Although living in the centre of a city has its advantages, space usually isn’t one of them. Decorating a smaller flat can be a challenge, but sacrificing floor space for location doesn’t necessarily have to end your dreams of house beautiful.
First of all, de-clutter, recycle, throw out and give away anything you are unlikely to use ever again. It’s amazing how much we hold onto without thinking about it and if space is at a premium there’s no sense wasting it on things you don’t use. Consider renting a storage unit for larger items that don’t fit into your life right now, and look for bed units and wardrobe tidies to make better use of the storage space you already have.
Think about your colour scheme before you buy anything. For smaller spaces simple themes are best, as mixing lots of colours together can make your home look mismatched and messy. Light shades and neutral tones will give more of a sense of space and make the best of natural light, and colour and detail can be added with smaller pieces that won’t overpower a cosy room. Consider using a single, light colour for walls throughout the properly to give it a continuous feel.
Once you have decided on your theme, it’s time to see where space can be saved. Replacing bulky curtains with patterned roman blinds can save you space around windows and let in more light. Blinds also detract less from the view, making it more a part of the room. These come in all sorts of colours and patterns and can look great as a feature against a blank wall. You can reflect your choice of design with cushions, rugs and bedcovers to add a bit of colour to your flat.
Avoid large pieces of furniture and look for simple, clean items that go well together. You can save a lot of space by using a drop leaf table that can be folded away with a set of matching folded chairs. Choose a light framed sofa with a pull out base – ideal for putting guests up with minimum fuss. If you are short on bedroom space consider a queen sized double bed rather than a standard double or king-size so that it doesn’t overpower the room and take up all the space.
Every item or furniture in your flat, needs to be chosen for utility as well as aesthetics. Steer clear of large, towering bookcases and instead opt for simple wall shelves. You can fit these into unused spaces to add colour and interest to a room or put low shelves behind your sofa for extra storage. Choose a coffee table with a low shelf under it that fits your space and is smaller than your sofa.
Once you have decided on your furniture and colour scheme it’s time to pick out all the other items that make a flat into a home. It helps to make everything fit in unobtrusively enough not to look cluttered, so pick towels, wastepaper baskets, bedspreads, tablecloths and kitchen items that go with the theme you have chosen.
Turning a small flat into a comfortable, beautiful living space is no easy job, but with a bit of planning and creativity you can have a perfect little city flat.
Check out more great suggestions on how to make the most of a small space at Apartment Therapy.
This is an article written by Michael Turner, a home improvement, design and technology enthusiast on behalf of Roman Blinds Direct.
