Living in tight quarters – here’s how you can make the most of your space!

Living in tight quarters - here’s how you can make the most of your space!

Living in tight quarters isn’t the easiest. If you live in a really small space, it can easily get you down, but it’s important to remember that whether there’s a small room in your home or your entire living quarters could do with some sort of expanding, here are a few things to get you inspired.

Woman decluttering her apartment

De-clutter first

It’s not necessarily something we like to do, but it’s so important for us to get into the habit of de-cluttering regularly. Because de-cluttering means removing things from your life that don’t serve any purpose, but also it means removing things that are not serving a purpose in your home space and giving it a home. You may have a lot of items that have sentimental value but are taking up a lot of space. So either give them pride of place in your home or put them into a self storage facility. This is not just a good habit to get into, but when you start to de-clutter, it makes you appreciate what you have and gives purpose to your life.

Large shelving unit in an interior

Add more ‘walls’

While we can’t magically install new walls, shelving units are great ways for you to make the most of space, especially if you have lots of books and possessions that impinge on your space. Open shelving units can create privacy and add a dash of personality to the space.

Many hanging plants in a 2 storey apartment

Make the most of every surface

When you’re living in a tight space, any item that’s classed as a surface can be a perfect opportunity to start storing items. For example, a bulky radiator can be the perfect opportunity to install a shelving unit above it. Of course, it’s important to make sure that you do it safely. When you start to use any surface as an opportunity for storage or a statement piece, it’s a great way to retrain your brain. Rather than thinking that you’re hemmed in, you have a lot more opportunity to put your personal items on display.

Tall blue storage units in a bedroom

Use taller furniture

If your bed is really low, consider upgrading it so you have more opportunities for storage. It’s no secret that under-bed storage is the treasure trove for most, but if you want to get more storage, you need to make your bed a bit taller. The same thing applies to the sofa. There’s nothing quite like a tall sofa to make you feel cosier and comfier, and while you’re at it, you can put a few extra items beneath. Just be sure to get under there and dust on a regular basis.

There are so many things that you can do to improve your living when we are in a small space. Making your home look more spacious isn’t a fantastic psychological trick, but storage, de-cluttering and making the most of every surface won’t just guarantee your space feels better. However, you’re tackling the problem with a multitude of solutions; a small space doesn’t have to feel small any longer.

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Price points: Compact sofa beds

Compact sofa beds

One of our downstairs rooms, originally the parlour, isn’t working for us quite as it should. Its function now is more akin to a library or snug. Currently, we have it furnished with bookshelves, specimen table, industrial drawers and two antique leather sofas.

We want to make it a more adaptable and comfortable space in which to spend time. We’ve been looking at the range of grey compact sofa beds available to buy. It’s probably the smallest room in the house, so getting a sofa / occasional double bed in there is a hard ask.

The room, wall-to-wall, measures about 429cm x 193cm. That means that if you extend the sofa out to form the bed along the length of the room – as would seem obvious from the dimensions – it would block both of the doors in/out of the room. Therefore, the sofa bed will have to pull out from the opposite direction – i.e. either 90º clockwise or anticlockwise. Consequently, the length of the bed can’t extend further than the aforementioned 193cm.

As you can see from the measurements we’ve included for each of the models, two of the three compact sofa beds that we’ve featured today extend beyond that ‘magic 193’. The Kip version is a mere centimetre out, with the ALGO, it’s a whole 5cm. I’d think that the mattress of the former could easily be wedged in snugly; the latter… perhaps not. Besides, as we have a guest double bedroom, whatever sofa bed we decide on will only be used as a bed on the rare occasion that we have more than two people staying overnight.

  1. Freya folding sofa bed, grey: £250.00, Homebase
    Sofa: (h)80cm x (w)120cm x (d)90cm
    Bed: (h)42cm x (w)120cm x (l)190cm
  2. ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric: £319.99, Daals
    Sofa: (h)88cm x (w)123cm x (d)88cm
    Bed: (h)31cm x (w)123cm x (l)198cm
  3. John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm: £399.20, John Lewis
    Sofa: (h)70cm x (w)120cm x (d)84cm
    Bed: (h)70cm x (w)120cm x (l)194cm

shop compact sofa beds

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
£399.20
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
£319.99
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
£250.00
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
£399.20
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
£319.99
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
£250.00
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
£399.20
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
£319.99
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
£250.00
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
£399.20
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
£319.99
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
£250.00
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
John Lewis & Partners Kip small double sofa bed, Riley Storm
£399.20
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
ALGO 2-seater small double folding sofa bed with cushion, grey fabric
£319.99
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
Freya folding sofa bed, grey
£250.00

Get their look: Ladybird the Tiny House

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Apartment Therapy (@apartmenttherapy)

Ladybird Tiny House is located in Weatherford, Texas – built on wheels, she’s ‘parked up’ in the most beautiful spot amongst the grass and surrounded by trees.

