Guest Blogger: Functional Space Saving Tips for your Small Home

Guest Blogger #277, Entry #805, December 1, 2011

If you only have a small home and you want it to look stylish then you need to make the best use of the space that you have available. For example, some curtains can dwarf a small room. An alternative is to get roman blinds made to measure; this may seem expensive but they make ideal window coverings where space is limited. Below are some more space saving tips for style in a small home.

Creating functional space in your small home

Image via: Interior for Home

Tip 1: Less is Best

If your living room is on the small side, the less knick knacks you have on display, the better. If you have any alcoves in the room, near the fireplace for instance, then these are good places to put up some shelves. Do it yourself shelving is not for everyone but providing you measure up accurately you should be able to buy a storage unit to fit in the space. Use a couple of side tables rather than a large coffee table placed in front of the sofa as this gives the illusion of extra space. Clever use of lighting and mirrors often provide an illusion of greater space in a small room.

Tip 2: Styling Your Bedroom

Some bedrooms have built in cupboards and wardrobes, that are great for hanging your clothes and hiding the clutter but don’t look very stylish. Take the doors and send them to a company that strips and seals doors so that they look much more attractive when they’re re-hung. Get a bed with drawers or where the main part of the bed lifts up to reveal storage space underneath as these are ideal for storing towels, extra bedding and anything else that won’t fit into the airing cupboard. Investing in made to measure blinds for your bedroom windows can give the illusion of more space because they fit the window exactly.

Tip 3: In the Bathroom

In a small bathroom it’s highly likely there won’t be enough room for a separate bath and shower. If you already have a bath in your home then you might want to consider an over the bath power shower to get the best of both worlds. You can get free standing shelving that is ideal for a small bathroom and great for storing extra towels and even replacement toiletries.

your small bathroom can still be functional

Image via: Para Interior

Tip 4: Making the Best Use of Your Kitchen

In a small kitchen you might want to consider a fold down shelf attached to the wall for use as a breakfast bar, especially if you don’t have a dining room or space for a dining table. Again rooms tend to look bigger without curtains, get some roman blinds made to measure for your kitchen window.

If you don’t already have baskets fixed to the inside of your kitchen cupboard doors then you might want to consider getting some as this will give you some extra storage space. Don’t clutter your kitchen counter tops with anything that you won’t be using on a daily basis if you want the kitchen to look as tidy and stylish as possible. When space is at a premium but you want a stylish looking home, remember the old adage: don’t put it down, put it away.

This article was written on behalf of Moonshadow Blinds, who sell made to measure blinds in many different styles and materials.

The article’s writer, Amy Fowler, lives in a small apartment, so knows how important it is to create the illusion of space when there is none.

For more small home living ideas on Stagetecture click here.