12 Big Ideas to Visually Enlarge Your Compact Space
Stuck in a tiny home? Amp up storage, let the light in and maximise space with these awesome ideas
Deborah Jane Goon
22 July 2017
Houzz Singapore Contributor. Deborah is a freelance, Melbourne-based Journalist who began her career working across a number interior design and lifestyle magazines in Singapore, including Home Concepts, Space, SquareRooms, Simply Her and Women's Weekly, 16 years ago. She loves writing about interior design, decorating ideas, organisation tips, entertaining ideas and easy updates for the home. When she’s not creating Ideabooks for Houzz, Deborah can be found on Instagram, playing with her 17-year old Westie (yes! He's 17) or looking after her 9-month old baby. She's also a big fan of redoing her own interior and believes that little changes like new cushions or rotating artwork can have a huge impact without burning a hole in your pocket.
Houzz Singapore Contributor. Deborah is a freelance, Melbourne-based Journalist who... More
So you live in a compact home – take comfort in knowing that over 80 per cent of Singaporeans share your housing woes. That said, this should not dictate your style as there are lots of foolproof ideas to help maximise your small apartment. From high-gloss surfaces and mirrors to double your visible space to clever lighting and efficient furniture choice, don’t let a small home limit your living possibilities.
1. Bring the outdoors in by utilising your balcony well
If you’ve been blessed with a balcony, don’t let this be a waste of space. Clear glass doors can help to visually expand your home while allowing the greenery from beyond to add a fresh touch.
The balcony is also the perfect spot to entertain guests come evening time. Choose furniture that can do double duty so you can enjoy this space on a lazy weekend evening.
If you’ve been blessed with a balcony, don’t let this be a waste of space. Clear glass doors can help to visually expand your home while allowing the greenery from beyond to add a fresh touch.
The balcony is also the perfect spot to entertain guests come evening time. Choose furniture that can do double duty so you can enjoy this space on a lazy weekend evening.
6. Colour your home with cool shades
While we’re big fans of colour, having a large piece of furniture (like a sofa) in a bright shade of auspicious red can work against you in a small space as it will stand out immediately.
When you’re furnishing your small home, opt for neutral shades or cool colours instead, such as grey. Cool colours keep a room calm so the eyes are instantly relaxed and less likely to concentrate on the lack of space.
You can always accessorise with colour using cushions, artwork or throw rugs if you have to.
While we’re big fans of colour, having a large piece of furniture (like a sofa) in a bright shade of auspicious red can work against you in a small space as it will stand out immediately.
When you’re furnishing your small home, opt for neutral shades or cool colours instead, such as grey. Cool colours keep a room calm so the eyes are instantly relaxed and less likely to concentrate on the lack of space.
You can always accessorise with colour using cushions, artwork or throw rugs if you have to.
2. Create interest through tactile finishes
When using neutral hues, create interest by using tasteful finishes that work to visually extend your space.
A balcony area fashioned in parallel timber strips provides a visual extension, while offering the perfect space to chill out in. No furniture required. Just add some throw cushions and ambient music and you’ll be good to go.
When using neutral hues, create interest by using tasteful finishes that work to visually extend your space.
A balcony area fashioned in parallel timber strips provides a visual extension, while offering the perfect space to chill out in. No furniture required. Just add some throw cushions and ambient music and you’ll be good to go.
3. Make use of mood lighting to divert the eye upwards
A clever way to increase the height of a small home is to lead the eye away from the floor and up towards the ceiling.
Vertical light fixtures work perfectly in this manner and can also provide mood lighting.
A clever way to increase the height of a small home is to lead the eye away from the floor and up towards the ceiling.
Vertical light fixtures work perfectly in this manner and can also provide mood lighting.
4. Custom-design your furniture to suit your small space
The easiest way to kit out your small home is to custom-design your space for your needs.
We get that this is more expensive so choose a room or two that really requires lots of storage, such as the bedroom and kitchen, rather than have the whole house done, if budget is an issue.
The master bedroom in this home shares the actual domains of the living room (the image shows the back of the TV) where a swivel TV provides entertainment for both rooms.
Plenty of storage is achieved with a long row of light wood cabinets (for a well-organised space) while a platform bed creates the perfect spot to rest at night. Open shelving for books and other essentials also helps to ensure this room stays organised.
The easiest way to kit out your small home is to custom-design your space for your needs.
We get that this is more expensive so choose a room or two that really requires lots of storage, such as the bedroom and kitchen, rather than have the whole house done, if budget is an issue.
The master bedroom in this home shares the actual domains of the living room (the image shows the back of the TV) where a swivel TV provides entertainment for both rooms.
Plenty of storage is achieved with a long row of light wood cabinets (for a well-organised space) while a platform bed creates the perfect spot to rest at night. Open shelving for books and other essentials also helps to ensure this room stays organised.
5. Opt for a round dining table
Sometimes the more angular pieces we have in a small home, the more precarious it can be.
This is where a round pedestal table works well as chairs can be tucked in neatly when not in use – freeing up precious space.
