HOW YOU IN THE BEST WAY
FURNISHING A SMALL FLAT
INTERIOR DESIGN TIPS FOR THE SMALL FLAT
Furnishing a small flat can be a challenge since the space you have to work with is limited. Regardless of the size of the home, you still want to fit everything in. We will help you maximise your square metres.
START FROM YOURSELF AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE HOME
Start by considering the conditions that exist in the home. Whether it is a studio of 30 square metres with a sleeping alcove to furnish or a larger studio of 40–45 square metres, there are many good tips and ideas to help you create the flat of your dreams.
When living in a small flat, it is important to consider your own needs. Begin by setting a priority order when it comes to sofa, bed and dining set. What is most important to you?
If you are someone who loves having guests and dinner parties, we recommend that you prioritise a dining table with space for many people, or at least the possibility of that with extension/add-on leaves. If you prefer to relax and enjoy long lie-ins, make sure you have room for a large bed with bedside tables beside it. If you want to fit in both a dining area, sofa and bed, a drop-leaf table and a small sofa are the most optimal way to get everything you want.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE THE FLAT LOOK BIGGER?
There are a few different tricks you can use to make your flat or a specific room in your home feel larger than it is. The first tip is found already in the choice of wall colour. Light shades such as white and light beige that almost lean towards yellow are very good at reflecting daylight, which helps to brighten the room and make it feel larger. It is not only light colours such as beige, white and yellow tones that make the room feel larger; in fact, both cool blue and green shades have the same effect.
In many smaller flats there is a limited number of windows. To compensate for the lack of natural light, we recommend that you not only have mirrors in the hallway and bathroom, but also furnish the living room with mirrors to create an illusion of space. Above the sofa is a perfect place for a mirror together with other decorations such as paintings and photo frames.
CURTAINS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING
Another trick to make the flat feel larger is to create a sense of space by using curtain tracks that are fixed to the ceiling. Hang up light, bright curtains that run from ceiling to floor. Light curtains make the home feel brighter while also giving the impression of higher ceilings. Use pleat hooks to get the curtain all the way up to the ceiling to hide the curtain track and make use of every centimetre of the ceiling height.
SMART AND PRACTICAL HALLWAY STORAGE
In small flats, the hallway is often narrow or you enter directly into the kitchen. In these smaller hallways, smart storage is a must. For those of you who like order and tidiness, and have a bit of extra space, we recommend a hallway bench with storage. A perfect place to store shoes, hats and gloves. If you have space, we always recommend a hat shelf – it not only provides extra storage but also becomes a beautiful detail on the wall. If the space is smaller, a hook rail, hooks or a clothes hanger are excellent alternatives. The clothes hanger is just as suitable in the hallway as by the bed, perfect for the dressing gown or cardigan. A full-length mirror in the hallway provides both a luxurious and inviting feeling, while also being practical for a final check before you go out.
INVEST IN MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE
Use a small wall shelf as a bedside table or the bar stool as a pedestal and create a unique impression in the flat. Investing in multifunctional furniture has many advantages!
- You save floor space by letting the same piece of furniture have several functions.
- The economic perspective – buy one piece of furniture instead of two that perform the same task.
- The flat becomes minimalist and you do not have to worry that it will feel over-furnished.
A SOFA TO GROW WITH
When you are going to invest in a new sofa, it is important to start from both your needs and the conditions in your home. For those who live in a smaller space but dream of a deep and spacious sofa, a modular sofa can be a good alternative, provided that the space allows it.
With a modular sofa, you get the flexibility to adapt the sofa to your home and the possibility to extend it if you move to a larger home in the future. In this way, the sofa can grow with you and your needs.
KEEP IT MINIMALIST AND SIMPLE
It is easy to both over-decorate and over-furnish a small home, which can make it feel cramped and cluttered. Avoid this by keeping it minimalist and simple. Buy furniture that is adapted for a small flat. When choosing decorations for the flat, focus on a few that are allowed to take up space and stand out a little extra, and try to avoid superfluous items that make the home look fussy.
