How to Choose Furniture For Small Spaces

Space is a luxury, and like most indulgences, many want it, but few have enough of it.

As attractive as large properties are, small abodes should not be scorned. Whether you have a cosy home, a compact office or a petite store, with the right amount of creativity, you can make your small space incredibly stylish and highly functional.

It’s all about making the right furniture choices that will trick the eye into believing there's more room than there actually is. Just a little bit of interior design magic!

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1. Choose furniture that has multiple purposes

Do you know why potatoes are the unsung heroes of the food world? This humble vegetable gives us crisps, mash, chips, pancakes and even vodka!

That is exactly what you need your furniture picks to be - multifunctional. Anything that can serve double or triple duty is a keeper!

One of our favourites is a  sleeper couch that has pull-out storage and can transform into a guest bed. Another great purchase for the living area is a console that can double up as a desk. Guest seating is usually a challenge in small lounges, so look for side tables that are sturdy enough to also work as stools.

If you're really squeezed for bedroom space, a bed that folds ups against the wall is a lifesaver! It gives you additional floor space during the day and folds down easily and neatly at neat. 

2. Opt for smaller pieces of furniture instead of bulky ones

Not every piece of furniture that can fit through your door belongs in your home. It is important to scale furniture in proportion to your rooms.

For a small lounge, this means staying far away from bulky recliners, large wingback chairs and chunky sofa sets. Instead opt for low back seating with low profiles and clean, contemporary lines.

Secondly, pay attention to the legs. Pieces that are raised on trim legs appear lighter than those that are solid all the way to the floor, like skirted sofas. This is why swivel chairs work well in a tiny room as they have a small footprint.

When we are designing for small spaces we turn to our collections of transparent furniture. Accenting your room with contemporary glass pieces versus wooden items opens up the space because our line of sight continues through the furniture.

In addition to these items, here is a list of worthwhile buys:

• Tulip tables for dining.
• Corner sofa instead of a linear sofa.
• Acrylic hanging chairs, like this Nest Suspended Chair by Atmosphera, to free up the floor altogether.
• Nesting tables instead of a large coffee table.
• Chic 10cm accent tables with just enough room to hold your cocktail or tea cup.

3. Stick to light colours and neutrals to make the space feel larger

We love bold prints and bright colours as much as you do, but unfortunately, they tend to make a small space feel cramped and look cluttered.

Softer neutral colours, however, give your home more visual breathing room. Furthermore, light colours are great at reflecting light into a room and the more light your space has, the more open it will feel.

The key to your furniture selection is to have as few colour changes as possible. That means your rug, couch, table, shelves, decor and chairs should all follow one monochromatic light colour scheme.

To bring interest to your rooms, play with texture. That way, even though your furniture will be similar in colour, each item will stand out and the space will not look or feel bland.

4. Use mirrors to create the illusion of more space

Remember when we mentioned tricking the eye? Mirrors are perfect for this! Not only do they reflect light into a room, but a well-placed mirror will also make a space feel expansive.

Opt for tall frameless mirrors that you can lean against the wall. The bigger the mirror, the larger the space it will appear to create.

A mirror that is opposite a window will reflect the greenery of the outdoors to give a tranquil outdoor-indoor feel to a space. Alternatively, you can use a mirror as a backdrop to your entertainment area to make it feel multi-dimensional.

Finally, mirrors and tiny entryways are meant to be together. A glamorous hallway mirror will uplift any entryway and make it look longer than it is.

5. Get creative with storage solutions to store extra items

They say furnishing a small space is similar to furnishing a boat. You have to get strategic about creating storage opportunities. The more stuff you can tuck away, the less cluttered your rooms will be.

Whatever your area lacks horizontally, you can make up for it vertically. You will be amazed how much storage you can add by running shelves over doorways, windows and beds. Instead of opting for short bookcases, choose tall modern bookcases like the Frame Glass Bookcase by Rugiano that will emphasize the gorgeous vertical height of your space.

Furthermore, wall desks with open ladder shelves provide a convenient surface for your books, speakers and storage baskets. In line with versatility, ottomans. benches and beds can all come with storage pockets or drawers where you can put away your linen, gadgets, pillows and other small goodies.

6. Don't be afraid to use negative space to make the room feel more spacious

Negative space simply refers to the areas between furniture and decor items. Without sufficient negative space, a room will feel cluttered; too much of it and your room will appear empty or unfurnished. For small rooms, the secret is to use fewer items that are spaced out.

For example, one stylish corner sofa like this Volo Sofa by Naustro Accent Collection will look better than multiple chairs grouped together. The space between pieces will allow natural light to flow into the room.

Minimalism is key to tiny rooms because it creates an illusion of white space. Try to have as few items as possible on the floor to generate breathing space. The same goes for hallways, passages and pathways; keep these areas free of unnecessary furniture and decor so that light can flow through the entire space unobstructed.

Small Spaces, Big Ideas

Small spaces are as much fun to decorate as larger ones. Once you know the rules to follow and the mistakes to avoid, you will have endless design possibilities at your disposal. A space is never too small to be practical and stylish; it is only our ideas that may not be big enough.

If these tips have inspired you but you'd like more advice, our expert designers are a WhatsApp or phone call away. We've been designing interiors for nearly 40 years and we'd love t help you transform your space.