior designer can advise on this. And, of course measure your space and make sure everything is going to fit; especially important when space is restricted.

• When you’re thinking about the colour scheme of a small room, remember that light colours enhance the feeling of space. Don’t rush into decorating with dark, bold colours that might drain the light from the room.

• When you are choosing your furniture, be smart with your choices to make sure that your room is both well designed and functional. Source furniture that has multiple purposes. This coffee table from Wayfair includes both a handy storage drawer, and 2 stools that can be hidden away when not in use.

• Keep the furniture size appropriate and pick items of furniture that are on legs so that you can see underneath, which will give an enhanced feeling of space.

• If you choose an ottoman with a firm top it can double as a coffee table, but can also be used as a footstool to increase the comfort of a less deep and more delicate sofa.

A small space can be as desirable as a large room when it’s designed properly. If you don’t know where to start, or are struggling to imagine how the final finish will transform the room, contact Interiorsat58. We can work with you to create a completely bespoke space that reflects your personality and style, and works for the way you live.

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