Small is getting bigger for sure. The average American single-family house will drop to 2,152 square feet this year, 10 percent smaller than five years ago, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
But there’s a growing percentage who live large in much smaller quarters – less than 1,000 square feet, considered the benchmark for “small” by many, and closer to 200, 300, or 400 square feet to qualify as “tiny” or “micro.”
Design experts are busy bringing out an arsenal of strategies to make small-scaled life comfortable, even liberating. Many homeowners know about using dual-functioning furniture, enlarging windows, expanding space through white palettes, and having fewer possessions. But in doing so, many worry about giving up style.
There’s no correlation. Less really can be more if you have around you what you love, and what works for you at whatever time of life you’re at.
Here are six favorite tips:
- Play up architectural features.
Start by taking advantage of the framework – walls, ceiling, floor, and especially a building’s history, which can add interest and character. A partial wall or ceiling beams can minimally and visually divide a multi-use space rather than chop it into tiny rooms. Changes can be made for better flow when there’s so little space to navigate, such as relocating a central staircase in a two-story space. Always look at the space vertically, too, especially if it has high ceilings or unused roof space. You might build in a mezzanine or loft level for work or sleep.
- Rethink traditional living.
You don’t have to have every space a traditional home does – for example, a designated dining room or area, if parties aren’t your thing and you’re content eating at a breakfast bar, for instance. Or if you’re not into cooking, devote less space to a working kitchen. Dual purpose rooms and areas also work well, such as a room with a bench for seating with storage underneath.
- Go beyond white.
White may be the go-to color to expand space, and there certainly are many white spaces. But it’s not the only effective choice. For rooms with lots of natural sunlight, go with brighter hues; for rooms that are very dark, I recommend going dark – not to expand space, but make it feel intimate and cozy. Texture can also add color by offering a layered effect with tactile touches in velvet, chenille or leather.
- Favor one style.
Any style can work, and even clutter can be attractive if done with some restraint and organization. Don’t make the final result so busy that the brain feels overloaded. How many is too many? It’s a subliminal feeling, which requires practice.
- Scale right.
Small room proponents have all sorts of theories about small versus large furnishings. A large sofa can work in a small living room if it’s not filled with too many other furnishings and possessions; same goes for a big bed in a small bedroom, or you can go with a smaller bed with a high headboard. Vintage furnishings were typically scaled smaller than modern pieces, so consider those, too. Again, hone the eye for what looks right.
- Bring in the outdoors.
Views draw the eye out and expand interior space. Or bring in the outdoors through your choice of artworks; perhaps, an image of a seascape by a window. And if you have windowsills for planters or window boxes then make the most of this – anything that links the inside with the outside will allow the eye to be drawn out and create a feeling of life beyond the room and the space outside.
Tips for maximizing space with color
– Use light, fresh, neutral colors since they make a room seem larger – they visually recede and reflect more light into the room.
– Grays can make nearby colors seem brighter and, in turn, spaces bigger.
– Monochromatic schemes, even a variety of shades of a single color family, can work; what’s important is consistency to reduce the eye’s ability to perceive spatial dimensions.
– Strategically placed pops of color are fine; for example, paint two opposite walls with the same bright color.
– Painting floors with a light shade can open up a small room.