Last Updated on December 16, 2023 by Kimberly Crawford
There are many advantages to having a smaller property, especially given the recent hike in energy costs that is affecting many countries across Europe and beyond. As well as being easier to heat, smaller homes have the advantage of a lower mortgage and council tax rate and are much more simple to maintain than their larger counterparts.
Having said that, the limited room size in small properties can make them a challenge to furnish, especially when you are trying to give an impression spaciousness throughout. Take a look at these top tips for furnishing a smaller property.
Kitchen
The kitchen will be one of the most challenging rooms to furnish due to the necessity of incorporating a wide range of appliances into the design. However, you can find compact versions of nearly every appliance you can imagine including ovens and dishwashers.
You can also find two-in-one appliances such as combi-boilers and washer-dryers to help economise on space. Also advisable is investing in cupboards with unique design features to help make the most of the space available such as curved pull-out drawers for tight corners and slide-out worktops that can be hidden when not in use.
Living Room
Your relaxation space will not feel relaxing if it seems too cluttered. Furnishings such as sofas, display cabinets, and coffee tables are traditionally bulky and could dominate the room too much.
Rather than a central coffee table, consider having smaller units next to seating so that you leave the middle area free. You can even get sets of coffee tables that stack under one another, ideal if you don’t need much furniture day-to-day but want to be able to host guests from time to time. In a similar vein, replace cabinets with floating shelves fitted directly into the wall to free up the space below.
Bathroom
With small bathrooms, you have to make a decision about whether you want to prioritise a shower or a bathtub. Most people prefer showers to traditional bathing, so if your stay in the home is set to be short-lived you may wish to stick with a shower unit.
Opting for a sleek wet room design with clear glass as opposed to a shower cubicle is a good way to create the illusion of more space. If you prefer baths, stick to a shallower model to prevent it taking over the room and fit a shower above it to make it more versatile. In terms of appliances, vertical radiators are a great space-saver in bathrooms – and they double as an effective towel rail.
Bedroom
For bedrooms with limited space, fitted furniture is your friend such as built-in wardrobes with sliding doors or cupboards set into awkward nooks and crannies. While you will likely not want to compromise on the size of your mattress, be careful when choosing the bed frame – focus on sleek, simple bed bases rather than larger frames with elaborate headboards. Light colours are your friend here in terms of tricking the eye and will also help you to sleep more peacefully.
