A spacious, streamlined living space which strikes the perfect balance of furniture, practical storage and beautiful soft furnishings is for many of us the stuff dreams are made of. Unfortunately, the reality is that this minimal look can be difficult to achieve because sometimes life - and stuff - can get in the way.
However, an easy to maintain and aesthetically pleasing home with optimal use of space can be achieved with the right approach to decorating, furnishing and organising your interior spaces, armed with the right storage and a few clever tips and tricks.
Firstly, clear your diary and set aside a weekend to have a serious decluttering session to tackle any excess possessions, clothes and more. Prepare in advance by arming yourself with plenty of boxes and bags to fill with items for the recycling centre, to give to friends or family or to donate to charity.
The kitchen can be a good place to begin by going through cupboards and eliminating any out of date food items or tools and appliances that you only used once three years ago. Keeping surfaces clear and uncluttered makes a huge difference to the feeling of calm and space in kitchen areas and makes cooking a more pleasant experience, so try to keep to a minimum. Add some open shelves to store everyday items on the wall but still within reach to free up some extra counter space.
If you find the decluttering process difficult, take steps to prepare your mind before you begin. Watch or read about the process of letting go of things that are no longer serving you, and learn how to organise and store your possessions optimally, perhaps with some help from Marie Kondo’s acclaimed KonMari Method.
It might sound obvious, but choosing the right furniture can make a huge difference when looking to maximise space in your home. Sometimes just a simple rearrangement of your existing pieces can make a space flow better and appear larger with minimal effort.
Before rearranging your room, make a scale drawing of your space and separate drawings for each item of furniture and cut these out, so that you can play around with where your furniture might fit before attempting to shift heavy items and potentially causing damage to your floor - and your back!
If you are looking to really refresh and maximise your space it’s also worth checking dimensions and shopping around for more compact, multifunctional furniture that is designed for small spaces. One trick that interior designers use to increase the perception of space is to choose furniture with legs so that the floor beneath can be seen, increasing the illusion of space.
Consider the needs of your family but try to be ruthless - remember less is more. For example, do you really need that hefty sideboard that takes up a lot of room but only houses a couple of board games, or could they be stored elsewhere? Does your dining table seat your family of four or is it scaled up to seat eight for Christmas meals with the wider family? If you entertain infrequently, consider a smaller table with a removable extension.
If you have a large TV, consider mounting it on the wall or better still, creating a sleek media wall to provide some hidden storage to neatly house all your audio and entertainment tech, finished off with a few choice decorative items and some soft back lighting. You'll regain essential floor space and simultaneously become the envy of your friends. But be prepared to host sport and movie nights more often, snacks optional.
Choose your most expansive wall to add a beautiful feature wall or gallery wall to create a focal point which draws the attention of the eye and makes smaller spaces seem bigger.
A feature wall could be an on trend signature paint colour that provides contrast with your overall room scheme, a bold choice of wallpaper for a pop of interest or a carefully curated selection of framed photographs, sketches and artwork to attract the attention of visitors to your home and to add visual appeal to your every day.
Choosing a good quality, neutral flooring that flows seamlessly between living areas is another key way to maximise the feeling of space in your home. Different flooring types and multiple thresholds will break up your interior space and can appear hectic so consider refreshing your flooring to one seamless type throughout your main living areas for some visual harmony.
Considering how your space is lit is a crucial aspect to consider when looking to maximise space. It goes without saying that natural light is best and as much as possible, so consider investing in some skylights, bi-fold doors or floor to ceiling glazed units to allow natural light to come flooding in all year round.
In the evenings and on darker days, extra lighting in the form of spotlights and statement light fittings can add to the illusion of space by brightening up all areas of your room, drawing the eye upwards or towards a signature furniture piece or gallery wall.
If a lack of storage is an issue, look into multi-functional furniture to provide some discreet extra storage space to keep everyday items out of sight.
For out of season clothing or winter bedding, an ottoman bed frame can be invaluable, providing some ample extra storage in what is often wasted space beneath your bed. Bespoke fitted wardrobes are another sound investment for the bedroom, providing as much or as little storage as you require, leaving no dead space and best of all - they look great.
Shop around for lounge furniture that includes a storage footstool or chaise to store everyday items like magazines and remote controls out of sight or a coffee table that includes hidden storage.
Try a considered approach to your choice of colour in your home and take your time before making any decisions. The wrong colour choice can darken a room, make it appear smaller and may even affect your general mood.
A tried and tested way to start with a new home or a room refresh is to start with a neutral base of walls and flooring and then take your time with wallpaper, paint and fabric samples, examining them in different lighting and comparing to existing furnishings to ensure a good match before you take the colour plunge.
Lighter shades, reflective paint finishes and glossy furniture can all serve to maximise light and space because light bounces off these surfaces making a space appear lighter and larger.
If you crave bright colours, try adding a bold statement piece of furniture or some bright cushions and throws and soften the look with some large houseplants.
Clever use of mirrors can really open up a limited space in more ways than one, reflecting light and adding an extra dimension to your room, a frequent trick used by interior designers, particularly in smaller spaces. A floor to ceiling mirror with a bold frame can make a visual statement piece and will immediately make any room feel larger and more spacious with minimal effort.
Choosing the right blinds, shutters or curtains can also make a small space feel larger. While it may be tempting to go for bold prints and bright colours, keeping fabrics light and neutral - particularly if the colour matches the surrounding walls - can create much-needed flow in a small room. Try fixing curtain poles as close to the ceiling as possible and ensure the curtains sit against the wall when open so that the entire window is visible, allowing maximum natural light into the room.
If you are still struggling with inadequate space and would like further advice, consider booking a consultation with our interiors experts who will be able to advise you on suitable renovation work to open up your living space to make it work for you and your family or explore home extension options. We would love to help, so please do get in touch.
For more detailed information about our services or to request a free quote, call us today on 01733 663222
JM Building Developments LLP
Allia Future Business Centre
London Road
Peterborough
PE2 8AN