With living costs reaching an all-time high, you may find yourself living in a smaller footprint than you had initially planned on. Your Kelowna condo may be tighter than you initially hoped for, or your principal bedroom a tad bit squishy after you remodeled the ensuite. Smaller spaces don’t have to be a bad thing! Less square footage can force us to be more intentional with our designs and choices. Designing small spaces can be fun, so instead, we often choose to focus on problem solving and space management to come up with an optimal design solution.
Here are our top 5 tips on how to design a small space.
1. Mirrors
Mirrors have a magical way of bouncing light around a room. What’s beautiful about mirrors is their ability to open up space and create an illusion of depth. A room can actually feel more spacious with the strategic placement of a mirror or two!
Don’t worry about finding the most expensive or grand mirrors, a quick trip to a thrift store will do! You can also dress up an old mirror with new paint or stain for a fresh look on a vintage piece. You might surprise yourself with what you may fall in love with!
2. Use of “Awkward” Spaces
Don’t let that funky corner sit vacant, or an awkward angled wall get the best of you. In a small space it is crucial that all nooks and crannies be used in an intentional way. This could be banquette seating in angled dining areas, corner shelving units, ottomans for sloped ceiling living spaces or shelving stands to provide storage and divide spaces. Converting that “awkward” space into something that’s functional can be a huge bonus.
3. Vertical Space
Sometimes we forget about going up. Floor space is at a premium, especially in smaller living situations. So make your space work for you! Think about mounting your TV, floating consoles, hanging shelving and picture rails. Utilizing your wall space helps save floor space and maximizes what you have to work with. Places like IKEA are great for budget friendly solutions to tight spaces.
4. Armless and Airy
Choosing furniture that is slim and sleek will take up less space and open the sightlines around the room. Ditch the chunky arm chair and opt for a more minimalist slipper chair or barrel chair. These are exceptionally comfy and on trend and you won’t have to sacrifice comfort or space with these choices. Although this style of furniture has a very expensive designer look about it, there are more and more options emerging as new manufacturers are producing even cost effective options. This is also a great way to get that interior designer look for less
5. Scale-down Furniture
Not everything that’s bigger is better. The reality is that large furniture requires a large space and your 5 piece sectional with recliners may not best suit your current living situation. Be strategic with the furniture you choose. You don’t want loud large furniture taking over your space! Trade in that clunky coffee table for a smaller and more sleek option, maybe one with built-in storage, or that has a lift top! Try to scale down items by looking for lower backs, narrow arm rests, clean lines and low profile items.
As a bonus tip, look for ways to brighten up your home or apartment. You can accomplish this in several different ways. If you’d like to explore these options, check out the article we were recently featured in on design tips for a bright home.
several ways you can accomplish this and a great article to check out for more amazing tips is You can check out the article that we were featured in for several tips on how to do this.
Not sure where to begin? Looking for a professional to help you get started? Reach out to the Kelowna based team at Hello Home Studios and we’ll be happy to start your interior design journey together.
