Larger than Life – make the most of compact spaces
Words by Candice Botho, Catherine Zachariou and mar Jane Harris. Article from the Garden and Home Magazine June 2015.
Here are 10 great ways to make the most of compact spaces
1. Reflected Glory
Although not a new idea, mirror is one of the easiest ways to visually expand a small room.
You can mirror the whole wall or hang a window pane version that creates interesting reflections.
And contrary to popular belief, small spaces don’t have to be painted in light colours.
Here a deep blue makes the walls recede. Decor by Liza Scholtz, photographed on location at Steyn City.
2. On the level
Children’s rooms are notoriously cramped.
To stretch this boy’s room visually, Couch + Interiors painted broad horizontal stripes on the wall and instead of a bedside table they installed a floating shelf.
3. Screen Stars
To separate the living and dining areas in this Cape home, Cheryl Herweg of Changing Spaces designed a decorative panel which subtly demarcates each space while letting in light.
“A solid wall would have made each area smaller and darker,” she explains.
A corner unit provides plenty of seating without taking up much space and as you can see through it, the glass coffee table takes up very little space visually.
4. Bold moves
Overscaling can be very effective in a small room. Limit the clutter and choose a few bold pieces of furniture rather than lots of little items.
In this room designed by Nthabi Taukobong from Ditau Interiors, a tall adjustable floor lamp makes a statement.
Shot on location at Steyn City.
5. Great heights
This is a trick that works well in all small rooms. Keep window treatments simple and hang curtains from ceiling height.
The vertical pattern on the wallpaper, custom-designed by Clinton Friedman, also draws the eye upward in this bathroom.
Also keep in mind that a freestanding bath takes up less room than a built-in one. Decor by Christian Bense of Union 3.
6. Reach for the stars
A headboard that soars to the ceiling is a clever way to create an illusion of space.
In addition to this, Andrew Draper and Corne Ecksteen of Durban introduced pendant lights which free up space on the bedside pedestals and tall, narrow mirrors on either side which draw the eye upward.
7. Fully booked
It’s important in small spaces to keep clutter to a minimum. One way to house books, magazines, an audio system, TV and a gas fireplace is in a built-in unit.
“This one takes up very little floor space, accommodates all the wiring plus a gas bottle for the fireplace and is more in keeping with the style of the house than an ordinary wooden cabinet,” explains designer Anina van Eeden of Anina van Eeden Interiors.
8. Shelf life
To prevent a small kitchen from feeling top heavy, use open shelves rather than wall cabinets.
Make up for the loss of storage space by installing lots of drawers in the lower section. Kitchen design by Timeless Timbre.
9. Vanity fair
As you can see underneath it right to the corners of the floor, floating furniture is an excellent way to create the illusion of space. In this powder room, two floating shelves take the place of a vanity while a glass splashback protects the wallpaper. Decor by Odette Uys of Eye Candy Interiors.
10. Lighten up
When choosing furniture, look for materials that are transparent like glass, Perspex and wire mesh and pieces that do double duty, for instance an ottoman that acts as a coffee table and as extra seating.
Keep in mind that dining tables with a central support look less bulky than those with four legs and can accommodate more chairs when needed.
Decor by The Chalk Studio.
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