Furniture Appliances
Methods for Maximizing Space
Ideas for making the most of limited space can be applied to homes of any size. Here are some tips from small-space experts Dennis Wedlick and Christopher Lowell:
• Reduce clutter by getting rid of items you no longer have a connection to, rather than taking up valuable storage.
• A space revealed in stages is more satisfying, so find ways to create "layers." Built-in shelves can add depth and definition to a room that lacks interesting architectural details.
• Whenever possible, borrow light and space (or a view of it). If you're a homeowner, create something outside you like looking at, such as a garden, and install a window to gaze upon it. If you're a renter, position a mirror cater-corner to a window to reflect the view beyond.
• Don't rely on furniture to provide all the visual interest in a room. Consider window treatments, textures, and other details to draw the eye to what's in the room, rather than its size.
• Choose furniture that's versatile both in function and use of space, including drop-leaf tables, daybeds that can double as sofas, and beds with storage underneath or in the headboard or footboard.
• Select a pair of club chairs over a loveseat - a potential space hog. (Two people won't sit on it unless they really like each other.)
• Group seating in the center of a room to save wall space for storage units and shelving.
• Good lighting makes a small space more flexible and livable. Instead of hanging one ceiling fixture in the middle of a room, use different lighting sources throughout. It's about creating options.
