New build apartments and houses are getting smaller these days. It’s a fact. And often it’s difficult to find furniture to fit into that limited space the construction companies and developers have left you with. But don’t despair. Interior designers have plenty of clever ways around this potential space deprivation. And here’s some of our favourites right here:
Invest in multi-purpose furniture
Furniture which can do two, or even three things is worth its weight in gold in a small apartment. Take the Savile Coffee Table, for instance. Not only does it work as a super-smart lounge item on which to place your coffee, but it opens to reveal drinks (or other item) storage area. And, of course, it could also be used as a footstool (provided you remove your shoes!).
Actually…forget the coffee table
Sure, having somewhere to lay your magazines, coffee cup and the odd vase is nice – but it’s not necessary if that sitting room is incredibly space-poor. It’s just that many of us have been brought up with the ubiquitous coffee table that we think it’s a given. But instead, you could always opt for smaller side tables.
Get smart with stairs
Clever storage
Always think outside of the box! You could turn your stairs into a brilliant bookcase
You know that area underneath the stairs where you keep the vaccum and various boxes of old junk in? Well, why not commission a joiner to turn it into a brilliant book case or a place for putting lots of pretty straw baskets in which to store items such as children’s toys, old magazines you don’t want to throw away and stationery? You can even use it to display your favourite plants and other decorative objects.
Create skinny furniture
There is no golden rule that says a console table has to be a certain depth – at least that’s what the householder in the following photograph reckoned when she got a joiner to build her a skinny console table made from some nicely turned wooden legs and a couple of pieces of thick pine. Not only does it fit the purpose required of it (ie she can lay her keys, flower vases, table lamp and a mirror on top of it) but it has individual character too.
Put corners to work
When you are short on space, every square foot counts – and which is why items such as this Cirrus office corner desk are such a brilliant idea. By fitting neatly into a 90 degrees angle they leave the centre of the room with a much bigger space in which to put other office equipment such as a printer, book case, photocopier etc.
Get glass walls
If you can afford it, extending your home into the outdoors in a visual and practical sense is a terrific way to expand a small area. It’s also an extremely contemporary solution. Build decking at the other side of the glass wall and you have an instant dining area during the summer months. It could also be your outdoor office – all you’d need is a chair, table and laptop.
We hope you found some of the above useful. Or maybe you have some ideas for small spaces of your own that you’d like to share?
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