Making small spaces do big things

Due to financial constraints, many of us live in houses smaller than the home of our dreams. The good news is that with a few design hacks, style secrets and organisation tricks, you can do big things with small spaces - even if you have found yourself having to make space for a home office in the time of COVID-19.

Create extra space with visual tricks

While the bad news is that you can't magically make a small home bigger, the good news is that you can "magically" make it look bigger, simply by putting some tried-and-tested interior decorating theories into practice. For example, subtle horizontal lines draw the eye along them automatically, making a space appear bigger than it is. A mirror is another great way to create an illusion of space...it will literally transform a wall into a reflection that visually doubles up your space.

Colour is another important factor in determining how much space a room appears to have. In a nutshell, light colours will make your space look bigger, while dark colours will create a "cozy" ambience...which can be a great thing unless you are aiming to make your space more spacious!

Think practically about furniture

In small spaces, furniture that multitasks is your best friend. Think about a table that that has space underneath for storage or an ottoman that serves both as a foot rest and as storage - these are the pieces of furniture that are going to help you make the most of your limited space. 

When it comes to coffee tables, bedside tables and even a dining room table, round may be better than square, depending on the space you have available, purely because the lack of corners can be easier to move around.

Ultimately, it's about choosing furniture that's right for the space that you have available. In a small living room, an L-shaped couch may work far better than a separate three-seater and two-seater, purely because you get to put an awkward corner to good use.

Investing in a bed that offers storage space underneath is a great idea for bedrooms with limited space. This can provide the perfect place to for blanket boxes in which you store linen, extra pillows and those duvets that you may not need during summer.

Get rid of clutter and get organised

If there is one thing that you can guarantee about clutter, it's that it is one of the biggest space-waster in any home. When it comes to decluttering your home, you need to be as ruthless as you can bear to be. The rule of thumb is that if you have not used it or worn it in the last year, it needs to be upcycled, recycled, sold or discarded. Of course, there will be some relics from your past that you just can't say goodbye to, and that's where creative storage solutions come into play.

When it comes to getting creative about storage ideas, it's time to think outside the box, if you'll excuse the pun. If there's a wall in your bedroom that's not being used, you can put up some shelves to store books, trinkets and other items that aren't too heavy. Another room where some tasteful shelves can make a huge difference is in the bathroom. This could be the perfect way to store towels and other bathroom essentials. 

An important fact to remember is that if you are a renter, you'll need to chat to your landlord or rental agent before making certain types of changes to your home. If you need some advice, contact the team from CSi Property Group, who are widely experienced in all things property-related and will be happy to assist - or to help you find a new home when it's time to move on.