Living in small spaces, particularly with other people can be very difficult. There is certainly a fine art that needs to be mastered in this area to remain happy, stress – free and relaxed in your living environment. I have the luxury of living on a beautiful 15 acre property with all the space I could ever need but the house itself is a small cottage which I share with a friend. I will outline below some steps which can be implemented in your everyday life to maximise the enjoyment of your small space.
1. Less is more – Remember the key rule that less is more. You can make a space (especially a small one) feel homey and cozy without cramming it full of clutter and knick knacks. It can be warm and inviting and still be quite minimalist. If you’re finding that small rooms in your house feel very cramped, take away some of the non essential items from the room.
2. Tall, slim lines are important – Instead of putting a bunch of small, short candle holders on a table, light the room with a tall, elegant standing lamp or a tall, slender statue or vase. This will give the illusion of creating more space. It will draw the eye up the wall and make the ceiling appear higher and will open the space up. One conversation starting piece is far classier than 15 small sentimental items dotted about the room.
3. Have a place for everything – Make sure this is something you organise from the minute you move into or start occupying a small space. As each thing comes out of a box, determine a home for it and make sure it stays there when not in use. This will help maintain tidiness and reduce clutter.
4. Keep it clean – A quick run through a small house with a vacuum cleaner and a duster will make the world of difference. If everything is left to get dirty and dust accumulates, it will be very obvious in a small space. Help make the space feel clean, inviting and spacious by keeping on top of the cleaning basics.
5. Be adamant about putting things away – The old adage, if you’re done using it, return it to it’s place comes into play here. If things get left out in a small space they can completely overwhelm the environment and those in it. This is especially true in a small kitchen. To ensure you don’t get caught up in the clutter whilst you’re preparing food, put things away when you’re done with it and clean as you go.
Take these five tips as a brief guide to make life easier when living in a small space. Just because a space is small does not mean it needs to feel cramped. Be creative and stick to your guns and you will have an enjoyable and pleasant time living in a small environment!
Image by: Posh Living, LLC
Authors bio is coming up shortly.
