How to Maximise Space in a Small Living Area

There’s nothing more important than having a little space to yourself, a place where you can rest and relax peacefully. For many of us, that’s our homes. But what do residents do if the property they rent is a touch cosier than first thought?Well, the amount of space your residents have when they move into a property is a big deal. According to a survey of 2,000 private UK renters, 25% of men and 24% of women who said they were looking to buy were doing so because they wanted more space.

And of course, any time a resident moves out, it could mean facing a lengthy void period.

According to our own studies, over 70% of landlords expect voids to last at least one month. Taking the average UK rent of £922, that’s a lot of money you could be losing out on when a resident leaves, especially if a void period lasts longer.

Trying to maximise space in a small living area can be difficult, but you need to create as much room as possible in your property. Interior design styles, clever storage ideas and thinking carefully about your choice of furniture are three key ways to do this.

With a little forward thinking, it’s more than possible to fashion a property that feels much larger than it really is. We’ve put together our six best tips to help you maximise space in a small living area, keeping residents happy and the potential of voids to an absolute minimum.

1. GO FOR A MINIMALIST DESIGN TREND

If you’re short on space, the minimal look is a great way to go. Minimalist interior design is is loved by landlords and residents for six key reasons:

• It creates a decluttered, inviting space
• Easy maintenance
• Every piece if furniture has a purpose
• Minimalism never goes out of style
• It’s ideal if you’re furnishing on a budget
• You’ll free up a huge amount of space

Mastering this interior design trend is a matter of remembering less is more. It helps to maximise space in small areas by removing all the unnecessary pieces and keeping a room as stripped back as possible.

Simplicity, beautiful aesthetics and a focus on function, minimalist design trends are all about creating stunning interiors that have a specific purpose.

This design trend can be tricky to get right. It can be hard to tell whether you've found the right balance, which can mean you either under or over when furnishing your rental.

Then there’s the matter of finding the right colour scheme, furniture and textures. If minimalist designs interest you, it’s best to consult an expert interior designer to ensure you’re on the right track.

2. GO BACK TO NATURE

Biophilic designs are becoming more and more popular by the day. If you haven’t come across the term before, it’s a way of incorporating nature into your interiors. This can be through:

• Adding houseplants
• Natural colour schemes such as blues and greens
• Using natural materials such as wood, stone and clay

Biophilic designs are well known for their importance towards improving mental health. Studies show that plants help reduce stress and anxiety, and they improve our cognitive abilities. But, they have another key function, which (as you’ve probably guessed) is helping to maximise space in small areas.

Houseplants are great for adding depth and character to a room. They soften corner spaces and convince the eye into thinking there’s more room than there really is.

Incorporating nature into your rental property is a good way to maximise space and improve the wellbeing of tenants, but you don’t have to stop with putting plans in the corner of rooms. If your property doesn’t have a garden for residents to enjoy, think about installing window boxes as well to help bring the outdoors to your tenants. This will give them a nice little garden to look after without taking up too much space.

3. MAKE USE OF MIRRORS

Mirrors have been used in interior design for years as a way of making a space look larger, brighter and airier. A mirror that’s positioned perfectly not only adds to the illusion of depth, but it also reflects light deep into a room, making it appear bigger than it is.

Plus your residents can also use them as actual mirrors if the idea takes their fancy.

To maximise space through the use of a mirror even more, you should place one near a large window. It will reflect the view from outdoors, which gives the room a more open feel to it and catches more natural light.

Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to find one that can effectively make a space feel larger without being imposing. After all, you wouldn’t want to hang one up if it covers 90% of the wall space. We have a great range of mirrors to choose from, all of which are perfect for adding a touch of luxury to your property as well.

4. CHOOSE A DINING TABLE THAT FITS YOUR NEEDS AND IN YOUR ROOM

A dining table is great for bringing people together at meal times, but a large one isn’t the best way to go about this if your rental property is only small. The corners on square and rectangular tables can take up more room, so opt for a round table to maximise space.

Large tables can actually be inconvenient, even if there’s enough space for a bigger one. The closer a table is to the walls or other pieces of furniture, the larger it will appear, giving a sense of there being less space. Go for a smaller option if you're ever in doubt.

Circular designs not only save room in small kitchens and dining areas, they are also more welcoming and sociable. With a round top, no one is “head of the table” and there’s less distance between everyone sitting around it. We’re sure everyone’s been in a situation where they want to talk to one person, but they’re just so far away.

If you’re furnishing a small space, keep in mind that your residents won’t be able to entertain too many guests anyway, and a small table that comfortably seats three or four people is more than fit for purpose. The same can be said if your residents only have one or two children. If a large, rectangular table isn’t necessary, don’t go for it.

Not all square and rectangular tables take up a significant amount of room, though. Depending on the style of your rental property, the edged look could also be more aesthetically pleasing. Ask an interiors expert for help and guidance if you’re struggling to find the right table.

5. INSTALL A SOFA BED

Couches and beds are two of the largest items you’ll find in any property, which means they take up a lot of floor space. Sofa beds are not only very comfortable, they’re a fantastic space-saving option for long-term and short-term lets.

Because they have more than one practical use, a sofa bed can be used in either the bedroom or living room without looking out of place. They provide a great solution if your residents need a spare bed for visitors or if their own rooms are on the small side, as the bed can simply be tucked away until it’s needed.

We understand that multipurpose furniture gets a lot of use, which is why our own range of luxury sofa beds are sturdy, comfortable and will last for years to come with the right upkeep and maintenance.

6. FIND THE RIGHT STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Even if you use all of our first five tips to maximise space in small living areas, there’s still the matter of your residents’ belongings to think about. They’ll need storage for their clothes, books, CDs, DVDs ornaments and more.

We have an extensive range of sleek and stylish bedroom sets available, providing your residents with plenty of wardrobe space, a chest of drawers and a bedside table for their clothes.

Our contemporary sideboards look great in any room and are perfect for putting books, magazines and general items in. The top of the sideboard can even be decorated with plants, pictures and ornaments to create a more homely feel.

LOFT’s collection of storage solution furniture also expands into ottoman beds, bookshelves and TV units. We have a huge range of furniture to maximise space in a small living area, so make sure to check out what we have available. 

MAXIMISE SPACE FOR LESS

It can be difficult to make a small living area feel airy and spacious, but with the right mindset and help from a trusted interiors partner, maximising space needn’t be a task that’s too tough to handle.

Our expert interior design team has all industry know-how to get the most potential out of every room in your rental property. Combined with our affordable space-saving furniture range, there will be plenty of room in your property for residents to enjoy.

Contact a member of our dedicated team today, and we’ll help put together a space that delivers on comfort, style and price.