Less is More in Small Spaces

Less is more. This is certainly true when it comes to designing small interior spaces. Making selective choices in furniture could save you money in the long run, as well as, fashion mishaps. Just because you live in a smaller home, apartment, or condo doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice style. Dwell Home Furnishings Designer, Heather DeWaard, offers interior design tips to many clients and says, contrary to what a lot of people think, there aren’t any less options with smaller spaces, just different ones.

According to Heather, it’s a matter of scale. Everything at Dwell is scaled to your home’s blueprints to fit its individual needs. For instance, with a smaller area, you might need a sofa that’s 36-inches deep rather than 40-inches deep. This does not sacrifice style or comfort.

Heather mentions, “In smaller homes, layers are good. You’re not spreading outward, but upward. You can add texture and color. Just about anything.” Splashes of personality, spread throughout less space, go a long way yet still provide usable and welcoming space.

The “upward, not outward” idea is something Heather has helped homeowners carry out in their dream homes, apartments, and condos. Another good rule, for small spaces, is to add items that have more than one use. An ottoman can be a footrest or it can function as a coffee table, where a tray can rest. One might also consider a drop-leaf table that can be placed behind the sofa. Instead of just placing your drink in front of you, on a coffee table, place it behind you. Lift the leaves up when company comes and you can place snacks and beverages there. Finding pieces with multiple uses will enhance your space without leaving someone feeling overwhelmed or wanting more space for more furniture items. As another example, TVs can be mounted on the wall so they don’t take up a lot of surface space. Media cabinets are needed for storing components, as well as, to visually ground the TV. Tall, large, and bulky entertainment cabinets are unnecessary. A simple, narrow table will do.

Lastly, it is important to not forget about detailing; for example, window treatments. In Dwell’s opinion, window treatments finish a room whether the room is small or large. In Heather’s opinion, “It creates another layer and finishes the space. The biggest drapery mistake is not extending the rod past the window trim. When one does not do this, part of the window is blocked by the drapery panel and that cuts out the light. It also blocks the view and makes the window look much smaller. Pitfalls to be avoided in any space whether that is large or small. When draperies are open, the entire window should be visible. This lets in as much natural light as possible and brightens up the entire space.”

Dwell Home Furnishings and Interior Design is moving beyond unrealistic parameters; mixing both a vision and functionality, to bring you comfort and design, to both large and small spaces. Heather and all of our other designers are here to help with any and all of your needs.