Often, especially in newly built houses, we find ourselves having to deal with rooms of limited size . And decorating them becomes a challenge. But there are small tricks that – those rooms – can make them look bigger, with extraordinary results and with a sense of awe for anyone who crosses their threshold. Who teaches them, these tricks
Obviously, the interior designers.
The focal point of the home, and the heart of every home, is the living room. In small houses, such as one-bedroom apartments or three-bedroom apartments of small size, the living room is called upon to perform more functions, thus requiring intelligent planning – and furnishings -. Whitney Leigh Morris, interior decorator and author of the book “Small Space Style: Because You Don’t Need to Live Large to Live Beautifully”, teaches how to make a small living area a microcosm of beauty and functionality, using the right dose of creativity. So here are all the accessories to buy , to make the most of your space. A magazine bench. It is not necessary to choose between an extra seat for guests, and a cabinet in which to cram books and magazines: you can instead buy a complement that performs both functions, a bench with a padded seat with – in the lower part – compartments designed specifically for collect your own paper treasures. The container sofa . In a living room, the most significant piece of furniture is the sofa. However, if the living room is small, you need to choose an intelligent model that makes the most of the space. The ideal
A sofa with storage , in which to cram blankets and objects. And which – from linear – transforms into a peninsula with chaise-longue.
Evening container sofa by Conforama (euro 699.99). Source: http://www.conforama.itThe surfaces to be exploited . In a small living room, each element can become a surface to be exploited. For example, if you have chosen to furnish your living room in a rustic or country-chic style, you can choose a wicker chest to be used both as a container and as a shelf. The coffee table with “secret” compartment . The main need, when there is little space available, is to identify many small compartments in which to cram books, magazines and useful objects. For this purpose, a coffee table with a hidden container can be very functional: there are many models on the market, from the most minimal to the most baroque ones. Thus, it is possible to really insert them in any style of furniture.
Honey container coffee table by FLAI (euro 515). Source: http://www.abitarearreda.it
Beyond the essential accessories to make the most of the space of a small living room, there are small tricks that can be put into practice to optically enlarge the space. First of all, the colors: if the surface is limited, it is better to opt for light colors for both the walls and the furnishings. Some examples
Bright white walls and ceiling, light gray sofas and armchairs and – to amplify the light even more – small tables and metal lights.
The style of furniture is also important: if you do not have much space available, it is better to choose elements with a minimal designthat do not remove air from the environment. The sofa, for example, is better if it is linear rather than angular (unless you decide to put it against the wall), and a slender and design seat is preferable to the armchairs such as the DSW by Vitra, which takes up less space and which it does not “stop” the light. You can then buy small plexiglass accessories , which are functional and which seem to take up almost no space. Some examples
The Ghost chair by Kartell, but there are – on the market – also many tables in transparent acrylic resin.
Another clever solution, if the living room forms a single open space with the dining room, is to place a consolebehind the sofa, leaning it against its backrest. Her top can be used to accommodate a lamp (without the need to use a floor lamp, to illuminate the room with atmosphere), a vase of flowers, candles. While, below, you can place stools to be extracted then if necessary.
Another trick is to take advantage of the height of the room as much as possible : just use built-in wardrobes, or create floor-to-ceiling bookcases in plasterboard. Or, if you like the industrial style, buy a shelf in raw wood and iron that acts as both a bookcase and a storage unit. And if you want to optically enlarge the environment, it is advisable to leave the floor free to run up to the corners. Such asBy fixing to the wall the furnishing elements that lend themselves to a function of this type: you can hang the TV and Hi-Fi system, you can choose storage compartments – perhaps colored – to be used instead of a classic bookcase. After all, a little imagination is enough to turn a small living room into an extraordinary living room.
Source: iStock
