Small spaces in your home are liable to feel cramped and cluttered. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to help your space look bigger and feel more inviting. Making the most of your space is just a matter of knowing how to open it up. Something as simple as adding pops of color to your furniture or filling empty corners with an eye-catching shelf of accessories can organize and expand upon your smaller spaces.
Here are some good ways to minimize your mess, and maximize your space.
Go for Smaller Sofas
Seems self-explanatory, but sometimes it’s so hard to let go of that stylish and spacious sectional you saw online. Just because you scale down, doesn’t mean you need to skimp on style and comfort. There are plenty of smaller and more compact sofas out there that come with the same luxurious comfort as larger pieces. Sofa chaises are a good substitute if you want to sprawl out, but still have space on the sides for more décor. Choose a color that stands out, and a smaller sofa will be the star of your small space.
Darcy Blue Sofa Chaise
Hang Curtains High
The higher you hang your curtains, the more it opens up the space and widens the ceilings. It’s a good way to utilize space, and it can also make your small room look chic with an elegant touch. To think of it another way, the longest length of any wall in your house is always going to be the ceiling. Make use of that by hanging curtains high enough to create more depth.
Image by LightFieldStudios
Beds with Storage
Bedrooms are often the sanctuaries of the home. You’ll want a bed that is spacious enough for you and your sleeping habits. That means your bed is going to take up a lot of space. Beds with storage are perfect for storing extra clothes, shoes, or books, (you can even use them to hide away Christmas gifts for the holidays). Also, headboards that come with shelves are a great way for storing books and reading material. It creates a cozy little spot, and it frees up space on the nightstand so you don’t have to worry about stacking up books or bills. If you don’t have enough room in your closet or dresser, beds with storage are just that extra space you need to keep things out of sight, and out of mind.
Lift-Top Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Over time, you’ll notice a lot of rooms in your home somehow collect various assorted items with no designated origin. Lift-top coffee and cocktail table are just the furniture you need to hold those extra batteries or the 6th fleece blanket you’ve purchased this year. Most tables like these come with storage, and it’s deeper than the average coffee table. So, if you’re looking for a space to stash away your extra things, or just want an easy way to clean up before guests arrive, a lift-top coffee or cocktail table is an affordable and stylish solution to your clutter.
Aldwin Cocktail Table with Storage
Get a Desk with Storage
The home office is the last place you need to feel like you can’t properly relax. Did you buy that long desk thinking you needed more space, but now it’s just covered in papers with dates from 2 years ago? Desks with shelving, or drawers, keep everything closer and more organized. Put a succulent up on one of the shelves, next to your pen holders. Keep an accordion folder in one of the drawers for your finances. Decorating the space will make it feel more personalized and will help you stay focused with everything you need in an arm’s reach.
66" Flat Top Desk and Hutch by Winners Only
Fun Bookcases
There, on the middle of your living room table, is a stack of books you’ll never read, but maybe they’ll make great conversation starters with the right house guest. Bookcases are not just for those books you buy in bulk but are great pieces of furniture to store eye-catching accessories to complement other pieces of furniture in your room. You can use them to add a pop of color and a sense of uniqueness to your home. Of course, if you have more books than cool pieces, then it’s time to reclaim some space and give back by selling off extra copies at the used bookstore.
Frankwell Bookcase with a Gold Finish
Don't Neglect Your Entryway
A front door is never just a front door. It’s the first impression of your home, and let’s face it, that impression matters to you just as much as everyone else. The space right before that front door is often neglected when people are thinking about preparing their homes for the holidays. Put away some boxes or remove any items you don't want visitors seeing. Put a rack or shelf near the front door to hang up jackets and give people an open space. You can even display some holiday decor here if it's not too much of a tight squeeze.
Area Rugs
Some people like hardwood floors throughout their homes, others prefer carpets. Area rugs are the perfect middle-ground to define an area in your home. Center the rug on the focal point of the room, the empty space around it will give the illusion that the space of the room is wider. Take into consideration the colors and design of other pieces of furniture in your room. It will help tie the room together and give a cozy feel to your living space. Choose a rug that doesn’t steal all the attention and boosts the other design elements of the small space.
Making Mirrors Work
Mirrors are a great way to make a space feel larger, and they also give the illusion of another window in your room. The key is to avoid mirrors that take up all of the walls. Adding one mirror to an empty corner can add depth while making it appear as if there is more than one entrance into the room. Mirror without frames, or with simple ones, will look best since they won’t be distracting and take away from the other elements in your room.
Elanah Accent Mirror by Signature Designs by Ashley
Wall Decor
Decorating with wall decor is another way to make more of an impact in your small space. Wall decals give you the versatility to create a customized work of art wherever you want. Keep your wall decor simple and clean, otherwise, it can look cluttered and busy. Don’t be afraid to include that wall art that doesn’t go with anything else in the room – that’s what makes it fun to have something new and different.
4-Piece Framed Botanical Prints
Don’t be discouraged if that room isn’t coming together the way you wanted to. At The Furniture Mall of Texas, our home specialists are happy to lend a helping hand. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable in your small space.
So, embrace that empty wall, awkward lamp, or that chair that you use to hold your folded laundry. Have fun with your small space, and get it to reach its fullest potential.
Written by Emily Holleran