The difficulties of decorating a small space can be overwhelming, but with clever colour choice, multifunctional furniture and smart storage solutions, you can create a space that's gorgeous, comfortable and uncluttered.

 

First things first! Get rid of excess visual clutter on the floor such as books, magazines, hi-fi equipment. You will need to find a home for these so don’t panic, but remember by putting them on a shelf you’re only creating another visual mess.

 

Don't fall into the trap of placing furniture in the hallways of your home because there is no room for it in the main areas. Are you really going to sit on a sofa in the hall? If not, then its time to decide whether to keep it or discard it.

 

The next step is to go through your home and have a close look at what you have on your mantel piece, shelves and widow sills then decide what really needs to be binned. Be ruthless - you won’t be disappointed.

 

In a small home, it is very important to choose wall, furniture, flooring, and accessory colours wisely. By choosing warm, light colours and a monochromatic palette, you can make your small home seem much more spacious than it really is.

 

We are all aware that rooms painted white appear larger and more spacious but their starkness can feel institutional. As mentioned in my blog last week, grey is a fantastic colour to use in interior decorating as it can offer a soothing, cooling ambience. It is a classic, refined, neutral shade that works well with many other colour schemes throughout your home and can be used as both a primary design colour and an accent shade. Choosing a muted palette of grey shades will help you to achieve the perfect balance of comfort while helping to creating the illusion of light and space. Aspen Silver, Soft Steel, Silver Spoon and Blue Gravel are just a few shades from Crown Paints that are well worth considering when deciding on colour choices in your home.

 

 

The type of lighting you choose can have a major impact on how large or small your room appears. If you make wise lighting decisions, incorporate recessed lighting and strategically place uplighting and downlights throughout your home. You can easily make your living area seem much more sizeable.

 

It's a myth that you can't use a large, comfortable sofa in small spaces. What matters when you furnish a small room is that the furniture pieces you choose are simple and elegant in design as well as serviceable. A large sofa can be amazingly stylish in a small den or family room, as long as it isn't crowded out by too many other pieces and accessories.

 

Similarly choose the function of your furnishings wisely. Put beds to work. Looking for more storage? Don't forget the base of your bed for storage options. Table lamps require additional furniture that takes up floor space so why not consider mounted fixtures to the walls as an alternative. These nifty additions eliminate the need for side tables or a linen closet.

 

Consider the appliances you use regularly. If you never cook dinner for a crowd, you might not need that dishwasher. Save the space for extra storage drawers— and remember; you don't have to have the trendy drawers with a slot for every utensil.

 

When it comes to making the most of a small living space, remind yourself that less is more. Plastering every surface in your home with accessories will give the area a very cluttered appearance. A few attractive and strategically placed decorative elements will have much more of a design impact than an overabundance of pieces. If you are hesitant about discarding these accessories, a very simple way to overcome this problem is to hide them with a fabric cover or plain ready-made blind.

 

No matter how small or large your home is, it is just that - your home. There are many benefits associated with living in a cosy, well-decorated small home. By taking the time to structure your home décor so that it is ideally suited for a small space, you'll be able to create a beautiful and personal living area that meets your needs for many years.