Make Your Small Spaces Feel Larger with These Easy Hacks
We understand you rely on furniture—delivered and installed right the first time—to provide your customers and occupants with a comfortable, positive experience. But what if your facility or building just doesn’t have enough space to furnish that kind of open feel?
This is where we come in. With so many facility design and furnishing options to choose from these days, you don’t have to rely solely on square footage to make your space feel larger. In fact, with these easy design tips and layout hacks, customers and occupants will feel much more comfortable in your space, creating a better experience overall.
Smart Layout Design
We’ve been a furniture partner and provider for universities, hotels, healthcare facilities, and other institutions across the country for nearly three decades, so we know a thing or two about smart design. From products to floor plans, every choice you make for your facility affects the end result of your project.
At Smarter Furnishings, we understand that less is more. It’s our quality over quantity mindset that allows us to deliver exactly what our customers need, while optimizing their space and project outcome. In terms of layout, “less is more” could simply mean utilizing large pieces that are custom-made for your space, rather than several small pieces that may not fit together.
You could also achieve this space-saving goal by thinking higher, rather than wider. Floating shelves, bookcases, built-ins, and even wallpaper can be great for making small, cramped spaces feel more intentional and functional. And it catches the eye!
Multi-Purpose Furniture
Something we pride ourselves on at Smarter Furnishings is building quality furniture that lasts and serves purpose long-term. Many of our beds, chests, loveseats, and media units come with raised legs to allow for extra storage space underneath. This not only helps open up the room, but also serves as added value to our customers’ customers, residents, or even guests.
Individual furnishings that are built to serve multiple purposes are also great for space-saving. Pieces with hidden storage compartments or features, such as our Franklin Power Pedestal, help maximize spaces by combining the need for two products into one. This pedestal features a custom, SMARTER drawer slide with a 125 lb. load-bearing capacity.
As an example, our education industry customers can maximize their dorm rooms with this one product that helps students in many ways. It can hold their laptop or books while studying, provide extra storage space, and even charge their devices with its built-in USB dual-charging port. If you’re a student, what’s not to love?
Use of Natural Light
Placing windows in just the right spot can help a small space feel much bigger. The inflow of natural light visually opens up any space, and that’s just one of the many benefits. Allowing for natural light in your facility or building can help improve the health of those in it.
According to research, sunlight also helps boost your mood, comfort level, and productivity. Sunlight will increase the levels of endorphins and serotonin in your brain, which help you feel happier and better overall. And increased exposure to sunlight can help fight against insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, and seasonal affective disorder.”
If that wasn’t enough of a reason, it can also help save money and improve your environmental footprint. “Lighting makes up about 10% of a home’s energy usage. So with more natural light in your home, your lights will be on for less time during the day… Natural light can also help heat your home in the cooler months.”
Just make sure your windows are properly placed for the room. Otherwise, the sun could end up shining through someone’s bedroom window at the crack of dawn every day.
Specific Color Choices
According to Benjamin Moore color and design experts, “lighter paint colors like off-whites, light neutrals, pales, and pastels give the illusion of larger, brighter rooms.” Light blues, soft yellows, and clean off-whites are especially great for opening the room or area.
Without windows, spaces tend to feel even tighter. For these rooms and areas, we recommend soft shades of yellow. This color is great for reflecting off nearby objects, creating an appearance of more light without actually having it.
Another fun tip is to use bright paint in specific spots to add a “pop” of color that everyone will notice and appreciate! For example, a bright-colored accent wall or ceiling trim will help visually expand the space and create intriguing focal points for your customers or occupants.
Let’s chat about your next project!
We hope you enjoyed these space-saving tips for smaller spaces! With the right furnishings and designs, we’re confident your customers and occupants will feel easily “at home” in your space!
Ready to meet and discuss the details of your project? We offer livestream demonstrations from our showroom or in-person presentations at your convenience. Give us a call at (205) 621-2502 or contact us online today.