Transforming a small home into a stylish space takes thoughtful planning and creativity. Although it seems easier in a big house, with a few simple design solutions, even the most compact space can be made cozy. If you’re looking for ways to make the most of a small living space, these remodeling tips will help.
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Start With Your Bathroom
Part of creating a cozy space involves transforming all the important areas of your home into places where you want to spend time. If you don’t feel amazing when you walk into your bathroom, there’s room for improvement.
A remodeled bathroom can make a world of difference in terms of how you feel in your home. When you wake up in the morning, you want to feel good when you get into the shower or even just brush your teeth. If you’re surrounded by outdated fixtures or peeling paint, it’s definitely worth renovating.
Even the smallest bathroom upgrade can be life-changing. For example, switching to a clawfoot tub and a matching porcelain sink can change the entire look and feel of your bathroom.
Open Up Your Floor Plan
Creating an open floor plan will significantly improve the way you feel in your home. Consider removing non-load-bearing walls between common areas, like the kitchen and living room.
With an open floor plan, natural light will more fully permeate your space, and it will make it easier for people to interact. For example, you can cook while holding a conversation with someone in the living room without having to shout through or around a wall.
Use Consistent Flooring Between Rooms
Whether you opt for carpet or hard flooring, using the same material between connected rooms will create a seamless look that makes the area appear larger. When visual barriers are eliminated, continuity and openness are enhanced.
Maximize Vertical Space
In a small home, using vertical space to your advantage is essential for keeping clutter under control. That’s why people with tiny homes install floor-to-ceiling shelves. You’ll get ample storage without using valuable floor space, and you can use these shelves for books, decorative items, or dishes.
One of the most popular ways to use vertical space involves creating a lofted area. If your ceiling is high enough, consider adding a loft either for sleeping or storage. You can also create a loft that serves as a reading room, allowing you to move your armchair to make space for something else in your living room.
Use Mirrors
People have been using large mirrors to make spaces look larger for decades, and it works well. Mirrors increase the perception of space by reflecting light and creating the illusion of depth.
Consider Multi-functional Furniture
Choosing furniture that serves multiple purposes can greatly enhance the functionality of your small home. For instance, sofa beds are a great way to accommodate guests without having to build a guest room.
Expandable dining room tables can be extended when needed and kept small when you’re alone. And storage ottomans make it easy to keep children’s toys contained without taking up space with a toy box.
Stick With Lighter Colors
Dark colors make spaces feel constricted and small, while light colors make spaces feel more open. For example, after revamping this small 350-square-foot space, it looks much larger because of the light colors.
Use a Fold-down Desk
Traditional desks are bulky and get in the way in a small space. To solve this problem, many people have started using wall-mounted desks that can be folded up when not in use.
Install a Murphy Bed
If you’ve ever slept on a Murphy bed, you might be skeptical about the comfort. Thankfully, your Murphy bed can be as comfortable as you want since you can choose your mattress.
The best part is they’re fairly simple to create. You’ll just need to build a frame that anchors to the wall along with the bed frame itself. If you don’t want to build it from scratch, you can buy a pre-made kit.
Remake Your Kitchen Cabinets
You might be surprised to see how much better your kitchen looks when you remove the cabinet doors. Having open cabinets makes spaces look larger, and when your dishes match, the aesthetics are even better.
Small Spaces, Big Possibilities
Remodeling a small home requires creativity, smart design, and efficient use of space. By embracing open floor plans, maximizing vertical space, and choosing the right aesthetics, you can transform a compact space into a stylish, comfortable, and functional home.