Small Space Living

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.