Whether it’s a narrow hallway, a bijou living room or a tiny kitchen you’re dealing with, small spaces are often seen as a challenge best avoided if you don’t want to end up feeling cramped and overcrowded. But tackled the right way, small rooms can be just as stylish and characterful as larger spaces, and they’re a great opportunity for a little creative lateral thinking.
‘The advice for small rooms is often to choose smaller furniture, but the key is to be selective with scale,’ says Sallie King, founder of Urbansize, which specialises in designing furniture for smaller spaces. ‘Keep your hero pieces big to maximise the function of the room: in a bedroom, choose the largest bed that will work in the space, and the same goes for the sofa in a living room.’ These can be paired with smaller-scale items, and if you maintain some space around the furniture, the room will feel more spacious.
Multi-use furniture is another key to making the most of your space; sofa beds, storage benches and drop-leaf or extending tables are among the pieces that will maximise the function of a room. Likewise, folding furniture, which can be brought out as and when it’s needed, is great for rooms that are tight on space, while clever storage is vital in keeping clutter to a minimum.
Even the smallest details can make a difference. ‘Avoid chunky handles where possible,’ says Sallie. ‘Not only can they be a bump hazard, but opting for recessed handles will provide a smooth, clean finish that enhances the feeling of space.’
Think about the space above and below your furniture. ‘Furniture on slim legs, where you can see the floor underneath, gives the illusion of depth and so generates a feeling of spaciousness,’ Sallie advises. Making use of vertical spaces will also keep floors clear, so shelving, hooks and hanging storage are excellent accessories to work with.
As for colour, pale is the natural go-to for small rooms, but avoid the potentially sterile all-white and don’t be afraid to try bold touches or play with deeper shades.
Kitchens
With a bit of careful planning, it’s possible to ensure that even the smallest kitchen feels spacious. Simple tricks for creating a sense of space include using open shelving rather than wall cabinets, and making the most of hanging space – rails and hooks are an effective way to store pans and utensils, and foster the feel of an artfully curated country kitchen to boot.
Merlin Wright, design director at Plain English, has several suggestions for small kitchen essentials: ‘Even a small island or peninsula can be useful, as they create a symbolic separation between kitchen and dining areas and allow the surface to be used from both sides.
Combination ovens provide conventional heat and a microwave in one appliance, and induction hobs can double as a work surface when not being used.’ On a practical note, it’s worth remembering that good extraction is also especially important in a small space.
Living rooms
There’s a plethora of ways to maximise the space in your living room – from using tables, stools and chairs that double as storage, to investing in foldable furniture that can be brought out when needed and stored away easily when not in use.
Use soft furnishings and accessories to your advantage, too – Roman blinds take up less wall space and allow more natural light than a set of heavy curtains, and if you add a rug, make it large, as this will enhance the sense of space more effectively than a small one that can end up sitting awkwardly.
‘In a small living room, furniture placement is important,’ Sallie says. ‘It is tempting to push everything up against the wall, but try to leave a little space around each piece to avoid everything looking hemmed in.’ She also recommends making use of your walls – small shelves can highlight their expanse and help make the space seem larger.
Bedrooms
Fitted furniture is often a great solution for bedrooms, especially in awkward corners like under the eaves. By building storage into your specific space, you can really make the most of it. When it comes to the bed itself, you don’t have to skimp on size, but it will help to create a feeling of space if you can see the floor area beneath it – a bed on legs will help with this, and also offers the opportunity to fit storage underneath.
Charu Gandhi, founder of architectural interior designers, Elicyon, says, ‘Space-saving built-in shelves and floating nightstands are a great way of eliminating clutter in the bedroom while providing essential storage. Employing a unifying design theme and carefully selected decorative pieces will also add character to a room, without overwhelming it.’
Sallie agrees that it’s vital to keep on top of clutter. ‘Really optimise minimalist principles and don’t let the mess build up. Even a small bedroom can be a relaxing haven if everyday clutter is kept to a minimum.’
Bathrooms
‘Layout is critical in a small bathroom, so work out exactly what you need and allocate the space to comfortably access everything,’ says James Lentaigne, creative director of Drummonds Bathrooms. Clutter will make it look smaller, so employ plenty of storage – think narrow cabinets and shallow, wall-mounted fittings.
A heated towel rail is another great accessory – a multi-functional feature that takes up little room. Wetrooms and walk-in showers make good use of a small space too, though baths aren’t out of the question: ‘If you want a free-standing bath, the slipper is an unsung hero with a smaller footprint than normal baths,’ says James. ‘Raised at one end to support your head and shoulders, it’s rather like a reclining armchair and superbly relaxing.’
He also recommends playing with colour: ‘Smaller bathrooms can be made to feel intimate and inviting with opulent patterns and detailing. But limit the elements to one or two colours or patterns, so they don’t overwhelm the space.’
Hallways
A well-placed mirror in a dark or narrow hallway will not only maximise the light, but will also make the space appear much more generous. A heavy-traffic area in most homes, this tight space is often further compromised as bags and other day-to-day accessories are cast off, littering hall stands, console tables and floor.
It’s easier said than done, but fitting in shoe storage, bag hooks and as much slimline storage as the space will allow, can make all the difference. ‘Use wall-hung furniture like a hallway tidy, so there is somewhere to store keys and post,’ suggests Sallie.
A statement light will draw attention upwards, and provides a bold first impression that will distract from the size of the space.