These days, as the economy recedes and housing prices skyrocket, more and more people are finding themselves living in compact spaces to keep things cheap. 

But as furniture blogs across the world boast products for large spaces, open living plans, and huge living rooms, it makes you wonder how you're ever going to make the most of your limited space. 

Worry no more - we've got your back. We've come up with 5 tips on how to utilise your small space to it's biggest potential.

 

TIP #1: Plan Ahead

Measuring and Masking tape are about to become your two new best friends. 

Before doing anything - take measurements of the space you have available. How big, how wide, how high. Make sure you know exactly how much space you have to work with. Then, start looking for furniture pieces that fit those measurements. Most online furniture stores will provide dimensions on their products - but if they don't, feel free to contact them and ask for the information. They'll be more than happy to provide it.  

Once that's done - visualise. 

Grab a roll (or several rolls) of masking tape and outline the areas where you plan to put your furniture. It doesn't have to be the perfect shape - we're not saying you need to create a masking tape replica of the furniture you plan to buy (though that would be cool) - but planning out your living room will help to give you a general idea of how much space is going to be taken up, and whether or not you're going to have room to move (or breathe) once you've filled those spaces with furniture. 

 

TIP #2: Think Multi-functional

Thank God for the take-off of Scandinavian design because without it, we would not be blessed with the wide array of multi-functional furniture options that are available today. As explored in our previous article, Nordic Living at Home, Scandinavian design tends to prioritise function over statement - a good example to follow when decorating a smaller space.

Consider investing in multi-functional furniture - a good example is going for sofas that come with storage space, such as our Sitine Velvet Fabric L-Shape Sofa with Bar Storage and Cup Holder. Even including 2 additional small stools - this sofa essentially eliminates the need for a coffee table, effectively saving you valuable floor space. Not to mention, the stylish, neutral design practically screams Scandinavian chic, and will go a long way in helping to make your space look bigger than it really is. 

Or, if you're not a fan of that - consider investing in a sofa that doubles as a daybed. It'll be great for your living room - and serves as a convenient addition should you ever have guest staying over unexpectedly.  Check out our Terre 3-Seater Water Repellent Fabric Sofa with Ottoman and Daybed Function, or our extensive collection of sofa beds to find one more suited to your taste. 

 

 

(Converting this video to a usable gif took way too long - also everyone say hi to our manager, Jeff, who also doubles as our sofa model, apparently) 

TIP #3: Float your Furniture

I know what you may be thinking - what does that even mean? While I'm not saying you need to start suspending your furniture from the ceiling, the most underutilised space in most small rooms is usually the very thing that makes the room up - the walls. 

Consider investing in 'floating' (read: attached to the wall) shelves. These will save on precious floor space, and give the illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is. 

Additionally, when purchasing a TV - consider one of the wall-mounted variety. The one thing that tends to take up unnecessary space in a living room is a (usually) underutilised TV cabinet. 

 

(Just to be clear, this is not the kind of floating I meant, but if you can achieve this, more power to you.) 

TIP #4: Decisive Decorating

A little bit of attention to detail can go a long way. Here are a variety of tricks for your interior decor that will make the room feel bigger. 

a. Lots of Light
If you're fortunate enough to live in a place that gets a lot of sunlight - don't be afraid to let it in! If you're afraid of UV rays harming your furniture, however, consider investing in translucent drapes that will offer more protection without blocking sunlight. Letting more light stream into the room gives it a brighter, more open feel - giving the illusion that it's bigger than it actually is. 

Additionally - paint your walls a lighter, neutral colour. An off-white or light beige tone will open up the room and make it feel bigger and brighter. 

 

b. Invest in a Rug
And not a small one. A small rug will make the room feel small, so go big. Grab a statement piece (make sure it matches your other decor) that will cover most of your floor. Don't be afraid of letting some of your furniture rest on it. Not only will it tie the room together nicely, it will also make the space feel bigger overall. 

c. Bigger, but fewer (sometimes)
It may seem counter-intuitive to invest in larger furniture when furnishing for a small space, but trust me on this one - in some cases, it very much applies.

Having more items in your living room isn't necessarily synonymous with having a large space - and if you try to cram several small furniture pieces into one space to make it feel like it's bigger than it really is, that's all you're going to end up with - lots of small pieces crammed into a tiny space. 

However, if you invest in larger, but fewer, furniture items, they make the space feel cosy, as opposed to cluttered. Not to mention it could also cost less in the long run because you're only buying one or two items as opposed to four or five.   

Along the same lines, make sure your furniture isn't pushed up against the wall. This gives the room a very cramped feel, as if everything has to be squeezed into the tightest corner to make it fit. Leaving space between your furniture and the wall opens up the room, making it look and feel larger. 

 

(I don't even know anymore. This was the gif that came up when I searched 'cluttered room' on Google.) 

TIP #5: Shrink Certain Pieces

Not everything is going to follow the 'bigger is better' rule - there are a few pieces of furniture you can afford to downsize on to save space. We've already mentioned the lack of need for TV cabinets, and here are a couple more pieces that can be shrunken down: 

a. Coffee Tables
While useful for when you have guests, one could argue that coffee tables aren't really essential pieces of furniture. In fact, with a little creativity and some trays, small stools and ottomans can double as coffee tables, and then be turned back into additional seating when needed. (Consider investing in our Bingo Velvet Fabric 3FT Bench Chair - it's one of our best-sellers for a reason). 

P.S. Home Stratosphere did a great article on using ottomans as coffee tables that you can read here if you need some inspiration. 

b. Dining Tables

If you don't have a lot of people staying in your home, there's not always a need to invest in a big dining table. Consider downsizing this item, investing instead in something like our Aurora 1+2 Lounge Table Set, or our Dominic 1+2 Solid Metal Set (which is even foldable, for easy storage).

 

(Most of the time taken to write these articles is spent looking for oddly specific gifs like 'ant man shrinking building'.) 

And there you have it! Now arm yourself with that tape measure and pencil that you've definitely stolen from IKEA , and get to decorating your small space! 

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