Home Innovations Display Centre

Living Small Tips

Follow this guide on how to help you maximise your space, for those who are "living small".

Today the traditional Australian home includes apartments and town houses; therefore we are living with a lot less space for furniture and storage, fewer backyards and more balconies. Here are some simple tips on how to make the most of our limited space.

Be Ruthless!

Ask yourself what you really need and what you really use. Humans have a tendancy to be hoarders, wer're not saying throw out everything you don't use, but there are other alternatives such as putting furniture that doesn't fit, clothes you don't wear and sentimental items that just don't suit into storage.

Ask yourself the following (and be honest!) regarding items of clutter in your home:

1. Do I need it?

2. Do I love it?

3. Will it make me money?

If you answered no to any two of the above, it's time to consider sending those items away.

Furniture

Look for furniture that has multiple uses, such as beds that fold into walls, sofa beds, home office units, etc. These pieces will save you space but are also very practical. Now is probably not the time to be accepting grandparents antique piano and crockery hutch! Choose your furniture wisely and it will save you a lot of space!

Also, keep rooms as they were designed for. If you have a couch and television in a lounge room, don't put another set in the bedroom. If you have a table in the dining room, don't try and fit another one in the kitchen. If you have a study with a computer and desk, don't bring home another desk for a different room. One of everything is plenty in a small space/home and you don't want to be greedy with clutter!

Storage

Storage is important, to keep the items that you don't use as much out of sight and safe. Apart from having as much built in sotage as you can, you can make a feature of things like surfboards, bikes, etc. by hanging them on the wall when they're not in use. There are a huge range of storage option available and the possibilities are endless! Try persuing a specialist storage retailer for clever new ideas.

DO 

• Keep your floor space as clear as possible. Especially if you have children. Use light colours and streamlined designs.
• Look for lightweight and transparent pieces of furniture, such as glass topped tables and perspex shelving to create the feeling of space, avoiding bulky designs.
• Maximise your storage, under beds and staircases, behind doors, above wardrobes, etc.
• Open blinds and place small lamps/candles throughout your space to bring in light and make it appear brighter and larger.
• If possible, paint small rooms neutral, simple or basic colours. Painting a small room dark colours can make it seem smaller and duller.
• Instead of trying to squeeze too much furniture into a small space, minimise their presence simply by purchasing bunk beds instead of two single beds.
• Get rid of appliances you could do without. For example, using a clothes line instead of a clothes dryer will give you more space, lower your energy bill and will benefit the environment!
• Don't buy more than you need for you or your family. Buying a couch and several sofa chairs to seat a large group of people isn't very useful for a couple.

DON'T

• Place large pieces of furniture near doors, this blocks the area and is visually dominant.
• Paint the walls dark, this will draw the space in and make the room look even smaller than it is.
• Buy in excess. Do you really need a television in every room?