Small Space, Big Impact: Design Tricks for Compact Living

In a busy city like Birmingham, central properties tend to be on the smaller side, with townhouses or studio apartments being prevalent. This means you need to create the illusion of more space, whether it’s for yourself or to maximise the value of the property when you come to sell. 

Just because you have a smaller property doesn’t mean you don’t have room to experiment with colour, furniture and layouts. In this blog, we’ll take a look at a few clever design tricks you can implement in compact homes to make them feel and look larger than they really are.

The power of light and colour

Increasing light, both natural and artificial, can go a long way towards making a smaller flat look bigger. Hallways are a prime example of where this can be beneficial, since they often don’t have windows so can appear cramped and disconnected from the rest of the home. Improving the artificial lighting so it’s brighter and sticking to a lighter colour on the walls will help to freshen up this space and make it feel more spacious.

Bathrooms suffer from a similar problem, as they tend to be some of the smallest rooms in the home. Bathroom designers Hugo Oliver suggest experimenting with colour: “light colours are your best friend when it comes to making small spaces feel larger. They reflect natural light and provide a sense of openness. Creams, whites, pale yellows, and soft blues are excellent choices for bathroom walls, ceiling, and tiles. You can introduce pops of colour through accessories, such as towels, rugs, and shower curtains”.

Smart furniture selection

When it comes to compact living, every centimetre counts so you need to invest in multi-functional pieces that will make the most of the limited space you have while still making your home practical. Sofa beds, extendable dining tables that can accommodate more guests at a moment’s notice, and nested tables all save space but give you additional room when you need it most.

It’s also worth thinking vertically to maximise space too. Look at furniture that optimises wall-space, like wall-mounted drop-leaf tables that can be used for dining in the evening and as a desk during the day, or Murphy beds that can be tucked away when no-one’s using them. Just remember to take scale and proportion into account—large items of furniture can quickly overwhelm a smaller space and make it feel cluttered.

Strategic storage solutions

Storage is your friend if you’re living in a smaller property because it helps prevent clutter from building up and makes your home more practical to live in day to day. Whether built-in or freestanding, invest in storage solutions that give your belongings a place to live when you’re not using them. Hidden storage is especially useful, such as under beds or inside bench seating, as it will remove those belongings from sight while still keeping them accessible. 

Playing with light and mirrors

Embracing light is essential in a smaller home, but mirrors and clever use of reflections can help to maximise its impact. Large mirrors can open up a darker room and create depth, making us feel like the room is bigger than it is, but the same principle applies when it comes to reflective surfaces. In a smaller kitchen, for example, you can opt for gloss finishes on cabinets and worktops rather than matte to bounce light around the room. Glass-topped coffee tables and silver accents have a similar effect by brightening up a compact space.

Choose blinds instead of curtains

Window treatments are important for adding privacy to bedrooms and living rooms, but curtains often take up more space than necessary and can close these spaces in. Instead, opt for blinds that sit right against your windows and won’t run to the floor, resulting in a more compact and minimalist look.

Visual flow and layout

The flow of a smaller property is vital for making your home feel bigger and more practical. For those thinking of selling, layout can go a long way in helping you get more for your home and encourage people to book a viewing.

Removing visual barriers will help open up each room and create clear pathways for navigating the property, such as moving larger items of furniture to the sides and sticking to lower profile designs in between. Also think about whether you want defined zones or an open-plan concept that can help to add light and space to a room.

Even the tiniest rooms can feel open and stylish with smart design choices. To maximise functionality, aim for multi-purpose furniture, light colours and reflective surfaces, and concealed storage solutions. Incorporating layered lighting and sticking to a unified colour scheme can further amplify the sense of openness. These thoughtful design strategies will help to enhance usability but also transform small spaces into welcoming and practical homes.