City-dwellers have long grappled with making their homes feel bigger. Be it a pied-à-terre or their primary residence, most of our clients want to maximize their square footage. This is especially true in smaller homes where each room needs to work smarter due to space constraints. Below are six tips to help maximize any kind of space.
1. Open Plan Concept: Big or small, in terms of maximizing square footage, opt for an open plan concept where the kitchen island doubles as dining and work stations, spilling onto adjacent seating areas for easy entertaining. Open plans can help extend the space and remove the boxed in feeling.
2. Transformable Furniture: For smaller spaces, to further maximize the footprint, we recommend transformable furniture. To create more negative space, put in less single-purpose furniture, and source pieces that are multifunctional. For a condo project, we’re considering an adjustable height coffee table that turns into a standard table. This will alleviate the need for a dining table and chairs. We’re also looking at couches where you can move the backs around. A common challenge is, how do you orient seating arrangements to get the most out of your space. Do you orient towards the TV or the view. By using smart, stylish furniture, you can take advantage of both!
3. Less is More: Paring down can be hard to do but editing your furniture and decorative accessories is a must. Avoid cramming! If your living room or den isn’t large enough, once less chair will make all the difference.
4. Spa-Like Bath: When embarking on a bathroom renovation, consider making it feel like a spa experience and a place of refuge, versus a utilitarian space. Rain head showers and deep soak tubs can turn a bath into a spa.
5. Rethink the Sink: For smaller projects, ask yourself, do I really need two sinks and all that plumbing? Negative space can make a bathroom feel bigger. Challenge yourself to rethink the sink.
6. Colored Ceilings. Painting your ceiling another color, other than white, won’t make your space look smaller. Ditch the white ceilings for a more expressive color that fits into the overall scheme.