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.

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.

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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