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A furniture designer’s top tips for small space living

November 24, 2016 Leave a Comment

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With compact living on the rise, never has maximising small spaces been so relevant. Whether your square footage is by circumstance or by choice, Lounge Lovers’ in-house designer Jeannett Hojer shares how best to make the most of your small home.

Use mirrors and gallery walls

It might seem counterintuitive, but you can create the illusion of space by filling it up. Hojer suggests using both mirrors and artwork to create a gallery wall. Start as low as possible and work your way upย – by utilising entire walls, it alludes to more space than there actually is.

Image: Patrick Cline for Lonny. Click for details
Image: Patrick Cline for Lonny. Click for details

Not sure where to start? Choose a mirror as the central focus, then work the rest in around it. A good mirror will do two things for a small room; it will reflect natural light and the light from lamps and it will create the illusion of a wider, deeper space.

Make use of lighting

A small room with poor lighting can start to feel claustrophobic so if you want your home to feel bigger, make use of natural light whenever possible. That can be as simple as throwing open the curtains or the blinds as much as you can to allow your rooms to be lit with real light. If this isnโ€™t possible, use floor and table lamps around the room to bounce light off the walls and give the room breadth.

Choose multifunctional products

At the heart of myย designs is the customer, their everyday use of products and finding the perfect balance of practicality versus design aesthetic. This approach has seen meย design many chic and stylish pieces, including sofa beds, ottomans and extendable dining tables.

The key to maximising space is not to overcrowd it. Multifunctional products โ€“ for example an ottoman that can be transformed into a bed or used as a coffee table โ€“ are the perfect choice for smaller living. Itโ€™s about being smarter with your space. Sofa beds are great choices for one-bedroom apartments as they can cater to overnight guests or visiting family with ease.ย 

Lounge Lovers’ Hendrix sofa in Lavender

Give your space personality

Keeping your overall colour palette neutral will help to create the feeling of space, however a pop of colour will give your home personality โ€“ and thatโ€™s really what itโ€™s all about.

A colour can give particular products their own personality. I love using colour to bring a bit of character to my pieces and when used in the right way, can really open up a living space.

Lounge Lovers' Harriett velvet sofa. Click for more info.
Lounge Lovers’ Harriett sofa. Click for more info.

Whether itโ€™s a piece of art, a throw or cushions or a statement sofa, donโ€™t be afraid to bring some life to your room with a touch of colour.

And, in the bedroom?

A bedroom should be a calm, relaxing space, where nothing is too disturbing to the eye. Keep it simple and uncluttered โ€“ a tallboy over a dresser will lead the eye from floor to ceiling to visually make the room feel bigger and uncomplicated. Side tables will keep your room streamlined without being fussy.

If your bedroom is particularly small, skip the bed frame and get a base with legs. You can then use big pillows to replicate a headboard, and you donโ€™t lose any precious floorspace.

–Jeannett Hojer is Lounge Lovers‘ in-house designer.

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Those finishing touches make ALL the difference! Those finishing touches make ALL the difference! 

@kethy.australia, whose cabinet hardware I've used in my own kitchen, laundry and on my recent sideboard glow up, are passionate about bringing you the latest design and finishes from around the world!ย 

Their stunning timber knobs and handles from Denmark add texture, warmth and an organic feel to yourย projectsย that can only be achieved by using natural materials.

Whether you're embarking on a new build, renovating an existing kitchen, bathroom or laundry or updating a piece of furniture, Kethy have something for you in their huge range.

See it all online and find your local re-seller at their website via link in @kethy.australia bio.

#timberhandles #timberknobs #cabinethardware #cabinethandles #finishingtouches #drawerpulls #kitchenhandles #kitchenpulls #kitchenknobs #kitchendrawer #kitchendrawers #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #theinteriorsaddict #homerenovations #interiordesignaustralia #interiordesigninspo #transformyourhome #housemakeover #designinspiration #trusttheprocess #designwork #beautifulhomes #dreamhouse #homestylingsydney #beforeandafterrenovation #creatingbeautifulspaces #kitchentrends2022 #kitchenglowup
Before & after: Renovating a kitchen while keeping Before & after: Renovating a kitchen while keeping ALL the character!

