Creative ways to make the most of small spaces

Think big when it comes to small spaces, and find clever and creative ways to maximise a tiny corner’s untapped possibilities

If you have a house or apartment that’s on the dinky side, remember that the best things come in small packages. It’s tempting to dwell on the negatives of having less space to play with, but try to reframe your thinking. With a creative approach to design, a smaller home can easily become cosy and cleverly organised rather than cramped and cluttered, as well as cheaper to run. With a diminutive house to decorate, your budget will stretch further – covetable but pricey reclaimed tiles, designer wallpaper or bespoke storage may be more affordable with less floor or wall space to fill. And with every inch of space needing to work harder, it can really help you pare back your furniture and possessions, focusing only on the essential elements for a comfortable, curated and nurturing home.

See the potential in quirky spaces

If you look carefully, you’ll find your home has plenty of potential. Even in a small property it’s possible to find underused corners, alcoves, nooks and other interesting spaces where standard furniture never seems to fit, or clever ways to maximise space or storage with a few strategic changes. The key to a functional and beautiful small home is to keep things simple and thoughtfully curated. Seek out light and airy furniture – like Ercol pieces – to maintain a feeling of space.

Try to walk around and look at your home with a fresh perspective. Could a smaller table open up space for a dresser or bookshelf, or just create a better flow? Would two armchairs work better than a large sofa in the snug? Could that unused space under the stairs be a downstairs cloakroom? Or can you fit some small shelves into that kitchen nook?

Think hard about how you really use each room. If your family doesn’t eat at the dining table every day – or there’s only one or two of you in the household – a stylish breakfast bar might be a better use of kitchen space than a table, for example. Rooms can be multipurpose too – a room that functions as an office by day, or a rarely used spare bedroom, could become a snug or gaming room for teens in the evenings with the addition of a daybed or comfy chair.

Don’t be afraid to layer furniture too. If you’re desperate to create a reading nook, pop a lightweight chair and side table in front of a bookcase or the linen cupboard. Unless you need access daily, it makes sense to use the space for activities you enjoy regularly.

Install savvy storage

In a small home, storage is your saviour, keeping spaces organised and clutter-free. Multitasking pieces are a great way to maximise space. Consider bench window seating with storage inside, or furniture built with secret storage: from clever lift-up sofas and divan beds to coffee tables, ottomans and even footstools with valuable stash spaces inside.

In a small kitchen, an island will work harder if cupboards and open shelves are built in on both sides. If your kitchen is small, removing wall units in favour of beautifully styled open shelves can make the space look bigger, but you’ll be sacrificing a lot of storage, so find a nook for a small larder or dresser to pick up the slack – perhaps even in a neighbouring room or hallway. You could also opt for nifty modern additions, such as a pull-out worktop or a slimline pull-out pantry.

Add mobile storage into the mix. A stylish trolley could be used as an occasional table, or for storing baking ingredients in the kitchen, drinks in the snug or for crafting supplies, and can be easily transported to where it is needed. Baskets strategically placed in every room will make it easier to keep on top of clutter too.

A blend of open and closed storage often works best in a small space, as banks of closed cupboards or lines of wardrobes can look sterile. Intersperse cupboards with some open shelving to display books, artworks or collectables to break up the monotony. In the bathroom, make the spaces above and below the sink and the walls above the bath work harder with vanity storage units, cabinets and shelving.

It can be pricier to get the professionals in, but bespoke storage may be a good investment to maximise quirky spaces and nooks, especially in awkward spots such as under a sloping roof or in alcoves where built-in shelving or wardrobes can be made to fit seamlessly.

Find a spot for mindful dining

In a very small property, a dedicated dining area may be hard to justify, but creating a space to gather with friends and family – or just to sit and enjoy breakfast by yourself – is an essential element of living well.

In the kitchen, even a small breakfast bar is a great asset for casual dining or enjoying a cuppa. For a bijou bar for one or two people, consider spaces such as the end of a run of worktops, at the end of a kitchen island, in gaps where cupboards won’t fit, or even café-style in front of a window or on a wall where other furniture can’t go, such as above a radiator. A fold-down or simple shelf-style breakfast bar could even fit behind a door, and only needs a neat stool or two to make it work.

Windows can also make great nooks for a dining area. Bay windows are ideal for creating space-saving built-in curved storage benches to go with a round dining table.

While kitchen-diners are popular, if your kitchen is too small for a bar or table, consider creating space in your living room instead. Opting for a smaller sofa or rearranging furniture may open up a zone for dining – and you could use a screen or different flooring to mark out the space. Again, a wall-hung fold-out table or free-standing folding or extendable design, can be a versatile space-saving option – even more so when paired with a set of stackable chairs.

Simple benches or low-backed chairs give the illusion of taking up less space and look less cluttered as they can tuck right under a table, while round tables may fit an awkward space better than an angular design.

Carve out a space to work

Setting up a proper desk can help you achieve a better work/life balance and keep your dining table free of office clutter, or could be dedicated to an extracurricular interest such as painting, sewing or creative writing. If transforming a whole room into an office or studio isn’t a possibility, then it’s time to get creative.

Contemporary compact desks are designed to fit neatly into nooks in hallways, on landings or in spare bedrooms, with many retailers now producing stylish slimline designs, plus bureaux and fold-down options. Look to antique pieces too – a vintage bureau, console table or lady’s writing desk are often a space-saving option as they tend to be significantly smaller than standard desks.

From a quirky space under the eaves or staircase, to a wall alcove or a dead zone behind a door, there are probably one or two spaces going spare where you could fit a desk. Some spaces may lend themselves to multitasking: an alcove fitted with bookshelves, with one slightly wider shelf used as a desk, provides useful storage or display space as well as an occasional study; while a wall-hung fold-down desk and a folding chair in a bedroom can be neatly stashed away at the end of the day.

If you’re keen to separate work and home life, a desk in an alcove or corner could even be screened off when not in use, perhaps with a floor-length curtain or screen.

Sourcebook

• Ercol furniture – Seek out vintage specialist Laura @norfolkretro, based in the Norfolk Broads.
• Desks – Rcc Furniture makes a range of reclaimed wood and metal slim desks and console tables, with bespoke options available. Try Riz & Mica Make for contemporary sleek desks using reclaimed and sustainable materials.
• Breakfast bars – For a handmade reclaimed wood industrial-style table or breakfast bar, Shabby Bear Cottage handcrafts sizes to suit your space; while Josef & Rosco produces scaffold shelves and brackets, ideal for simple breakfast bars.