22 August 2009

Maximizing Small Living Spaces

By Eric Parker

Urban living is both a joy and convenience to many. One gets to be at the hub of commercial establishments, offices, transportation systems, and more. Life gets to be so modern and fast-paced that every resource needs to be maximized. The same principle applies to small living spaces such as condos, apartments, and studio units.

Living at home may be space restricted but it doesn't mean it's a hopeless case. Small living spaces can be decorated with style, function and comfort. The decorating expenses too, which is cheaper than doing up a large house is something to smile about. There are several ways to make the most of your home space and make it an appealing and inviting home at the same time.

With the size of the place a major consideration, it's important to plan the decorating work. You can't just buy any furnishing you fancy. It might not fit, you know. Even if it does, you want the object to look comfortable and fitting to its space and not forced into captivity. Your home should have a "spacious" feel and look to it even if it's a just a hole in the box.

Make your home bigger by arranging your furniture properly. There are techniques like placing the bed against the longest wall of the bedroom, setting an area rug at an angle or using round or oval rugs instead of the usual rectangular ones, and using longer curtains to make your windows larger and the ceiling higher.

Experiment with colors. Just as the furniture positions affect one's point of view, so do the colors in a room. White is often used as a wall color to promote spaciousness or openness in an area. You can test out different hues in lighter tones for your furnishings and home accents. Other suggestions are eggshell, stucco, ecru, and even yellows and pale blues.

Take advantage of storage. Please! Don't clutter! The more you mess around (literally) the more your home will look smaller. The tidier your living space is, the bigger it will appear. There are built-in shelves and cabinets so you won't have to buy extra drawers and chests. There are also dual-purpose furnishings that can really save some floor space.

Coordinate the colors and decorations. You don't want your apartment to look like a warehouse or a garage sale. A small home can still look elegant with the right decors.

I get my design ideas from websites and home decor magazines. I also love visiting home decor stores and just checking out their displays and newest furniture pieces. Never stop learning and never tire of getting inspiration from the things around you. Take the initiative to beautify your home. It's just a small space. Why lax over it?

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment