Small spaces are always cosy and cute—but designing them could prove to be the biggest problem of all! For starters, there’s the functionality. Even if your space falls short on square footage, you can’t be faulted for expecting that it should be as functional as its more spacious counterparts. And so, if you’re planning to downsize, you could be worried about how you’re going to decorate your tiny apartment without cramping it up.
Fear not! Our design experts have taken up the challenge, and curated the best interior home décor ideas for cosy homes. Read on for some serious small-space inspiration!
Growing Popularity of Cosy Homes
Let’s first understand why small homes are so popular in today’s world. With urban spaces coming at a steep premium, apartment sizes are shrinking. Tiny pocket-sized homes are now no longer an exception but the norm, especially in metropolitan cities.
Again, there’s a growing number of young twenty-somethings who have left the nest and are seeking jobs in urban hubs. This demographic shift, together with the need for a more minimalist lifestyle, has fuelled the popularity of small homes. Youngsters are looking for efficient and manageable living spaces, and cosy homes fit the bill!
Importance of Space-Saving Interior Designs
Despite their size, small homes must find room for a kitchen, sleeping space, a zone for entertaining, and more often now a home office as well. It goes without saying that you’ll need adequate storage space too. How will you manage to fit all these requirements into a matchbox-sized home, without compromising on space flow and aesthetics?
Clever interior ideas with space-saving solutions are the answer! Think of innovative ideas to separate zones, clever solutions to your storage problems, and expandable and multipurpose furniture.
If you’re struggling to decorate your smaller-than-you’d-like home, here’s how you can do it right.
Maximizing Space Efficiency
Space efficiency is all about making your interior work twice as hard, turning limitations into opportunities and finding innovative ideas that don’t sacrifice style. With a little bit of ingenuity, small living can be a delightful experience. It’s all about making the most of the space you do have, and finding ways to work around these constraints.
1. Clever Storage Ideas for Small Spaces
You can never have too much storage, as every homeowner knows. And especially when it comes to small houses, you’ll need every inch of storage space maximised! Here are some clever storage ideas for small spaces.
- Think tall: Use vertical space effectively, by installing floor-to-ceiling shelves or cabinets. Add a loft above the wardrobe for suitcases and cartons.
- Keep your storage out of plain sight: Think of storage under the bed, ottomans with secret compartments, or even storage in wall recesses.
- Add hooks: Don’t overlook the backs of doors or cabinets! Install hooks, racks, or even a small shelving system to make the most of these under-utilised spaces.
- Open shelves: Open shelving in the kitchen is not only chic, it opens up your space and makes it look more spacious.
- Kitchen rail: A rail on the backsplash can be used to hang cookware, pots and saucepans, even your oven mitts and napkins. Keep countertops free for meal prep.
- In the bathroom, you can tuck away bottles of shampoo and cosmetics behind the mirror! A 4-inch-deep shelving cabinet will do.
- Staircase nook: transform the space below the stairs into a tiny library, or add pull-out drawers to store shoes.
2. Decluttering Techniques for Home Furniture
Even with all the storage in the world, your home will still look disorganised and messy if you don’t declutter! Here are some tips from Netflix star Marie Kondo herself:
- Start with one room, and take out the items from your closet. Ask yourself these questions: does it give you joy? Can you do without it? The basis of the KonMari method is that you should keep only things that spark joy. Let go of clothes, books or other belongings that don’t. It’s as simple as that!
- Divide the items into two piles: one pile will have everything you wish to keep, while the other has everything you’d like to throw, or give away.
- Next comes the organising! Once you’ve chosen what you want to keep, make smaller piles grouping similar things together. For instance, if you’re working with clothes, start from tops and move down to bottoms, undies, outerwear and so on.
- Marie Kondo has very specific instructions for the way you should store clothes. By rolling up tee shirts instead of folding them, for instance, you’ll be able to stack them up in bins and access them easily when needed.
- Store like items together for simplicity and convenience. Instead of storing similar items in different rooms, keep them all together in one place.
Once you’ve decluttered and organised, make sure that you keep it that way!
Colour and Lighting for Cosy Homes
Make the most of your small home interior by choosing the right colours and lighting design!
1. Bright and Airy Colour Palettes
- Rule of thumb that you should always remember—light and neutral colours can open up your small space and make it appear much larger than it is!
- Bright colour palettes can actually make a small space appear even smaller, so choose your colours with care.
- Work with a palette of colours that’s centred on whites and pastels, and add pops of colour in the form of artwork, throw pillows or rugs.
- You can also explore monochromatic colour schemes using different shades of the same colour, to create a cohesive look that visually expands the room without overwhelming it.
- Try to maintain a balanced composition in your colour choices. A cohesive and harmonious palette will allow each element to add to the overall sense of openness.
2. Strategic Lighting Choices
It pays to plan your lighting layout with care, so that you can bring out the potential of every inch of space and make it truly shine!
