How to Place Furniture in a Small Space

So you’re shopping for trendy, classy, timeless, functional furniture for your space. Cool! Now you just need to know how to make your cozy little apartment look, well, not-so-small, right?

No problem.

Eliminate Clutter

You’re probably scouring the chic design magazines. You’ll notice that there is no clutter in these picture-perfect apartments (or small houses).

There are no knick knacks to gather dust.

Very few well-designed small spaces are set-up in such a manner that an object is placed somewhere as a showpiece….or just to take up space.

It’s actually better to leave empty spaces be!

In fact, empty spaces are GOOD when designing a room – any room. A minimalistic, utilitarian look up will take you further…and jibes perfectly with today’s on-the-go lifestyle.

Aim for a Balanced, Open Look

Here are a few easy tips for decorating in such a way that your smallish abode is rendered ultra-comfy and functional!

 

• Create a simple floor plan. You don’t have to prepare a professional blueprint—stick figures are fine—but arrange your furniture on paper first, so that, once you’ve decided on a plan that’s aesthetically pleasing, you can start moving your pieces into place.

 

• Aim for a well-balanced, harmonious look. Keep in mind that every piece of furniture– from the smallest to the very largest—has a visual weight factor.

 

• Step back to get a wider, bird’s eye view of what the design will ultimately look like. Try to keep the room equally weighted, or balanced.

 

• Pair like-weights (or lightweights and heavyweights). Don’t situate a low, stocky sofa in the same line of vision as, say, a tall, slim bookcase. Balance out the placement of the pieces. You’ll see that it “feels” roomier and cozier.

 

• Discover the lengthening power of simple horizontal lines. Put up wallpaper with skinny lines. The more “in between room” you leave when furnishing or decorating–i.e., when placing items on the walls–the bigger a room looks.

 

• When placing a large piece, like a desk, against a bare wall, keep its innate horizontal or lengthy look.

 

• Don’t make the desk busy or cluttered looking. Simple lines are best.

 

• Try placing your books in floating shelves; these lend to a feeling of space. Position a few large, well-kept tomes on the shelves. Keep the dog-eared or well-worn books in your storage area, or donate your much-loved reads to a local nonprofit thrift store.

 

• Similarly, when placing in and out boxes or other catch-alls on your desk, keep those to a minimum. “Stuff” distracts the eye.

 

• Get into the habit of placing your papers and notes at arm’s length, in a streamlined binder or two—within reach but out of view.

 

• Make piece-count adjustments as per the space you have. What this means is that you might consider narrowing down your main selections to a few pieces which you absolutely love and need, and which will fit into your space while allowing plenty of air to flow around. Store or give away the rest. All you really need are whatever is required to live and to entertain your friends. Here is a good litmus test: if the furniture makes you feel “at home” and “centered,” those are the pieces that should stay.

 

• Try to avoid setting a piece up kitty-corner against an edge. Again, you’re looking to create an airy feel and look. The weightiness should be in the core, or in the center of the biggest pieces. There should not be any furniture flush against another piece, if you can help it.

 

• Stick to a primary color scheme, with maybe a few secondary colors thrown in for vivid splashes. For instance, consider white, off-white or beige for the larger pieces and shocks of a darker hue, such as deep tan with crimson or burnt orange in the throw pillows and area rugs.

 

• Select art pieces which utilize the same primary and secondary colors to lean against a wall—perhaps on a cabinet/table or on the floor. This will allow the eye to travel in wider circles, and will make the apartment look larger.

 

• You want your pieces to have the mobility of modular items, so that you can move them as you are seized with a whim to do so – or as the need arises. Modular pieces also facilitate a move; so that your next transition will be a piece of cake.

 

• Finally, make all of your furniture functional –or even multi-functional. You’ll use one piece for several different purposes—i.e., a futon can serve not only as your bed, but, when closed, would turn into a couch. Throw a colorful scarf or wrap across the back of the futon for an eye-pleasing look.