Decorating a smaller room can feel like solving a riddle. How can you fit in all the furniture without making it feel cramped? How can you create an attractive interior with such a limited canvas? And how will you overcome all these obstacles without driving yourself crazy?

Thankfully, it is easier than you might think to make a small space both stylish and economical. All it takes is a little forward planning and an editorial eye. 

Whether it’s a studio apartment or a living room snug, here are a few tips to help you make a big impact in a small space.

Prioritise lighting

Good lighting is a magic trick, creating the illusion of space where there is none.

Many small spaces do not have access to a lot of natural light, so make up for this absence with your choice of light fixtures. A striking ceiling light will draw the eye up (making the room appear taller), provide essential illumination, and not take up any floor space. Similarly, wall sconces are unobtrusive and attractive, as are table lamps.

Employ warm lighting for a cosy, welcoming atmosphere.

Clear the floor

A small room may be beautiful to look at, but it will be a pain to live in if you do not have sufficient space to move around it.

Floating furniture, such as wall shelves and nightstands, will keep the floor beneath clear, providing you with a little extra storage space for boxes, baskets, and waste disposal. 

You can gain further floor space by opting for chairs, tables, and bedframes with longer legs, with space beneath for even more storage.

Don’t be afraid of colour

While lighter shades – white especially – do reflect light better than darker or deeper colours, therefore making the room feel larger, that does not mean you cannot be bold with your colour choices.

Create a gorgeous jewellery box of a room with deep blue or green walls, or draw focus to a feature wall of luscious crimson or bright yellow. You can mitigate the potentially claustrophobic effects of these colours by breaking them up with strategically placed artwork or mirrors, and maintain a certain airiness with a white ceiling.

Keep it cohesive

The difference between style and clutter is a sense of cohesion.

You only have so much to look at in a small space, so make sure everything matches and everything flows. This can be achieved through a limited colour palette, or by building the space around a handful of key furniture pieces.

Smart storage

When we think of storage, we tend to limit ourselves to cupboards, shelves, and boxes, but there are plenty of innovative, space saving storage solutions available to you.

Hang hooks on the side of wardrobes and the backs of doors for coats and hats; install shelves over radiators, doorframes, and sofas; use thin, pull-out racks to house spices and baking ingredients in your cosy kitchen. A little creativity will result in a small space that works for you.

Create a focal point

Every room needs a focus, whether it’s a kitchen island, a sofa set, or a dining table. This is doubly true for a small space.

If there’s too many things begging for attention in your small space, it will feel overwhelming, so choose a single feature to build your space around. This might be a feature wall, an artwork, a bold rug, or a specific item of furniture, which everything else should complement. 

Be ruthless

With a larger space, you can afford to be a little indulgent, but with a small space, you need to be the most ruthless editor.

If something doesn’t fit, or has no use, get rid of it. At the end of the day, the key to making a big impact in a small space is having a clear vision, and the determination to see that vision come to fruition. 

If you’re looking for your dream North East home, you’re in the right place. Explore the stunning developments from Homes by Esh right here on our website, and book your appointment with us here.