How To Design A Small Space

by Jean Millsaps

Many of us here on Maui find ourselves living in a small space. Moving from a large house to a much smaller condominium is a story I hear often from newcomers looking for furniture at the Mind's Eye. Living in a studio or one bedroom unit can be challenging when it comes to square footage. Even our large homes have small spaces and extra rooms difficult to design.

I often find myself saying "if only I had a few more square feet" then the larger nightstand or dresser would fit. Just a matter of inches can make a big difference, so I'm here to give you some ideas to make your space work and look bigger! Reinventing your small spaces to give them a more spacious feel can be revolutionary!

Whether you are facing some serious square feet restrictions or just not sure what to do with a smaller room in your home, there is no reason to think small. Here are 12 ideas to make your space work!

1) Scale it down! Use small scaled furnishings. "Small is big", a trend toward smaller scaled furniture is popular now. It's Condo or Apartment living, down-sizing homes or extra small rooms to furnish. New styles in upholstery with slimmer arms on the sofa or chairs are space saving while not sacrificing seating space. These new designs visually take less space for a more open and airy feeling.

2) Choose smart furniture. Find side tables that are multi-functional. Storage is the name of the game when your floor plan doesn't include built-in shelving, a large closet or a garage. Choose cabinets designed to be functional as well as beautiful. No one will know what you're stylishly stored away, extra candles, coaster, and napkins all need home. If you can build in extra cabinetry that's a great way to make use out of every space in your home.

3) Think vertically, find a piece that's high and narrow to maximize a small corner. Consoles, if not too deep can fit in a hallway, a small desk can often fill a dead space and create a great work place. Always look for pieces with drawers and shelves to add more storage possibilities.

4) Go Clear - See-through Lucite or Glass Furniture add style and less of a footprint. Light-weight frames on the coffee table feel more stream-lined and use less space. Solid surfaces can feel heavy, glass top dining tables are a great way to make a space feel more open and airy.

5) Mirrors - Oversized mirrors, despite their size, can double the sense of space. Reflective surfaces spill light and space into a room. Mirrored side tables and cabinets add a bit of glamour while providing hidden storage for items that are not used every day. Hang a mirror in your entry to expand the space and give yourself one last look before going out the door.

6) Color Schemes - Keeping key pieces in a neutral color scheme makes a room feel larger and more open. Color and pattern can be added with accents - pillows, art, accessories and a floral. When adding accents, pick one or two colors and repeat, repeat, repeat. It's important to make a small space not feel too busy.

7) Gathering or Pub-style Dining Sets expand your work surface, giving you extra space in the kitchen. Counter height serving and seating extend your kitchen and the table doubles as an island.

8) Art - Go big on wall art, vary tones but keep it to one or two color ways. Art Sets the theme or mood of your room. Remember to hang your art at eye level when seated, often I find artwork hung way too high. A note on wall color, lighter paint colors do make room feel more airy and light reflective, but dark walls don't always mean the room feels smaller. The color can make a room feel cozy, great for a small bath, den, or TV room.

9) Keep it together - Show off your treasured collections of shells, picture frames, books, etc. in an organized, decorative display. Keeping them together in one spot, on a shelf or in cabinet emphasizes their importance and sets a theme or mood to your room.

10) Lighting - Use proper lighting. Having multiple levels of lights make a space much more interesting. Provide overhead lights in the ceiling, task lighting on counter tops, table or floor lamps at eye level, and accent lights in a dark corner or shining on a piece of artwork.

11) Window treatments - Minimal window treatments keep the space feeling open and airy. Opt for shades that mount inside the window frame if possible to use less wall space.

12) Screens - Create spaces or nooks within your home with screens. This gives a sense of privacy for a small office area or extra sleeping space when needed.

On Maui, where space is limited and you pay a premium for square footage, try to make great use out of every space in your home. When shopping for that next piece of furniture keep in mind; multi-functional cabinets, hidden storage, simple color schemes, smaller scale and various types of lighting.

Following some of these guidelines even in a larger home can give your rooms a fresh contemporary look. Cleaner, smoother silhouettes with minimal décor, no clutter with organized decorative displays, keep your rooms open and airy.