Small Space Design…Big Ideas

Great rooms may be great, but what about smaller spaces? Small space design requires big ideas. A model home is a marketing investment, and as such every room within the model is important. And while big spaces and larger homes that include a great room attract a significant amount of money per square foot to merchandise, ensuring the smaller homes and spaces are effective selling tools is equally – if not more – important. Often it is the small space designs that require more creativity. To ensure that all the spaces in a model are effectual in selling the house, it is key to employ big design ideas for small space design such as:

Being Bold

Whether it is using bright orange paint on an accent wall, or a busy-patterned wallpaper for the powder room, being bold can help a small space stand out. Prospective buyers often walk multiple models when shopping for a new home, frequently on the same day. You want your model to stand out. Boldness can help create an impression that lasts.

Prospective buyers are sure to remember the design of this model’s bedroom.

Further, being bold can help make a small space appear larger. It may seem counter intuitive, but bold dark colors and/or shining metal accents can actually help to create a visually “large” impression of a space.

Boldness also applies to the furnishings of a room. Many people think small spaces need small furniture, but that isn’t always the case. Smaller pieces can actually make the space look off balance and create an awkward feel in a room. Using large rugs where most of the furniture can be placed on the rug is a great way to make a small space feel more open.

Going Vertical

Good design can help expand a small space vertically. For example, floor to ceiling shelving with doors and a mix of open and closed storage provides an illusion of space for our eyes. Hanging drapery panels as high as the wall allows can also add more height in a room.

Painting the accent wall a bold color to the ceiling, along with the drapes hanging high help to create an illusion of space.

Featuring Flexibility

Movable, convertible, flexible furniture is another design tactic that can help a small space stand out. You may want a desk and/or bed in a guest bedroom, but will the buyer really need them 24-7? By using flexible furniture such a Murphy bed that can fold up when not in use not only frees up floor space and makes the space appear bigger, it can also inspire visions of multiple uses for the room. Loft beds, tables on wheels, and other flexible furnishings can help promote the impression of space and use options.

The flex room in this model demonstrates just how flexible the space can be!

Using Mirrors

Mirrors are a small space’s best friend. They can be used within a gallery wall or on a wall adjacent to a window to make the space seem larger and brighter. Be it decorative or large and installed, the power of mirror to make a small space feel open and airy is key.

This PA model home greets you with a wall of different, interesting mirrors instantly adding personality and “space” into the design.

Learn More

Designing for small spaces can be challenging, but it can also be quite fun and profitable. Large spaces usually have more flexibility. Meanwhile, in a small space, the designer must provide and show proof that there is space available to work for the buyers lifestyle needs. The better designed and merchandised your model home, the more ROI for the builder. To learn how we can help sell your small spaces with big design ideas, please contact us today.

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