Tips to Dwell Well in a Small Space

More Mirrors

Mirrors work great to visually expand a room. Placing one on the opposite wall of your sliding glass patio doors or opposite a window will reflect light and appear to open up the space. Or buy 12’x12’ mirror tiles that stick right on the wall and mirror a whole wall that way. If you’re renting, be sure to ask your landlord’s permission before you try this.

Furniture Freshen Up

Conceal scratches on wooden furniture legs or tabletops with a furniture touch-up pen, or have your pieces repainted. As long as a piece is sturdy and in otherwise good condition, I’m a big advocate of repainting because it’s a cost effective way to freshen up a room. Be sure to use one of the new no-VOC paints to keep your room free from harmful chemicals to help keep your family healthy.

Craft Room and Home Office

If you think that just because you live in a small space home you can’t have indoor hobbies, I’d like to reassure you that it’s just not true. You definitely need to be selective about how many hobbies you can realistically take on in your small space. Consider converting an office or computer armoire into a small craft center. Armoires have shelving, dividers, and drawers, and you can shut the doors so that your mess is out of sight when you’re not working on your project.

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Think Vertically»

Small bathrooms are notoriously lacking in storage, but that doesn’t mean you can’t rectify the situation with some clever purchases. Think vertically and go up to the ceiling as much as you can with shelving and cabinetry. You can mount decorative hooks near the sink to hang hairdryers, curling irons, and anything else you need on hand. 

Perimeter Positioning

When arranging furniture in a nursery, position the crib near the doorway so you don’t have to tiptoe across the room when you’ve finally put your baby to sleep. Keep all the furniture around the perimeter of the room so the center is free for walking the baby and for future crawling and playing.