Designing for a Small Living Space Part II
Introduction
So here I want to continue the conversation for making the most of designing for a small space. Notably, it is not just the city resident who faces the challenge of a small living space. Country houses face the same dilemma, they come with acres of land but small rooms.
Photo by Arno Smit
Previously I touched on the entrance of the home and also the bedroom. Here we will visit the living room and the dining room. Many of us are still living in homes that were built to support the lifestyle of the Victorians and other occupants of periods past. Many small rooms, unconnected, behind doors leading off a central hallway is not an ideal situation for us nowadays. No flow. Today we are in love with family/social interaction and convenience. We are a society influenced by marketing so we need to house our collection of clothes, a multi rack for our various trainers, air fryers, ice cream makers, wine racks, humidors, books, artwork, sculptures, large colourful toys for the kids and upholstered beds for the dogs. So we yearn for en-suites, walk-in closets, home offices, kid’s playrooms, wine cellars, utility rooms, and large eat-in kitchens.
Now most small spaces do not have dedicated rooms for the lifestyle choices we aspire to but we work around this by personalising a corner, a mezzanine, loft, basement, man cave or conservatory to support these choices.
Photo by Toa Heftiba
Living Room
With some homes you have to walk straight into the living room, that is okay, it is the architecture of the home. It is an economical way of dealing with space and void of a transitional space “thus reducing potential for pause, de-robing and transitioning to dwelling spaces from the outside world”. - Robert Jamison, Architect.
Present that space to its best so that it pleases you each time you or your family enter. The shopping list of any interior design living room starts with a sofa, coffee table, a sideboard, a statement chair, a rug and window treatments.
Courtesy of Charles Deluvio
The trick is to select furniture scaled smaller. Consider a 2 seater sofa (not 3), side tables instead of a large coffee table, and a stylish vertical cupboard in place of a linear sideboard. Help in this design formation could be a large rug to bring the arrangement together. When you walk into a small room do not let an imposing high or deep piece of furniture block your entry and view. So let's get that sofa onto legs, choose cushions in the same tone as the sofa and unless it is a sleeper sofa it does not need to be too deep. Cover with a light fabric that does not contrast too heavily with walls.
Photo by Huy Nguyen
Utilize some glass in the arrangement and a mirror you love on the wall. If you own the building you inhabit, hang your flat screen on the wall. Keep your landing surfaces clutter free and warm up the space with some structurally shaped plants, elevating them by putting them on a plant stand or a pedestal. Opt for longer curtain poles so that when they are open, they will clear the window and the fabric will not block the natural light. A considered tone of white paint can be an answer to uplift your space - There are literally hundreds of white paints available with various undertones.
Photo by Bernard Hermant
The Dining Room
A social room dedicated to sitting down to enjoy meals. Sadly no longer a popular space. We have a desire now to eat in close proximity to the kitchen and often in the living room of an open-plan social space. Some of us live with the traditional through lounge where a long room runs from the front of the house to the back divided by an arch or some similar visual separation - the rear was for the dining area. That was when we all sat down to eat together, that was when our food went from pot to serving dish, and that is when we had the time to share our days with loved ones. The table and chairs are the main components here and with extendable tables, drop leaf tables, and multi-height tables that go from coffee table height to dining height; life is so much more flexible.
Photo by Nirzar Pangarkar
Circular tables are a great option also. Remember, that tables now are homework stations and setups for Zoom meetings for those working from home. Stackable chairs are not as ugly as they used to be as they are no longer for unexpected guests or church hall entertainment. A couple of these chairs tucked somewhere discreetly is helpful. Make use of the large selection of dining benches that allow seating to be flexible and visually give a more open and lighter feeling. Go for a smaller sideboard to house the 2nd course, dishes and a bottle of wine or two on. These sideboards now come in shapes and finishes to die for. Shagreen, ribbed metals, exotic woods, capiz shell and lacquers to name a few. So we can be stylish in the little spaces we decide to eat in, even if it is in the corner of the kitchen.
Photo taken by Bilal Mansuri
Finally…
I believe there is always something positive to offset a negative and with a small space, there are many positives. Less heating to keep the space warm, less lighting to keep the space bright and less artwork to complete your decorative scheme. Yes, we would all love more space but love your small space and make it charming.
Photo by Spacejoy
Looking to make the most of your small space?
At Ar'mes Design Studio, we specialize in creating stunning interiors that maximize every inch of your living area.
Don't let the limitations of a small space hold you back. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and experience the wonders our interior design expertise can bring to your home. Together, let's turn your small space into an extraordinary showcase of style and functionality!
