Mar 25, 2019 | Allie Lewis
Home decorating poses unique challenges for people who live in small spaces, such as big-city apartments. When square footage is limited, it’s essential to make the most out of every design opportunity — especially if you’re working on a modest budget (or a tight timeline).
Walking the line between “cozy” and “cluttered” isn’t always easy, but don’t worry: with a little bit of creativity, your space will look and feel more like home in no time. It’s all just a matter of knowing where to get started. To help you, the interior flooring and design experts at Flooring America share five of our favorite home decorating ideas for small spaces on a budget.
When it comes to fashion, it’s often said that “black is slimming” (along with other dark colors, like navy or burgundy). The same is true when it comes to interior design. Dark colors tend to constrict and shrink space, while light tones have the opposite effect.
You can take advantage of this to make a small space feel larger and lighter. To create the illusion of a roomier, more airy space, keep the focus on white, cream, or pastel tones. For a dash of color, try using an accent wall or carefully-chosen accent pieces.
Mirrors are a homeowner’s best friend when it comes to instantly creating a sense of space. (If you’ve ever stood in front of an “infinity mirror,” you already know how convincing the illusion can be!) Simply by hanging or propping up a strategically located mirror, you can double the size of any room in seconds.
Not only are mirrors potentially lightweight, portable, and affordable — they’re also easy to clean and maintain once set up in your home or apartment. That makes mirror accents a true win-win for design buffs everywhere. Just be sure to use cleaning products that are specifically designed for glass. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a streaky mess that shatters the illusion of extra space.
In a perfect world, you would have enough space to devote every room to a single purpose. In the real world, you often need to make your space work double-duty. For example, a guest bedroom might double as a home office, or if you live in an apartment with an open floor plan, your bedroom and living room spaces might overlap.
The trick is to set up the room in a way that allows you to take maximum advantage of the space, making your rooms multitask. For example, you can fill walls with floating shelf storage, loft a bed for storage under the mattress, or utilize the space under your staircase by adding a bookshelf or display case.
The kitchen is the heart of the home. But when you have a small kitchen, it can seem downright impossible to avoid getting cluttered and making a mess — especially since most kitchen items are bulky and heavy, such as microwaves, toaster ovens, blenders, and coffeemakers. That makes having smart kitchen storage an absolute must. Not only does efficient storage make your kitchen look better, but it also gives you a larger and cleaner space for cooking.
For a kitchen storage option that’s both easy-to-use and visually pleasing, try an open storage shelf design. For example, you could line a room divider with shelves, or, if you don’t have one, simply install floating shelves on your kitchen walls. Other trendy yet functional ideas include magnetic knife strips and hanging pot racks. Just be sure to keep your most frequently used items within easy reach!
Between moisturizers, makeup, mouthwash, toothbrushes, soap, razors, shaving cream, and dozens of other products, bathrooms can get even more cluttered than kitchens. To make matters worse, they’re usually less than half the size. That means bathroom storage is key to keeping your space looking its best.
Look for narrow shelving that fits into tight spaces — ideally, something that can hold up to steam and moisture. If possible, conceal toiletries behind a mirror or inside a cabinet. This will give you more counter space at the bathroom sink (and instantly make your bathroom look more sophisticated). Keeping towels or other items rolled inside of attractive storage baskets is another easy way to consolidate clutter and get a sleeker look.
Redesigning your space is exciting, but with all the options to choose from, it can also be a little overwhelming. If you aren’t sure where to start, My Design Finder can help point you in the right direction. Simply answer a few easy questions about which room you’re working on and what styles you enjoy, and My Design Finder will take care of the rest, introducing you to a world of versatile design ideas for spaces of all sizes.
At Flooring America, we take pride in helping homeowners make their dreams reality. From bamboo and tile to carpet, wood, stone, and beyond, we offer a huge range of flooring options to match any style preference. To learn more about our products and services, contact us online, or call Flooring America at (866) 512-9107 today.
