Tiny homes are a national phenomenon, and the changes associated with low-impact living—from composting to conscientiously tidying up (Marie Kondo)—have made their way into our lifestyles. Whether you’re attempting to make the most of a small space, or simply want to increase the functionality of your home, consider these hacks that will make your life easier.
Mirrored doors
Mirrored doors, either used as internal doors between rooms or on a coat or broom cupboard are perfect for a small hallway as they will make the space feel much deeper than it actually is and help to bounce light around, making it appear brighter too.
As you want to avoid having a door open into someone’s face in such a small space, sliding doors do seem like the most sensible option and they can be very effective. Just make sure that you invest in a good quality sliding system. The cheapest models have a tendency to stick and jam easily or to come off their runners. To avoid these pitfalls buy from a reputable company and have them installed by a professional.
Drop down desks:
These are too easy and too brilliant to not use in a multitude of spaces. They’re especially handy in spaces that are small, highly functional, and high traffic like a kitchen/dining combined space. These desks or tables can be bought pre made or are a really easy custom build to match any space. This is perfect for adding surface space without taking up floor space. I like using this as a quick “home office” desk in a family communal area.
Avoid Clutter
First of all, you have to work out what items you don’t have a place for and then try and find a place for them. Walk around your home and note the places where the clutter is building up. The area just inside the front door often attracts mess. You may never be able to train the owners to put their shoes away in their wardrobes every day, but if you place an attractive basket with a lid by the front door, you should find that they can be taught to deposit them here at least. A trunk could be placed here too for tennis rackets, footballs and school bags.
Paperwork is something else that tends to build up in messy piles on kitchen tables or desks. So that it can’t be seen, buy an attractive box to store it all in, until you get around to filing it away.
If you have children, you’ll probably find that there are toys all over your home. Baskets are again great for the large toys such as dolls and cars. Then invest in lots of smaller stacking boxes for the little items such as Lego and arts and crafts materials. Once you know which items lack a home, it’s much easier to find one for them.
Stick to Neutral
If you’re planning on selling in a few years, it is best to stick to a neutral base for your flooring, walls and fixtures and fittings. You can go as bold and bright as you like, however, with everything that you’d take with you when you move.
Your kitchen units might be white, for example, but your kitchen table, chairs, crockery and accessories can be a rainbow of colors.
In your living room, there is nothing stopping you going for a fuchsia pink sofa draped with an orange throw and yellow pillows and an equally vibrant rug and curtains. Jazz up the bathroom with brightly patterned towels and fill your bedroom with colorful bedlinen and window dressings. Be as creative as you like with the furnishings and accessories, just stick to a plain background.
One-wall home office:
Everyone these days wants a home office but it’s often difficult to set aside an entire room or space in a small unit or home for that luxury. Your clients (or you) don’t have to compromise! We love the idea of fitting everything a home office needs in a little nook like this using vertical organization systems. This is a cozy, out of the way option. It’s way better than filling a space like this with something less functional like a entry table and flowers.
Use White or Cream for Small Kitchens
A compact kitchen that is not blessed with a lot of natural light, needs to be made to feel as spacious and bright as possible. To do this you need to employ several optical illusions. Firstly, opt for white or cream units and for a similar hue for the walls and floor. Light colors will visually push the walls out and make the space feel instantly larger. Choose gloss over matt kitchen units and go for handleless unit fronts. Anything with a sheen will help to bounce what light there is further into the room and you want to avoid handles if you can because they stick out and take up space. Choose a mirrored splashback to give the room more depth and opt for reflective accessories such as a stainless steel kettle and saucepans. In this situation every little bit helps!
