Interior design tips for compact living

First of all, think about what you really appreciate and feel good about - look for inspiration and put together a mood board. Schedule a free interior design counselling to exchange ideas and find different solutions that fit or can be adapted to the floor plan. Don't be in too much of a hurry, but rather let the interior design evolve as you arrive at what you really want. Borrowed furniture or flea market finds work great while you save up for your dream piece of furniture or figure out what you really want. Think of creating your dream home as an ongoing process. It has to take its time!

Decorate vertically and horizontally

When floor space is limited, it is important to use the space on the walls. Storage in the form of shelves, bags och hooks There's no such thing as too much when you're living small. Place floor-to-ceiling shelves or decorate forgotten spaces - such as the wall space above the door moulding, behind the door or above the bed.

Cushions and blankets in natural materials makes the room inviting and can easily be moved from the bed to the sofa depending on how the furniture is used. A beautiful throw is also an easy way to arrange a "new" sofa or armchair, instead of investing in new upholstery - while waiting for the dream furniture to move in. A bedspread on the bed gives the room a tidy feel, which is especially important in the compact living home where you often don't have a separate bedroom. Carpets in natural materials are both practical and beautiful. They are also good at highlighting and creating space in the room.

Place curtain rails on the ceiling or as far up as possible, and as far to the side of the window as possible. This makes the windows look taller and wider and maximises the amount of light. The room is thus perceived as larger. Curtain lengths in tactile natural materials, such as wool or linen, soften the feel of the room and are long-lasting.

With few square metres available, it is good if the furniture has a general use, combined with lightweight constructions. This allows for a more dynamic and nomadic approach to the home. A stool can serve as a bedside table or as hallway furniture, but also as an extra seat at the dining table. The coffee table can easily be moved and transformed into a breakfast table next to the bed. And the sofa becomes a cosy bed for overnight guests. Or the bed can be used as a sofa, with plenty of cushions. Choose a dining table with an add-on top so that it can grow to accommodate more people around the table.

Light and reflection

Lighting makes a room feel more inviting and, combined with light-reflecting mirrors, immediately makes the room feel more spacious. Consider placing the lights at different heights to make the interplay of light and shadow more interesting. Don't be afraid to go all out - a room may need up to ten light sources to create a functional and cosy lighting scheme.