Eight tips for remodeling a small space

When you’ve got a small living space, either by choice or by necessity, you’ve got to get creative if you’re going to live comfortably in that space. When adding square footage isn’t an option, here are eight remodeling tips that will help you make the most out of a small living space.

Function first

When space is very limited, every single element has to serve a purpose. There can’t be any wasted space. When remodeling a small space, then, it’s important to start by thinking about what’s most important to you. Do you need office space? Do you want there to be places where company can sleep. Let function determine every decision you make.

Build storage everywhere

Because space is tight, you don’t want to take it up with large dressers and other storage furniture. Instead, you’ll need to get creative by building storage space into other furniture such as beds and sofas. Anywhere you can possibly store stuff should be utilized.

Free up the floor plan

You’ve got to be very judicious about how you use precious square footage. You want to limit the amount of the floor plan that’s used for circulation. Hallways and stairwells and walkways take up valuable space so you’ll want to limit that as much as possible by being creative with the floor plan.

Let there be light

Plenty of natural light is key to making a space appear larger than it actually is. Large windows that allow in plenty of natural light are key. Skylights are another creative way to let in natural light.

Don’t forget negative space

Negative space is unused space. Probably the biggest mistake people make when remodeling a small living space is trying to fill up every open space in the home. Though that seems like the goal in most of the other tips for a small space, it’s still important to have some empty space in some places so that the eyes can get a little rest.

Vary ceiling heights

Though low ceiling heights throughout can create additional space that you could use for sleeping lofts or other purposes, higher vaulted ceilings can really make a smaller space look a lot larger. So don’t be afraid to vary the ceiling heights. In a back bedroom or bathroom you can have a low ceiling and perhaps a sleeping loft above them. But somewhere in the home there should be a room with a higher ceiling.

Edit stuff out

There’s no room whatsoever for clutter in a small space so you’ve got to be very decisive about what stays and what goes. For every item you’ve got to ask whether it serves a purpose or whether it’s beautiful enough to justify being there. You can’t be afraid to get rid of things that aren’t necessary.

Make it yours

One danger in decorating a small space is that so much attention is paid to functionality and space-saving that homeowners forget to make the space their own. No matter how small the space, there still needs to be some elements that make the home personal.

Source: Curbed

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