Decorating
12 Creative Ways to Maximise Limited Living Spaces
Use these homes for inspiration to help make your cramped spaces become more functional and feel much bigger
To ensure your home functions smoothly and efficiently, thorough planning and assessment of your space is essential. Clever ideas will win you more usable floor area and better spatial quality. Let’s take a closer look at some innovative ways you could maximise small spaces within your home.
2. Borrow light where you can
Making what natural light is available go further can be accomplished in a wide variety of ways. Internal windows such as portholes, squares, vertical or horizontal strips, not only spread the light around, they set up views and vistas that banish any hint of confinement.
Making what natural light is available go further can be accomplished in a wide variety of ways. Internal windows such as portholes, squares, vertical or horizontal strips, not only spread the light around, they set up views and vistas that banish any hint of confinement.
3. Consider built-in furniture
The clever placement of this eating area – in the corner and by the window – means it’s not only out of the way but it’s benefiting from the natural light streaming in. The built-in wooden banquette seating is accessorised with cushions for additional comfort.
The clever placement of this eating area – in the corner and by the window – means it’s not only out of the way but it’s benefiting from the natural light streaming in. The built-in wooden banquette seating is accessorised with cushions for additional comfort.
4. Build up
Mezzanines and platforms offer a degree of separation from the main living area and are ideal for activities that require a greater degree of peace and quiet such as sleeping and working. Access is important, too – spiral stairs or paddle steps (featured here) won’t use up too much floor space.
Mezzanines and platforms offer a degree of separation from the main living area and are ideal for activities that require a greater degree of peace and quiet such as sleeping and working. Access is important, too – spiral stairs or paddle steps (featured here) won’t use up too much floor space.
5. Embrace natural light
Light that comes from above is naturally space-enhancing and uplifting. These large skylights bring daylight into what would otherwise be a dark hallway.
Check out more glorious benefits of skylights
Light that comes from above is naturally space-enhancing and uplifting. These large skylights bring daylight into what would otherwise be a dark hallway.
Check out more glorious benefits of skylights
6. Dive into storage
Devoting an entire wall to shelving is a wholehearted approach to storage that works well in a small space. In this home study, two entire walls have been fitted with bookshelves, and the effect is coherent and not cluttered.
Devoting an entire wall to shelving is a wholehearted approach to storage that works well in a small space. In this home study, two entire walls have been fitted with bookshelves, and the effect is coherent and not cluttered.
7. Think white
By this I mean the colour white always makes the most of light and enhances the sense of space. It’s also harder to see the detail in white items, which also helps to promote a sense of space. Airy, reflective and luminous, white is a classic for small-space decor.
By this I mean the colour white always makes the most of light and enhances the sense of space. It’s also harder to see the detail in white items, which also helps to promote a sense of space. Airy, reflective and luminous, white is a classic for small-space decor.
8. Think outside the box
Successful small-space living demands careful storage. Built-in drawers, such as these, can house a vast amount of everyday clutter without impinging on available space.
Discover more savvy storage strategies for your home
Successful small-space living demands careful storage. Built-in drawers, such as these, can house a vast amount of everyday clutter without impinging on available space.
Discover more savvy storage strategies for your home
9. Just add steps
A few steps up or down – simple changes in level – can also add variety and richness to spatial experience. This strategy is a good way of signalling a change of activity – for example, a shift from a dining area to a living area. Note the mirror at the end of this garden, which also provides an illusion of space.
A few steps up or down – simple changes in level – can also add variety and richness to spatial experience. This strategy is a good way of signalling a change of activity – for example, a shift from a dining area to a living area. Note the mirror at the end of this garden, which also provides an illusion of space.
10. Space-saving layouts
The U-shaped arrangement is one of the most workable of all kitchen layouts. This kitchen is a great example of how a U-shaped layout can feel more expansive than it is.
The U-shaped arrangement is one of the most workable of all kitchen layouts. This kitchen is a great example of how a U-shaped layout can feel more expansive than it is.
11. Be creative
Storage does not mean that everything has to be hidden from view; working areas such as kitchens lend themselves to a certain amount of display. Here, shelves have been cleverly placed around the doorframe, holding those all-important kitchen essentials.
Here are more kitchen storage ideas
Storage does not mean that everything has to be hidden from view; working areas such as kitchens lend themselves to a certain amount of display. Here, shelves have been cleverly placed around the doorframe, holding those all-important kitchen essentials.
Here are more kitchen storage ideas
12. Define the space
Structural columns and beams help to define separate areas in an open-plan space. Here, they make a visual distinction between a study nook and a living room.
MORE
Live Big in a Small House: 25 Tricks to Expand Your Space
7 Clever Ways to Create the Illusion of Space in a Small Bedroom
Small Bathroom Ideas That Are Big On Style
Houzz Tour: Bondi Terrace Reno Captures Light
Structural columns and beams help to define separate areas in an open-plan space. Here, they make a visual distinction between a study nook and a living room.
MORE
Live Big in a Small House: 25 Tricks to Expand Your Space
7 Clever Ways to Create the Illusion of Space in a Small Bedroom
Small Bathroom Ideas That Are Big On Style
Houzz Tour: Bondi Terrace Reno Captures Light
Floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors open up a small kitchen fully to the outdoors. Borrowed space, just as much as borrowed light, can go a long way to counteract any sense of enclosure or confinement.