Our 10 best tips for furnishing a small flat
It can be difficult trying to make a new flat feel like home, especially when the space you are working with is small.
It can be difficult trying to make a new flat feel like home, especially when the space you are working with is small. It does not help that the flat may have odd dimensions and/or awkward features that you have no idea what to do with. But do not despair, we are now going to share our best tips for creating a home even in a small space.
1. Light and colours
A room with light colours often feels larger and brighter because the surfaces can reflect more light. BUT, that does not mean that dark colours will make your room seem small and gloomy, it can on the contrary provide more depth, and the eye can be tricked into not quite knowing where the wall ends. By using reflective surfaces, bold dark colours and shiny metals you will be able to create an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. If you choose colours that harmonise and are in similar shades, you can trick the eye into believing that the room is more spacious than it is. If you additionally let the skirting boards, walls and ceiling have the same colour, you get smooth transitions and fewer disruptions, which help to give a greater sense of space. Remember to add a variety of textures to prevent the room from feeling flat. Choose fabrics and furniture in similar shades to the wall paint to make them blend in rather than stand out in the interior. This will create a calm and elegant room that feels larger than it is.
Light is very important in small rooms.
Try to avoid floor lamps and large table lamps, it is better to use ceiling lighting or wall lamps, this means you have more space for furnishings on floors and tables.
2. Rugs
Not only do rugs add style, but they also help to define zones in the room. In addition, rugs are easy to roll up and transport, which means you can invest in this and know that you can take it with you when you move. Sometimes it can be wise to choose something other than a rectangular rug, this is because a rug that is too large or too small will draw attention to the size of the room. Instead you can choose an asymmetrical or round rug, this will create a sense of flow and fill most of the floor space without drawing attention to the small size of your room.
3. Room divider
There are many ways to divide rooms without using physical walls. Decorating and designing small rooms is mostly about visual manipulation: play with heights, colours, textures, rugs and multifunctional furniture to define different areas in a room. Many small flats do not have separate dining rooms and living rooms, some do not even have a separate bedroom, but you can still create different zones by using your furniture to divide up the space. The back of a sofa, bookcases, console tables and other furniture with hard surfaces can easily be placed in the middle of the room and create a division, in addition to being used for storage.
There are of course also larger measures one can take to increase the sense of space, such as replacing a solid wall with a glass wall, enlarging the windows, replacing solid doors with doors with glass panels: all these measures will open the view and connect adjacent rooms.
4. Think vertically
A room is three-dimensional, and we have more than just the floor area to work with, so it is important not to forget all the vertical space that can be used for both storage and decoration. With limited floor area you must make the most of all surfaces you have. Use the walls all the way up to the ceiling if possible, and furnishings that are drawn all the way up to the ceiling can often visually appear to open up the room, but also give you even more space for storage.
Bookshelves can be used for so much. Bookshelves use your space vertically, so that you can maximise storage whilst minimising the use of floor space. Try replacing the bedside table or side table with a bookshelf.
Wall-mounted furnishings are very important in small rooms. A tip for making your room look larger is to get your furniture up off the floor. The space you get under the wall-mounted furnishings makes the room seem airier and more open. Do not forget to utilise the space above kitchen cabinets, wardrobe cabinets and similar with hanging or high-mounted elements.
5. Multifunctional furniture
Furniture that can serve several purposes is essential. Multifunctional furniture is very important when furnishing small flats, because they have the ability to adapt to many situations depending on the activity. Look for multipurpose furniture regardless of what you are going to buy. For example, a coffee table with storage, or an ottoman with a lid that can be both seating when you have guests but also be used as a table or footstool when you wish, a deep sofa that can be converted into a guest bed, a bookshelf with a built-in desk, or a table that can function as both a desk and a dining table.
In a small room everything must have a function.
Choose furniture that provides maximum functionality on a minimum of square metres.
Sliding doors with glass windows allow light to flow through the entire room, whilst creating separation. And even better, they slide right into the wall when not in use, and take up much less space than swinging doors.
If you are planning to live in the flat for a while, it is definitely worth considering some bespoke solutions that fit your exact needs, whether you try it yourself or get professionals to help you. You will then make the most of the space, in addition to having all your own needs met. If done correctly, this will also be an investment for future sale.
6. Mirrors
This is the oldest design trick in the book: mirrors will make your room feel larger, lighter and airier. Use a large mirror to give an illusion of expansion, the room will immediately seem larger and brighter because it reflects light. The best place to position a mirror is on the opposite side of a window so it can reflect as much light as possible. In addition to all the advantages mentioned above, mirrors are also a design element that can help to create the style you are looking for.
7. Light and transparent furniture
When choosing furniture for small flats one should take into consideration the visual weight of the furniture. Light or transparent furniture is always the best choice if the space is small. If you use transparent furniture you will see more of the room and trick the brain into believing that the room is larger than what it actually is.
Get the furniture up off the floor.
Another tip is that furniture on legs looks lighter than furniture that is placed directly on the floor. A bulky sofa placed directly on the floor will make the space feel smaller than it actually is. Instead try to use furniture that sits high up off the floor to make your small space more spacious.
It may seem contradictory, but if you instead choose a sofa that fills the entire space, rather than choosing many small pieces of furniture, the space can actually feel larger. Resist the urge to push all your furniture up against the walls. If you create space behind the furniture, it makes the room look wider than it is.
8. Furnish for your own use
Furnish the room so it meets your needs for how you intend to use it. Buy furniture that can easily be moved if desired. As mentioned in tip 5, bespoke solutions can create optimal use of the space, in addition to being perfect for your use.
9. Plants
Bringing nature inside is always a good idea. Green and fresh plants make even a small room feel fresher and lighter. Do you not have any more space on the floor? No problem, just hang it for example from the ceiling, on the wall or on the side of your bookshelf.
10. Creativity
When space is limited and you do not have room for more furnishings, use a dining chair as a side table/bedside table, then you can just clear it the times you need more seating. If you have a sleeping alcove where you have used a curtain as a room divider, why not hang a picture in front of the curtain on hooks from the ceiling and fishing line? It will then be perceived as a soft wall, and divide the room into zones, whilst giving you more space to show your personality. This means you can also have guests without feeling that everyone is hanging around in your bedroom.
It is only creativity that stops you.
Even a windowsill can provide extra storage space for decor, lighting and other necessities when there is no room for an extra table.
It is important to be extra creative when you have little space. If you need a bit of inspiration, Pinterest.com is definitely recommended, where you can find all sorts of good solutions for furnishing small flats.
(11. Go through your belongings)
Before you move into a small flat you should go through all the things you have and consider what you should keep, and what can be thrown away, given away or sold. Some can certainly get a nice place in the storage room as well, because you do not need to display everything you have. Nothing makes a small space look even smaller than clutter.
