Fueled by young buyers in search of an urban lifestyle
and older homeowners looking to downsize, the condo market is hotter than ever.
“Small living” is the latest trend everywhere. Entire sections of some
furniture retailers are devoted to the fine art of managing a small space. With
a little effort put into maximizing the use of living and storage space, there
is no need to be claustrophobic in a small home. Here are a few tips for
“living large" in a small space.
Keep It Light – Dark colors tend to overwhelm a
small space. Use natural light and pale colors on the walls and window
treatments to open up the space and make it seem larger. This does not mean the
space has to appear monochromatic or bland. Brightly-colored furniture,
lighting fixtures and decorative art will provide a nice contrast while
maintaining the light, open feeling that a small space needs.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – Ask any magician,
using light and mirrors to create illusions is the oldest trick in the
book. In this case, a mirrored wall creates the illusion of a wide open space.
Mirrors function to brighten things up and make a small space appear bigger. In
addition to installing mirrored closet doors and wall panels, you may want to
hang a mirror on a wall opposite a window to increase the impact of natural
light within the space.
Furniture Selection – Two key concepts to keep in
mind when designing interiors for smaller spaces are scale and proportion.
Fortunately, many furniture makers today are designing pieces with small space
living in mind, but don’t think you’ll have to buy everything new. You can
maintain the right sense of proportion and scale by simply eliminating the
excess and focusing on functionality. An L-shaped sofa will provide a lot of
seating capacity while saving space. It’s also helpful to look for furniture
pieces that can double as storage units, such as an old chest box as a coffee
table or a small chest of drawers as an end table.
Take the Party Outside – In Arizona, socializing
is all about enjoying the desert air. If you love to entertain or have a large
family coming over for the holidays, think about using your condo association’s
common areas to host your guests. Nowadays, for this purpose, more and more
complexes have barbecue areas, terraces and reserved space. Your guests will
enjoy the experience and there will be no worries about where to seat everyone.
While you are focusing on my tips, think about all the
money and time you could save once you have already settled in. For those
used to living in sprawling suburban homes, there may just be a short
adjustment period. However, we live in a crowded world, so small space living
is undeniably here to stay.
