Making Small Space Bigger by Joy Ofili-Yebovi

If you think, your apartment is quite small in terms of space, then here are the tricks to make it bigger than it seems.

Point 1:  Remember tiny room does not have to hold only tiny furniture. Sometimes with a small space, people avoid large furniture thinking it will dominate the room. Not true. A large sectional can often be better than a small sofa and chair.

Point 2: Combine like objects and purge. Don’t purchase any organizing supplies until you know precisely what needs to be stored.

Point 3: Use mirrors and glass to create reflections and bounce light around. Making a small space seem grand depends on maximizing light. You can do that with a glass coffee table, rather than a wood or opaque one. You can do it by tucking mirrors into corners, and by hanging art in glass frames, which create reflections.

Point 4: Ensure that window coverings don’t cut off light when they are open. Hang curtains so that when they are open, the entire pane is clear; open curtains should fall beside the window and not obscure any of it. Don’t hang curtains inside the window frame. Consider hanging curtains from the ceiling, rather than from the top of the window, which will add height (and some drama) to the space.

Point 5: Think vertically. Whether you’re hanging art or shelves or placing furniture, don’t let vertical space go to waste. Using it is practical, providing a display space for art, for example, and it also draws the eye up, making a space feel more expansive than it actually is.

Point 6: Watch your furniture scale. You can make a compact room feel much bigger by choosing a few large, bold pieces rather than several smaller ones. And keep the main furnishings in proportion to each other.

Point 7: Avoid bold patterns or overstuffed furniture with thick arms. Streamlined pieces, such as armless Parson chairs are beautiful space savers.

Point 8: Hang your flat screen TV on a flexible arm. This eliminates the need for a TV stand or entertainment unit.

Joy Ofili-Yebovi is a furnishing expert. She is the founder and managing director of Simplinteriors and Décor, one of the leading office and home furnishing companies in Nigeria.