If you’re a keen entertainer, stools are also a good alternative if you want to add more people around the table. And if these are stackable, you won’t need much storage space either.
Sometimes the more angular pieces we have in a small home, the more precarious it can be.
This is where a round pedestal table works well as chairs can be tucked in neatly when not in use – freeing up precious space.
If you’re a keen entertainer, stools are also a good alternative if you want to add more people around the table. And if these are stackable, you won’t need much storage space either.
7. Clear the way by utilising transparent furniture
An excellent choice for a small space is to use clear glass or acrylic furniture.
Since these chic pieces will not take up visual room, you can deck out an entire dining room or add functional space in the living area with a glass coffee table –and know that you wont be cluttering your home.
Louis Ghost armchairs for example, are perfect small-space alternatives as they are useful additional seating in any room – from the study, to the bedroom or even in the living room.
An excellent choice for a small space is to use clear glass or acrylic furniture.
Since these chic pieces will not take up visual room, you can deck out an entire dining room or add functional space in the living area with a glass coffee table –and know that you wont be cluttering your home.
Louis Ghost armchairs for example, are perfect small-space alternatives as they are useful additional seating in any room – from the study, to the bedroom or even in the living room.
8. Choose armless furniture which is not bulky
An informal dining bench is an excellent choice in a small dining area since it can be tucked under the table when not in use.
That said, this may not offer great back support for elderly inhabitants. If you live in a multi-generational family home, opt for proper dining chairs for your folks and choose backless seats for the rest.
An informal dining bench is an excellent choice in a small dining area since it can be tucked under the table when not in use.
That said, this may not offer great back support for elderly inhabitants. If you live in a multi-generational family home, opt for proper dining chairs for your folks and choose backless seats for the rest.
9. Mirror an entire wall to double your visual space
You may not be able to enlarge your space literally but you can trick the eye into thinking there is more room.
Mirrors are an easy-peasy, affordable addition to any space and can really work to open up a room and allow more natural light to flow.
Opt for black tinted mirrors for a sleek, mysterious finish or choose clear ones for a crisp, clean image.
You may not be able to enlarge your space literally but you can trick the eye into thinking there is more room.
Mirrors are an easy-peasy, affordable addition to any space and can really work to open up a room and allow more natural light to flow.
Opt for black tinted mirrors for a sleek, mysterious finish or choose clear ones for a crisp, clean image.
10. Use glossy finishes to maximise light (and space) in the kitchen
You’ll be surprised just how effective high-gloss surfaces are at increasing light flow in a small, dark space.
If you’ve got an open concept kitchen, this is the perfect avenue to employ high-gloss cabinetry and glass to amp up the light level in your home.
The brighter an area is, the less likelihood of it feeling small and claustrophobic. Consider a mirrored splashback or use the idea on an island counter to maximise light flow better.
You’ll be surprised just how effective high-gloss surfaces are at increasing light flow in a small, dark space.
If you’ve got an open concept kitchen, this is the perfect avenue to employ high-gloss cabinetry and glass to amp up the light level in your home.
The brighter an area is, the less likelihood of it feeling small and claustrophobic. Consider a mirrored splashback or use the idea on an island counter to maximise light flow better.
11. Glass walls work to open up a small bedroom and bathroom
Instead of enclosing your bathroom behind solid doors, opt for clear glass walls between your master bedroom and ensuite. This works for both the bedroom and bathroom as the boundary lines are removed.
A clever way to further enhance an ensuite and make it appear larger is to choose surfaces in the bathroom that blend in with the bedroom walls as this will link the spaces together.
Instead of enclosing your bathroom behind solid doors, opt for clear glass walls between your master bedroom and ensuite. This works for both the bedroom and bathroom as the boundary lines are removed.
A clever way to further enhance an ensuite and make it appear larger is to choose surfaces in the bathroom that blend in with the bedroom walls as this will link the spaces together.
12. Get rid of unnecessary walls and doors
It sounds pretty self-explanatory but knocking down walls and opening up your space is possibly the biggest way to enlarge a small home.
Breaking down specific walls can also help light to flow better in a small home.
TELL US
Do you live in a small home? What have you done to make it more liveable? Share in the Comments.
MORE
Small Space Solutions on the up in Singapore
Space-saving Ideas for Small Home Offices
Small-scale Living Tips and Tricks
It sounds pretty self-explanatory but knocking down walls and opening up your space is possibly the biggest way to enlarge a small home.
Breaking down specific walls can also help light to flow better in a small home.
TELL US
Do you live in a small home? What have you done to make it more liveable? Share in the Comments.
MORE
Small Space Solutions on the up in Singapore
Space-saving Ideas for Small Home Offices
Small-scale Living Tips and Tricks
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I loooove the idea of a round dining table. I don't think people use them enough!
I'm all about the cool shades for my studio apartment. When it comes to shopping for my home, I only shop within the specific cool colours.
Storage is always an issue living in small apartments in Singapore. Customise your furniture so that some things can fold away (there is a movable storage and more work space unit under the counter in picture below) or open for storage. Use of mirrors in the right place can make rooms look bigger eg mirroring a window to double up light and view.