How to design a small space?
If you're here, it's probably because you're faced with the problem of designing a small space, or like us, it's a subject that interests you. As designers, we particularly like small spaces! They're full of constraints, but that makes them particularly interesting, because you have to be imaginative and innovative to come up with a design that's 100% suited to the space in question. Whether it's a small student studio, a Tiny house or even a converted Van, you'll find a whole host of tips in this article for getting the most out of your little cocoon and creating a feeling of space. The aim is to overcome the constraints of designing a small space to create a home that's both functional and pleasant to live in...
I. Designing a small space: the power of colour and texture
First step: colour and materials.
We don't always think about it when it's not our job, but the choice of colours and materials can have a major impact on the overall look of a space. And when it comes to designing a small space, there are a few things you need to know to avoid making any mistakes. In a small space, too many colours and textures will tend to give an overloaded effect. To avoid this, we advise you to opt for white or even transparent colours, which will visually lighten your space, punctuated by touches of bright colour at strategic points to catch the eye.
All these questions of colour are also important because they can totally change the perspective of a room, and here again there's a lot to know about making the right choices.
As far as the floor is concerned, it's quite possible to imagine a coloured floor covering (rather plain) which, combined with white or at least bright walls, will give the impression of a more spacious room.
The lines of the floor (such as the position of the parquet) or of a carpet are also important, as the direction of the lines will visually lengthen the space, which can be interesting for giving an impression of enlargement in a space that is too narrow, for example. Finally, if your floor is made up of tiles, it's good to know that laid at an angle they will have a much greater effect than if they are laid parallel and perpendicular to the walls.
Once again: it's all a question of perspective!And the secret is to understand it so you can play with it.
Modifying the volume of a room using colour
Photo credit : https://www.monsieurpeinture.com/
You may recognise these little patterns, but if not, don't panic! We'll explain. They're a simple way of understanding the impact of paint/colour on volumes. In the same way that you can play with the floor, you can play with the walls and the ceiling. And if you want to design a small space, it's more than useful, especially if you want to design a badly proportioned space. The idea is to rebalance volumes by playing with contrasts. For example, if the ceiling is too low, use vertical lines to give an impression of height; if, on the other hand, it is too high, use horizontal lines to bring it visually closer to the floor. On the same principle, a room that seems too rectangular can be rebalanced by applying a lighter colour to the longer walls and a darker colour to the shorter walls. On the whole, if you want to make a room bigger, you'll opt for a light ceiling and light walls. On the other hand, to make a room longer, you can choose to paint all the walls in colour, while keeping the floor and ceiling light. To widen a room, you might choose to add colour to the ceiling and the back wall. These are just a few of the rules you can follow to create a harmonious space, whatever the size of your room at the outset.
Natural light coming in
Photo credit : https://www.homestratosphere.com/
As well as colour, light plays a very important role, and the reason we mentioned white or light colours earlier is to encourage a bright space. A well-lit space will immediately appear much more spacious than an insufficiently lit one. And just like colour, it has an impact on the way you visualise volumes. If you want to give the impression of enlarging the space, avoid floor lamps, which tend to give the impression of a low ceiling that will shrink the space. Instead, opt for suspended or wall lamps (preferably with a refined design so as not to overload the space). The ideal solution, however, is an opening to the outside, which will enlarge the visual field and bring in natural light.
Mirrors to enlarge your space
Photo credit : https://divisare.com/
Another tip for enlarging your space is the mirror. This essential piece acts as a trompe l'oeil and, through its play of reflections, creates an impression of enlargement that can make all the difference. If you're afraid of being constantly in front of yourself, the mirror can be positioned so that you don't see your own reflection directly, but rather the outside or another part of the room. It can also be tinted, blurred or smoked to avoid too direct a view.
With these tips, you now have the basics before you start arranging your cocoon, but that's not all.
II. Designing a small space: getting organized!
As you've seen, you can already do a lot with colour and light alone by paying close attention to volumes, but unfortunately that's not enough. Organisation is also a key element, because if you want an airy space, clutter is your worst enemy. And when it comes to organisation, there's no secret: it's all about tidying up. This is the perfect time to apply Marie Kondo's advice and sort through the clutter. For those of you unfamiliar with this method, here's a quick explanation. In her book "The Magic of Tidying Up", Marie Kondo explains a REVOLUTIONARY method of tidying up, for a tidy interior from the kitchen to the bathroom, not forgetting the bedroom. One of the key points of this method is to keep what's essential, only what makes us happy. This helps us learn to get rid of the superfluous, which is not always easy in a society based on over-consumption. To sort things out, we look at each object one by one, considering its usefulness and the potential happiness it brings us. Another key to a tidy space is having a designated place for each object. This keeps the space tidy, with a defined place for each item. It also makes for a more functional space, as you can define the place for each object according to its use.
In the same idea, there is Lagom, a philosophy presented by Niki Brantmark in her book "Lagom, le juste équilibre", which explains how to find a balance based on the essentials. Like Mari Kondo, she advocates minimalist decoration, stripped of the superfluous. So it's time to say goodbye to a whole bunch of knick-knacks that visually clutter up the space, but also to part with furniture that isn't suited to your space and takes up too much space. And thanks to second-hand sales applications and systems, your beautiful objects may find refuge in another cocoon!
To help you choose the items that will stay with you, bear in mind that they all need to come together to create a harmonious whole. Again, if you accumulate too many different textures, colours and designs, you will undoubtedly end up with a visually cluttered space, especially in a small space.
Mari Kondo
Photo credit : https://konmari.com/
For optimum organisation, it's also essential to delineate spaces so that each living area has its own function. On the contrary, we'll be using carpets, skylights or open bookcases to keep the space as open as possible. This question of separation is all the more interesting in a space that's all lengthy: by dividing the space in two, each individual zone will of course appear smaller, but the whole will seem larger. And certain decorative styles work very well with more confined spaces to give a warm feel. Podiums' work quite well to produce this effect, and can be imitated simply by using a change of floor covering or a carpet.
III. Designing a small space: playing with heights!
A mezzanine to take advantage of the full height of the space
Photo credit : https://www.homelisty.com/
If your space is particularly narrow, it's best to avoid large, high, solid pieces of furniture, which are far too imposing and tend to visually clutter the space. In order to clear the visual field and enlarge the space, it is preferable to opt for low furniture. In addition, when choosing furniture, favour light colours (always for the sake of light) and sliding doors (which take up much less space than swing doors).
If, on the other hand, you have a high-ceilinged space, it's worth making the most of this area. But how? There are lots of possibilities here. It all depends on your needs. For example, if you don't have enough storage space, you could imagine a full-height dressing room with fold-away wardrobes. If you're short of floor space, why not opt for a mezzanine bed? This will free up space for a desk, sofa or any other space you want to integrate into your room. These options will save you a considerable amount of floor space.
Still with the idea of exploiting height, there's one space that's all too often neglected in interior design: door tops. Yes, almost every interior has them, and yet... On average, there is between 40 and 100cm of space available above them. This leaves enough space to imagine a shelf to store as many items as possible (blankets, spare mattresses, out-of-season clothes and shoes or whatever you need).
As well as making the most of the height, don't neglect the space under the slope. Rather than wasting unused space under the roof, opt for stacked units for extra storage! Psst: Made-to-measure is your greatest ally 😉
Designing small spaces is a very comprehensive subject. It would be impossible to cover all the points in just one article, so if you liked this first part dedicated to colour, light and volume, please let us know. If so, we'll prepare a second part dedicated to furniture!