In large urban centers, most homes are struggling with a lack of space.
To this reality we add poorly organized and poorly used spaces.
In this article I will talk about 4 techniques that I consider useful to transform your home into a larger, more practical and more welcoming space.
The first task to start this process is storage, which is not the most pleasant and inspiring. You can start by looking around and asking yourself, “What do I really need in my space?”
The goal is to get rid of everything you don't need to gain space and end the chaos that usually occurs in small divisions. Above all, be practical! This process is usually long and tiring. You will hardly be able to tidy everything up at once, so dedicate one day a week until you complete this first goal.
Remove all unnecessary objects that you have been accumulating over the years such as books, magazines and everything that has ceased to be used. Do the same in the bedroom with clothes, in the office with documents and in the kitchen with utensils and products that you practically do not use. We all fell into the temptation to save a lot just to avoid the discomfort of making the decision to eliminate something that already had value.
Getting home means rest. You should therefore avoid visual noise, as you will have the feeling of weight and confusion. Stimuli that you should avoid in a home. In this sense, if we reduce to the essential what we have, we will be increasing the possibilities of intervening in that space that we want to see renewed more effectively. It is important to consider not only what is useful to you, but also to privilege what brings you good feelings or memories. The objective is that your house, above all, really fulfills its function and that the objects and furniture present have an intensity, without overloading the area where we want to make the most of it. And do not think that this advice applies only to small houses, even those who enjoy large areas should do it, since many are occupied with objects that are not really useful! The good news is that by getting rid of everything you don't need, your mood will improve and you will feel that you can start decorating your space much more freely.
I put this advice first because I believe that nothing should be done without first fulfilling this task. If you have already eliminated and organized everything you wanted, congratulations! He has already taken a big step. 🙂
Before starting any intervention, you should ask yourself: what is the function of this space? What do I do in this space? How many hours do I live? Each space has a function and it must be well defined. When we evaluate a space we must start by identifying and delimiting the different environments. We cannot arrange a living room, a bedroom or an office in the same way that we do in an attic or in a garage with storage. Visual comfort requires some criteria.
For example, when the living room and the kitchen are in the same space we cannot have everything mixed. It is necessary to understand how we move and use each of the spaces, in order to distribute the elements in a practical way and make the most of each of the spaces.
The balance point is in achieving visual comfort without ever compromising functionality.
In this apartment in Lyon, remodeled by the interior designer Marion Lanoe, the areas are well delimited by color, furniture and lighting. The kitchen space is used to the maximum, the windows allow the spread of natural light, visual communication and the lightness of the space. The marble table is positioned, in order to separate two common areas, to support the kitchen and for faster meals.
The round shaped ceiling lamp offers identity.
The darker tones of the kitchen create contrast with the white of the living room and help define each of the environments.
The kitchen has many storage cupboards without ever compromising the lightness of the environment. The use of shelves, on the wall on the left side is a storage solution that does not harm the entry of natural light.
In this image we can see how the living room and the kitchen share the same area in a balanced and functional way making the most of the available space.
The simplicity of the shapes, the use of wood, the total use of natural light, of this floor in London, makes it seem bigger than it really is.
The challenge is difficult, but when the useful area is small, think of free spaces.
So let's start with what usually takes up more space, furniture. When buying it, avoid large furniture, look for multifunctional furniture and model. Because they are an excellent resource to save space and have the great advantage of being versatile.
The most common example is that of the sofa bed, which can for example be placed in an office to use when you occasionally receive visitors. In a kitchen we can opt for a folding table to support tasks or for faster meals. When not in use, just lower the table and you will gain free space.
In this Japanese apartment of 64 m2, signed by Sinato, a wooden furniture was created that covers the central walls of the floor. Notice how they have been used to apply numerous drawers, which also serve as a bench or support for the kitchen. In the upper area are two shelves elegantly applied for storage. In addition to the multiple functionalities, this mobile is an element that creates identity to the space without harming the circulation of people.
If you like living at the table with friends and family, you don't need a large table and many chairs that will take up a lot of space. Opt for extendable tables, benches, or folding chairs that are easy to use and store. The secret is to invest in models of beautiful benches that can serve as an element of decoration or support in another point of the house.
The Bevel Bench from Ferm Livingis a wooden model perfectly adaptable to a dining table or to be used in a corridor, living room, bedroom and even as a side table if necessary.
In smaller pieces of furniture, if possible, opt for a model with wheels to easily move it. It is natural that these models are coarser and uglier. If you have difficulty finding a mobile with wheels that fits your decor, you can always choose to buy wheels separately and have them applied.
A simple tip, when buying the furniture remember the following phrase “how can this piece be 2 in 1?”
It is normal that you can find furniture that you love, but that does not have the ideal size. For rooms or rooms with small dimensions and sometimes with more bizarre shapes, the most effective option may be to order furniture made to measure. In addition to the measurements, the advantage is to be able to choose materials, colors and a design more framed in the style you want.
There are many companies that have the service made to measure and even make small adjustments based on catalog models. Gather several images of models you like and talk to furniture companies to see how they can help you. If you opt for this solution I recommend that you talk to at least 3 companies to be able to compare values and hear different opinions from experts in the area.
This small room is part of a floor with only 27m2. The furniture applied above the bed is a good example of a piece created to measure, so that it is fully integrated into the environment. Its minimalist design and light color make the volume more discreet. Lighting and wood create contrast and warm the space.
At the last point, I decided to gather a set of small techniques, widely applied in interior decoration, that you should take into account when solving space problems.
Apply mirrors to enlarge the spaces. There are countless ways to insert them into the decor. In these two images the mirror is a highlight element in the decoration and ends up having a double function.
Use floor to ceiling curtains to divide spaces or to hide an area you want. Michael Roper and Arkitektur Ar, used this technique to solve the problem of storage of a small apartment with only 23 m2.
Opt for running doors. They are great for saving space and a good option to hide service areas or storage areas.
If the structure of your apartment allows you to remove walls, do not hesitate.
In this way you will be able to create larger areas and make the most of the available square meters.
Eliminate as much as possible all barriers that prevent the spread of natural light. Glass structures and low furniture in central areas of the space are good options.
Use shelves to store and at the same time decorate a room in the house. There are numerous models for different proposals and solutions. It is a good alternative to closed furniture that often overload the space.
If you do not have space for shelves, you can always create a ceiling on the wall to place some smaller objects, such as candles, frames, or other decorative elements.
Bet on whites and light tones to give lightness to spaces and take advantage of natural light. This does not invalidate that you cannot opt for darker color notes. Materials such as wood also combine with whites and more neutral tones. Very light spaces can become too cold and impetuous, so some color in the accessories or in some objects and wood will make the space more cozy.