What a great example this is by @huntingforgeorge 

See all the details, and the laundry, on the blog now, via link in bio.
The patient has very much bounced back! Letterbox The patient has very much bounced back!

Letterbox kinder egg deliveries from a friend, dressing changes without a flinch and refusing to nap despite all the bribes (check the face on him in pic 3!).

Thanks for all your care and messages/comments for this tired and shaken up mama! Now very relieved and grateful ๐Ÿ™
Before & after It's not just the award winning de Before & after

It's not just the award winning designer houses that get us excited here. It's also the beloved family homes which are renovated and extended to make them fit for purpose so people can continue to live where they love ๐Ÿค—

@inspiredspacesaus helped her clients with teenage kids transform this house in Sydney's Hills District inside and out, making it their forever home. 

Due to the nature of the block they could only extend sideways and then gave it street appeal with render, new windows and doors.

See inside on the blog now, via link in bio. It was completely overhauled!
Charlie doesn't recommend running head first into Charlie doesn't recommend running head first into tiled steps ๐Ÿค•

Oh what a night. Thankfully Hornsby Hospital were as amazing as always and we avoided stitches. All taped and glued  back together and now to keep him calm for the next few days (๐Ÿคช) and watch for signs of concussion. 

Bravest little patient ever. Yes I've had a ๐Ÿท

Funny how we go into super organised mama mode in times like these. Grabbed dinosaurs, textas and scrapbook on the way out in case we had a long wait!

UPDATE: thanks for all the love! Charlie is so well this morning after a big sleep!
Australian made bathroomware is seriously impressi Australian made bathroomware is seriously impressive!

The new @studio.xox ONLY sells Australian brands. Like @nood_co coloured basins, lead-free eco brass from @faucetstrommen and @lindseywherrett's  ceramic basins made by hand in Tassie.

And as for their Sydney showroom (they also sell online): WOW.

See and read more on the blog now via link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop
#creatingbeautifulspaces #homestylingdesign
#designbywomen #homestylingtips #sydneycreatives
#homestylingsydney #interiorstyling #interiordesignsydney
#everydaydesign #interiortrends #renovationinspiration
#homedesigninspo #lovemyhome #stylingdetails
#loveinteriors #homeimprovements #interiordesignaustralia
#dreamhomeinspiration #homemakeover #personaldesign
#interiordesignaus #creatingbeautifulspaces
#creativehomes #housestyling #sydneyhomes
#interiorinspiration #myhomedesign
I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new @madeinaustshow in Sydney this August.

๐Ÿฆ˜๐ŸจForget every tacky association you ever had about touristy Australian made and prepare to see a showcase of the best of home, lifestyle, fashion and beauty made right here. If the pandemic has made you appreciate buying local even more, this is for you.

It's the first business to business trade event connecting retailers with Australian made products to champion our local makers๐Ÿ™

Apply to exhibit or find out more at their website, via their bio, now!

Are YOU buying more Australian made post covid?

#madeinaustralia #australianmade #aussiemade #aussiedesign
Do I recommend a timber vanity top? A big fat NOP Do I recommend a timber vanity top?

A big fat NOPE! ๐Ÿ’ง 

Which is why we have recently covered ours with a Caesarstone top (thanks to @justinplace_sydney for the advice and supply) and the sweet RELIEF of not having to worry about this high traffic area anymore, I'm telling you!๐Ÿค—

Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

But I'm so pleased with this solution, I have to say! Took the plumber less than an hour to remove the sink, install the top and connect the sink back up. We didn't need to move the tap and it isn't too close to the basin.

The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap ๐Ÿฅด) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon ๐Ÿ˜†

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too ๐Ÿ˜‰

#interiorsaddictbathroomreno2 #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #timbervanity
Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
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