The split-level home was thoughtfully designed by her owner, Amanda and built by Small Dwelling Co.

She has probably the best built-in storage solutions I’ve ever encountered. There’s a dining table that converts into a dressing table with integral illuminated make-up mirror. Daytime seating converts easily into night-time guest sleeping quarters. The generous hidden bathroom storage slides in & out from behind a wall. There’s clever storage in and under the stairs up to the mezzanine bedroom.

Despite being a tiny house, room has been made for a bath, full-size cooker, mini-dishwasher, washer-dryer and a gorgeous fridge freezer that American companies are so great at designing. There’s a large, suspended, remote-controlled screen that slides down from the ceiling when Amanda has movie nights.

First featured in 817HOME magazine in 2018, we recently discovered Ladybird Tiny House on Apartment Therapy.

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Fibre-optic star ceiling light kit with remote control
Fibre-optic star ceiling light kit with remote control
‘Ugh’ neon table light
‘Ugh’ neon table light
Texas longhorn faux taxidermy wall décor
Texas longhorn faux taxidermy wall décor
Dickinson Marine Newport solid fuel heater
Dickinson Marine Newport solid fuel heater
Big Chill fridge freezer
Big Chill fridge freezer
Fibre-optic star ceiling light kit with remote control
Fibre-optic star ceiling light kit with remote control
‘Ugh’ neon table light
‘Ugh’ neon table light
Texas longhorn faux taxidermy wall décor
Texas longhorn faux taxidermy wall décor
Dickinson Marine Newport solid fuel heater
Dickinson Marine Newport solid fuel heater
Big Chill fridge freezer
Big Chill fridge freezer
Fibre-optic star ceiling light kit with remote control
Fibre-optic star ceiling light kit with remote control
‘Ugh’ neon table light
‘Ugh’ neon table light
Texas longhorn faux taxidermy wall décor
Texas longhorn faux taxidermy wall décor
Dickinson Marine Newport solid fuel heater
Dickinson Marine Newport solid fuel heater
Big Chill fridge freezer
Big Chill fridge freezer

Getting more for less – space-saving in your home

Getting more for less - space-saving in your home | H is for Home

While we all may dream of living in a mansion with a sprawling mass of space to play around with and make our own, the reality is that you may be stuck with a much smaller home. If you live in a big city, space is often at a premium, and there’s a trade-off between the convenience of being close to the action and the room to spread out in your pad fully.

Getting the most out of your smaller space is something that may take ingenuity and creativity. There are ways of living in more confined homes without allowing your possessions to overwhelm you or to make you feel claustrophobic. Here are a few space-saving ways that you can change your tiny piece of the world into a seemingly more substantial offering.

Wall to wall fitted storage cupboards

Space saving storage solutions

One of the major problems that you’ll face when it comes to living in a smaller property is the amount of space that you’ll have to house your possessions. We amass quite a lot of items in our lifetimes, and over time we barely stop and acknowledge just how much we’ve accumulated. You may not realise this until the time comes to moving into a smaller property. Parting with some items that you may not need will obviously be an option, but finding a longer-term solution to deal with space is more ideal.

Often, floor space is at a premium in a smaller home. By the time your larger items such as beds, sofas and tables are in place, you may not have the space for lots of cupboards and shelves. Think about getting wall units fitted where possible. Bathroom mirror cabinets are great because they serve multiple purposes; storing items and providing a mirror to help you get ready. Mirrors are also great at giving the illusion of more space, which can help a compact space feel bigger.

Look out for beds, sofas and tables that offer storage solutions under them. A well-designed piece of furniture such as this will be able to store a large amount.

Built-in wall units in living rooms and bedrooms can offer floor to ceiling storage for a multitude of different things. With sliding doors that don’t need a lot of space to open, these items won’t be on display either so your home will appear less cluttered and as such less claustrophobic.

Small bedroom with full-length mirror and clothes hanging rail

Light walls create space

Darker rooms will make the walls feel as if they’re closing in on you. Choosing a lighter shade to paint your room will help to create much more of a feeling of space. If possible, go for as much white as possible and try and allow as much natural light into any space as you can.

Find as many sources of light for your home as possible will help to create the impression of there being more space in the house. Avoid using up-lighting as this will create shade underneath, which isn’t ideal. Hanging mirrors on your walls will also help, and if they can reflect some light too, this will make for a brighter home.

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