Living in a house or flat that's smaller than you'd like? Or maybe you're in a house-share with too much stuff and not enough storage space? Many of us, whether by choice or necessity, are living in spaces where extra room is at a premium. But if you've got a small kitchen and are struggling to know how best to refresh it, we're here to help. In this post, we take a look at some of the best space-saving decor ideas.

Go glossy and let your small home shine!

Nobody wants a dark kitchen, but you knew that already. But while it's a good idea to stay away from dark shades like graphite and navy, or bold colours like red, you can play with the finish and texture of your doors. White, cream and ivory shades are all great for opening up a space and making it feel light, bright and airy. Really want to maximise the amount of light being reflected? Choose High Gloss doors and enjoy mirror-smooth, gleaming kitchen doors that look brighten your space, look fantastic and are a doddle to clean.

 

Cut the clutter

Keep your room tidy and organised. Nothing makes a small space feel even smaller than having too much stuff. A quick tidy at the end of every day - even just 10 minutes of putting things away and making sure there's nothing left on the floor - will help you feel in control, and you won't have to do a big clean-up at the weekend when there's important relaxing to be done!

With things arranged neatly and kept out of sight, the space in view will feel fresh and open. In a small room, using one focal point to catch the eye will create a sense of space in the room - e.g. a dining table and chairs in your kitchen or living area.

 

Smart storage for small spaces

Sticking with the clutter theme, some of our favourite ways of keeping clutter to a minimum are through the use of smart storage solutions. There’s a near-endless range of stylish options available that not only look fantastic, but are incredibly practical too. We’ve put together a collection of some of our favourites below.

 

Ceiling-high cabinets

Ceiling high cabinets are brilliant way of making the most of the space available without compromising the look and feel of your kitchen or bedroom.

 

 Sloping doors

Out of the kitchen, sloping doors are perfect for awkwardly sized and shaped rooms such as attics, as they allow you to install them in line with the shape of the ceiling. This creates a perfect fit that gives the room a smart and stylish finish.

 

Dynamic furniture

Something we’ve seen crop up more and more recently is dynamic furniture - pieces that function as more than one thing. Perfect for homes where space is in short supply, tables that fold away, sofa-beds and even small kitchen islands with storage and food prep space will all give you more room than you thought you had.

 

Open-plan living

If you're doing some serious renovations, consider making your kitchen and living space open-plan. For one, it's the epitome of modern design, and secondly, the airy feel it creates will make your home feel much bigger. Open-plan homes are becoming increasingly popular and it’s easy to see why, as they're highly contemporary and feel incredibly welcoming when you step inside.

 

Be clever with shelving

Well-placed shelving and cabinetry can make a huge difference. Make the most of any dead space - for example, above appliances like the oven or fridge - by adding shelving or cabinets. If you've got some blank wall space in your kitchen, well-chosen shelves will give you extra storage space and will look great too.

Those are just a few of the many ways you can make your small home seem bigger, got any you think we’ve missed?

Image sources: flickr, Amazon, howtobuildit.org, wallbed.co.uk, kwestimages.com