Living Large in a Small Space Part 2

Whether you’ve just settled into your first studio apartment, are downsizing from a larger home, or just want to make the best use of tight quarters, living large in a small space can be a paramount goal.

Maximize your home’s functionality and enlarge your living space with these simple tips.

MultiScanner™ i520

  • Less is more. When shopping for your new paradise, look for versatile and smaller sized furniture, and give thought to dual purpose pieces that can hide clutter within tables or in seating with built-in storage. Coffee tables offer diverse options, from built-in ottomans and/or stools to ones with a lift top that can double as a desk or become a pseudo dining room table. A novel idea featured on DIY Network is to turn wagons into mobile seating.

  • Ingenuity reigns.Take old suitcases and transform them into an end table or how about using lockers within a kids’ room? Embellish your walls with artwork, decorative display shelves, a wall mounted flat screen TV, or a framed mirror that will not only add more light, but will make the entire space look bigger. For larger objects, safely anchor them into a wall stud or ceiling joist by using a Zircon® stud finder, such as the MultiScanner™ i520.
  • Organize with book shelves, cubicle units, or ladders that can accommodate fabric or straw storage drawers. Built-in storage, drawers or baskets provide ideal ways to help organize a smaller living space. Create art from your mementos with the use of decorative boxes and baskets.
  • Be colorful. The lack of a far/near perspective in a small space is a disruption to positive energy. To achieve a balancing effect, paint, stencil and wallpaper with your favorite colors and designs. Paint the entry and back walls in an accent color, for example, to create a contrasting illusion. Consider track lighting as an ideal lighting option for small spaces.
  • Create mobility. With tight spaces, optimizing square footage is vital. A foldable screen, for example, can provide flexibility to your living space. One moment, a room can be a separate dining area and the next, it can be transitioned into a guest space. Make the screen your own by staining, painting, and/or upholstering the fabric to complement your décor. With creativity, space saving ideas can be a conversation starter and be functional as well.

For additional ideas, visit our Living Large in a Small Space Part I blog, please follow us @zircontools, like us on Facebook, or visit zircon.com.

References:

DIY Network

hgtv.com

jorgensonlockers.com

Sharon is our marketing guru. She develops and executes strategies, solutions and programs that ignite success for hardware and tool companies around the world.