How to live in small spaces
“How to Live in Small Spaces” (Firefly Books, 224 pages, $29.95) has just been released.
Sir Terence Conran, is one of the world’s leading designers, furniture-makers and retailers and in this wonderful book he shares detailed, practical information on how to get the most out of every inch of small space living.
The book is packed with tips on how small scale can still contain big style. His strategies include built-in storage, conversions of attics and basements, using under-stair areas, halls and landings, use of multifunctional furniture, small-scale appliances and much more.
There are also case studies from Paris, London, Tokyo, California and New York that shows you how to put the theory into practice.
Here are a few tips from the books to whet your appetite.
1. Keep the floor as clear as possible. This is one of the most important ways of maintaining a sense of spaciousness. While this obviously requires proper storage systems so that books and belongings are not sitting in heaps all over the place, it also means erring on the side of under-, rather than over-furnishing. Freestanding pieces of furniture devour floor space and may do so without providing sufficient practical benefits.
2. Do your homework before buying furniture. If you are intending to buy a large piece, particularly a sofa or a bed, make sure you make and consult scale drawings to ensure the item will fit in the allotted space, and equally important, fit through the door. If in doubt, take your drawings to the store and ask for advice.
3. Think about what you really need. One or two comfortable sofas may represent a better use of space than cluttering up the living room with armchairs, occasional chairs and side tables. Floor cushions and ottomans make good additional seating, he adds.
4. Opt for built-in storage as much as possible. Freestanding storage furniture is bulky, visually intrusive and creates dead space around it.
5. Less is more but smaller is not always the answer, he says. While some sofa designs are simply too big for a given space and appear too dominant as a consequence, small-scale pieces may not provide the comfort you require and can give your home the look of a doll’s house.
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