Don’t Make These 6 Mistakes in Your Small Space

Get the most out of your petit home by implementing these easy tips instead.

Designing a small home is ironically, no small feat. When you're met with limited space you need to be smarter about how it looks and functions. No one wants to feel and live in a space that's chaotic, impractical, and unaesthetic.

But rest assured, even if you are living in a small apartment or less-than-large home, there are plenty of things you can do to maximise the potential of your living situation. Avoid the common small space design mistakes below and you'll create a home for yourself that's functional, well-designed, and makes the most of limited square footage.

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Mistake #1: Opting for small-scale furniture

This might seem like the logical thing to do – a small space equals small furniture, right? Wrong! Opting for small-scale furniture will leave your space a bit uncomfortable and awkward.

Instead, the best thing to do is just opt for less furniture. This might mean sacrificing having both a desk and a dining table, or only having one armchair in your living room – but the payoff will be worth it.

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Mistake #2: A lack of visual continuity

We're often told you shouldn't use lots of different colours and patterns in small homes because it can make your home look overwhelming and disjointed. However, there's a way to overcome this.

Think about the colour palette you’re wanting to express in a room or your home and keep that in the back of your mind when sourcing and curating. This will help create a cohesive home story that represents you without it becoming too chaotic.

It's also worth keeping the flooring and materials palette consistent throughout to create a sense of flow and to help visually expand the space.

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Mistake #3: Not taking advantage of vertical space

Vertical space is one of the most underutilized areas of the home. It makes sense to focus on the floorspace of your space, but when this is limited, why not look up?

Floating furniture or pieces with space underneath are also a great idea – be it the bed frame or your bedside tables. This will also help create the illusion of more space. Floor-to-ceiling storage is also a smart use of space.

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Mistake #4: Not using mirrors

If you live in a small home and don't have a mirror in most rooms, you're missing out! Mirrors create the illusion that your room is bigger than it actually is which is a pretty nifty hack in a petit space.

If your ceilings are low or your space is especially tight, invest in an oversized statement mirror and find the perfect spot to place it in. Placing it opposite a window to reflect light will help extend the space.

Floating or furniture with space underneath is also a great idea – be it the bed frame or your bedside tables – will also help create the illusion of there being more space.

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Mistake #5: Not implementing storage solutions

Good storage solutions are key to success in a small home. There's nothing worse than feeling as if you don't have a good spot to tuck away all your things. Chances are, there are a few areas in your home you're not taking advantage of as well.

Take advantage of floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall cabinetry, use wall hooks, buy furniture with storage, utilise under-the-sink space and/or use a wall divider that has storage capabilities.

We recommend hopping onto TikTok or Pinterest to find some brilliant hacks for getting your home in tip-top shape.

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Mistake #6: Not hanging your curtains from the ceiling

Despite what some of us might think, curtains don't need to start at the top of your window. If you hang them from your ceiling and let them hang all the way to the floor, this will help make the room look more grand and spacious than it actually is.