We have a thing about small furniture at the moment. We are in the process of moving into a smaller (but perfectly formed) new home and it’s got our creative minds working!
We believe that living in a smaller home shouldn't mean you have to make do with less but it does pay to be smart about how you organise the space you do have. There are plenty of tricks to help 'open up' your living space which don't need to involve heavy duty power tools, tearing down walls or costly renovation!
Well designed furniture can help with storage and save space when it’s at a premium.
Folding dining tables can be used as needed and then easily reduce in size to be stored when not in use, for example. Tall furniture, such as floor to ceiling shelving, wardrobes or cupboards, can help utilise the height of a room rather than taking up valuable floor space.
We are often asked to
design and create furniture
that fits a very specific
space or function.
If you have a space in your home that you would like to make good use of but just can’t find the perfect item of furniture to fit you could consider having something made for you. We are often asked to design and create furniture that fits a specific space or purpose. Cutting a space so an item fits snuggly round a skirting board, creating a hole through a media unit for unsightly wires or producing small unobtrusive corner tables are almost weekly requests.
Using some of the experience Antony has gained over his many years as a furniture maker we are sharing just a few of our ideas for small space living:
Choose multipurpose furniture. Items of furniture which are dual purpose will save space while being a useful addition to a room. A sofa bed or a wall shelf that pulls out on hinges to become a desk are possible ideas.
Create space. Try movable shelves or cupboards. Shelves that can be adjusted in a bookcase, for example, create space for a variety of items and can be changed easily to suit an alternative purpose quickly and easily. Fitting castors to the bottom of your furniture will enable you to move items around easily if you decide to change the layout of your home. Furniture that is slightly raised also gives the illusion of more space as you can see the floor beneath.
Reduce clutter. Buy furniture that fits your individual storage needs. Organise your belongings on shelves or away in drawers. Create a specific home for any items that are usually left scattered around such as papers and magazines, books, tv remotes or DVDs.
Bespoke furniture. Have furniture custom made to make use of any particularly awkward spaces.
- Thin shelves to prop books on rather than a standard bookcase can be cut to any length and can be made narrow enough to store books in the 'dead space' behind a door.
- A clever coffee table that offers extra extra shelving below the table top. You could also use a cushion to make a sturdy coffee table into a large stool when you need extra seating.
- Use small shelves at each side of your bed to eliminate the need for bedside units. These can be painted to match your walls and created to fit even the smallest space.
- A custom console table that is made as narrow as your room requires will provide an additional surface without the need for depth.
- A nest of tables gives you the option of having extra surface space when you need it.
Have furniture custom made
to make use of any particularly
awkward spaces in your home.
Make good use of space. If storage space is an issue, you can utilise areas such as under your bed, under stairs or on top of a wardrobe. You can buy a bed with built-in storage or use containers. Custom made drawers will fit exactly and look attractive if visible. The addition of castors will make heavy drawers easy to access. Drawers under a bed are an ideal place for storing bulkier items such as spare duvets, winter coats and shoes.
Make your furniture
work for you.
However big or small your home, you have more room than you think!
