When you’re trying to find a lot of land on which to build your new home, there are a range of different criteria that you have to consider. Sometimes, when you find one that ticks most of your boxes, you may settle for a smaller size. While you can still design a perfectly good home with less space to work with, there are certain steps you should take to get the most out of it. By finding creative storage solutions, carefully selecting furniture, creating the right layout, and strategically decorating, you can ensure a smaller home design works as well as a large one. Read on to learn some of the best ways to make your smaller home feel so much larger.
Layouts for small homes
Layout can make a world of difference for how a small space feels. It allows you to organise the rooms and features in a way that creates an easy flow between rooms. When you’re working with a small space, an open plan layout is probably going to be your most favourable option. By limiting the amount of walls and divisions in the home, you take emphasis away from the space being small and avoid creating a cramped environment. Additionally, open plan layouts allow for a lot of natural light, which is important for making rooms feel bigger.
Maximising storage
You’ll need to get a bit creative in your approach to storage when you have less space to work with. Having a smaller home means there are less areas that you can afford to dedicate solely to storage. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of your belongings. While you may be working with less square footage, this doesn’t impact your ability to utilise vertical storage. Employing shelves, hooks, and cupboards not only gives you more places to put your things, but it also keeps your floors clear of clutter, making them look more spacious.
Another way to maximise storage is by implementing collapsible furniture. You can find beds, chairs, tables, and more that are able to be packed into a smaller form and stored. This means that while you’re not using them, they’re not taking up any of your space. This leaves you with a tidy home environment.
The best furniture for small spaces
Furniture can be hard to get right when you don’t have the most space to work with. You want to pick furniture that is the right size to fulfil your needs without causing clutter in your home. While getting a huge couch or dining table may be tempting, it will leave you with less space for moving around and arranging your other furniture. Instead, opt for strategic furniture choices that factor in your space constraints.
For example, you can opt to have benches rather than chairs in certain areas of your home. They have the advantage of blending into their surroundings, being easily tucked under tables, and seating more people for the amount of space they take up.
Another example is to forgo including a kitchen island and simply use a tall wooden table for extra counter space. It will do the job just as well, plus you can move it aside or put it away when you don’t need to use it.
Lighting options
Lighting is able to have a profound impact on how spacious the inside of your home feels. Typically, getting more light into the home helps the space to feel less cramped. One way to do this is by including windows, as they allow more natural light into your home. This is further emphasised if you opt for an open plan layout, as that emphasises maximising light in the home.
And as for lights that are installed throughout the home, they should be of good quality and provide strong illumination without being blinded. It’s worth installing lights you can dim, so that you’re able to find the perfect level.
Decoration schemes
Another way to optimise the feel of a small space is by picking decorations that work well with the space. In terms of how you colour the walls, opting for either white paint or even tones is the best bet for making rooms feel bigger and brighter. You can extend this to the colour of the floor and other features and furniture in the home. Another way to make your home feel spacious is by using reflective materials for the different features. This helps to maximise the amount of light present. Along with this, you may want to include mirrors for this same purpose.
How can Redink help you maximise space in a small home?
Building a smaller home has some unique challenges, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t overcome them. By being tactful about your choice of furniture, home layout, storage options, and decoration, you can still make a home that feels fresh and spacious. At Redink Homes, we guide all of our clients through the home design process, helping them to create a custom home that they’re truly satisfied with. Contact us today and let’s get started.