- Always prioritise natural light by keeping windows open and the curtains very light.
- Carefully blend ambient lighting (overhead fixtures), task lighting (for activities), and accent lighting (highlighting decor) for a well-balanced lighting layout.
- Flexible lighting fixtures, like table lamps with adjustable arms or pendant lights with customisable heights are good for small homes.
- Do not use large light fixtures that will overwhelm the space; instead, go small and choose compact lamps.
- Hidden lights, such as LED strip lights below cabinets and in false ceilings, can add a magical glow.
- Floor lamps that can be moved from room to room are a great cosy home lighting idea.
- Wall-mounted lamps, on the other hand, can help save on precious floor space!
Furniture Selection and Arrangement
When your floor space is limited, it isn’t always easy to fit in all the furniture you’d like. Make the most of the space available by choosing practical furniture that manages to strike the right balance between function and aesthetics.
1. Choosing the Right-Sized Furniture for Small Spaces
Size isn’t everything, and you can live big in your small home with the right-sized furniture and these clever ideas!
- Multi-functional furniture, like a sofa with storage space or a coffee table that can also be used as a desk will maximise functionality without taking up extra space.
- Furniture with compact designs and sleek and slim profiles makes for an open and airy feel in the room.
- Look for furniture that can be folded or stacked when not in use, leaving the room open for other activities.
- Think smart! Make clever use of vertical space by opting for wall-mounted shelves, desks, or cabinets.
- Lightweight furniture with a smaller footprint, such as a glass-topped table on metal spindle legs, tends to create an illusion of more space.
- Steer clear of oversized and bulky furniture —it can make a small space feel extra cramped!
2. Optimal Furniture Arrangement for Cosy Homes
No matter how tiny a space is, there are clever strategies to style it smartly! Here are some design tricks that will help upscale your cosy home.
- It’s time to think out of the box! Plan your layout in such a way that it supports multiple functions. For instance, a dining table could double as a workspace during the day, or a sofa could serve as a guest bed.
- Try a different approach, and avoid pushing all furniture against the walls. Wherever possible, float some pieces in the middle of the room to create a sense of openness.
- Make the most of the vertical space in the room —take bookshelves all the way to the ceiling, or add a second layer of kitchen cabinets!
- Invest in furniture that has built-in storage. Ottomans with hidden storage, sofas with drawers, and coffee tables with shelves can help keep your space clutter-free.
- A minimalist approach to furniture selection will be to focus on essential items that serve the purpose, rather than too many pieces that may look crowded.
- Use furniture with legs or transparent elements to create visual continuity. This allows light to pass through and makes your room feel more spacious.
Cosy and Inviting Atmosphere
They say the devil is in the details, and with a few personal touches you can evoke a cosy and welcoming atmosphere in your home! Soft furnishings, pretty patterns and warm textures can make your small space feel a lot more personal and wholly yours.
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Soft Textures and Fabrics
Rooms done up in soft and neutral tones will fool the eye into believing they are larger than they really are; while adding textures will elevate the space, keeping it from falling flat.
- Soft, plush throws and pillows with textures like faux fur or knits add warmth and a hygge feel to your seating areas.
- Add area rugs with soft textures to define spaces and provide a cosy feel underfoot.
- Choose soft upholstery that invites you to sink in and relax.
- Fabrics like raw silk, velvet or chenille will add a luxe touch.
2. Personalised Touches
Make your home uniquely yours with personalised touches that speak to your lifestyle.
- DIY projects and craftwork are not only fun, they add character and heart to your small space!
- Think of displaying personal artwork, photographs, or meaningful prints on the walls.
- Incorporate decor items that hold personal significance. Handmade crafts, souvenirs, or family heirlooms infuse your space with your personality.
- Are you handy with a paintbrush? Try painting a mural straight on the wall!
Integrating Smart Devices with Home Interior
Today’s smart homes incorporate the latest gadgets and devices, helping to create connected and tech-empowered living environments.
Space-Saving Tech Solutions
By integrating smart home devices into your compact home, you can make your spaces work twice as hard— enhancing convenience and efficiency without sacrificing valuable space! Here are some ideas:
- Save on counter or table space by opting for wall-mounting tablets or smart displays for centralised control.
- Invest in space-efficient smart lighting solutions, such as compact smart bulbs, strips, or fixtures that can be beautifully integrated into your home décor theme.
- Choose smart appliances designed to be built into cabinets or walls in the kitchen.
- Select furniture pieces with built-in charging ports, offering convenience without sacrificing space.
Ready to Add Big Style to Your Small Spaces?
If you think downsizing means that you have to give up on things you love, think again. There are plenty of ways in which you can make a small home shine! In the end, it’s not about how much square footage you have, but what you choose to do with it.
Ready to add some serious style to your small spaces? Get in touch with a HomeLane designer today! We know how to make every inch of space count, and we’ve got plenty of space-saving ideas that can make all the difference to your home.
