SMALL SPACES DESIGN ADVICE
Go big, go bold and go slow when it comes to designing a beautiful small space, says interior designer Amy Dalrymple, co-founder of Dalrymple Studio
You can increase the size of asmall room without any need for construction. Reducing the door width gains internal space and isn’t often noticeable from the outside. Otherwise, let these expansive designer tricks be your small-space guide.
GET CREATIVE WITH STORAGE
For slightly smaller rooms, it’s essential to utilise storage space and find ways to conceal storage so that it feels like agenuine part of the scheme. In aliving room, use an ottoman or trunk to stow blankets and magazines. If you can add joinery around the TV or fireplace this can be both astandout feature as well as an excellent use of vertical space.
SCALE UP FOR GREATER IMPACT
One of the misconceptions when decorating acompact space is that you need to keep everything small and discreet –furniture, patterns, colours… You don’t need to scale down the furniture in asmall space; you can almost have more fun by scaling up the size to make it cosy. Definitely don’t shy away from using dark colours and bold patterns, but do consider starting with aneutral base and including bursts of pattern to bring the room to life.
DON’T SKIMP ON THE DESIGN PROCESS
Asmall space doesn’t mean afast-track design and decorating process. We always start with sitting down and going through moodboards and concept drawings when putting together anew scheme. We then start collecting our favourite fabrics and it all flows from there.
We typically begin with one furniture item or fabric and base the entire design on that one element. It provides afocal point.
LET LIGHTING ELEVATE A SMALL SPACE
