7 Space-boosting Ideas to Steal from 2019’s Houzz Tours
From a well-placed screen to a genius reconfiguration, these clever solutions show just what’s possible in a small space
Architects and interior designers have plenty of tricks up their sleeves to help them make a room look and feel bigger. Check out these smart ideas from our Houzz Tours to discover tips to boost your own space.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Fade into the background
Here’s another small flat with a shared living and kitchen space. To fit plenty of storage into the cooking zone without impinging on the rest of the room, Nick Scott of WN Interiors made the cabinets as discreet as possible.
The matt pale grey units have neat integrated handles and are laid out in an almost straight line. The fridge is tucked in under the counter and the washing machine is out of the way in the bathroom. “It’s designed to disappear,” Nick says.
In case there wasn’t enough storage in the kitchen, he chose a dining table with three handy drawers in it.
Discover more small space solutions in this open and sociable flat.
Looking for a kitchen designer or fitter in your area? Browse reviews in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Here’s another small flat with a shared living and kitchen space. To fit plenty of storage into the cooking zone without impinging on the rest of the room, Nick Scott of WN Interiors made the cabinets as discreet as possible.
The matt pale grey units have neat integrated handles and are laid out in an almost straight line. The fridge is tucked in under the counter and the washing machine is out of the way in the bathroom. “It’s designed to disappear,” Nick says.
In case there wasn’t enough storage in the kitchen, he chose a dining table with three handy drawers in it.
Discover more small space solutions in this open and sociable flat.
Looking for a kitchen designer or fitter in your area? Browse reviews in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Squeeze in a shower
This flat was already small for one bathroom, but the owners wanted to squeeze in two. An impossible challenge? No, as it turned out.
Architect Eva Byrne of houseology did some clever reconfiguring of an existing bathroom and airing cupboard to fit in two washrooms and a laundry zone.
To slot a shower into this en suite, she went for length rather than width: the cubicle is just 70cm wide, but is 120cm long. The deeper dimension makes it feel quite substantial, despite the narrowness.
Find out how this tiny city flat was cleverly reworked.
This flat was already small for one bathroom, but the owners wanted to squeeze in two. An impossible challenge? No, as it turned out.
Architect Eva Byrne of houseology did some clever reconfiguring of an existing bathroom and airing cupboard to fit in two washrooms and a laundry zone.
To slot a shower into this en suite, she went for length rather than width: the cubicle is just 70cm wide, but is 120cm long. The deeper dimension makes it feel quite substantial, despite the narrowness.
Find out how this tiny city flat was cleverly reworked.
Free up surfaces
You don’t necessarily have to compromise on comfort in a smaller bedroom. The owners of this space were keen to have a large bed, so interior designer Tanya Leech used a simple trick to squeeze one in.
She chose small bedside tables with spindly legs that don’t take up visual space and, to keep the surfaces clear for essentials, fitted pendant lights instead of table lamps.
See more of this family’s coastal cottage made light and open.
You don’t necessarily have to compromise on comfort in a smaller bedroom. The owners of this space were keen to have a large bed, so interior designer Tanya Leech used a simple trick to squeeze one in.
She chose small bedside tables with spindly legs that don’t take up visual space and, to keep the surfaces clear for essentials, fitted pendant lights instead of table lamps.
See more of this family’s coastal cottage made light and open.
Work your worktops
It made sense in this galley kitchen to lose floorspace in order to accommodate a large worksurface. Sam Cooper at E2 Architecture + Interiors chose worktops that are 750mm deep rather than the standard 600mm.
This allows the owners to store their kettle and appliances on the surface while still having space in front for easy food preparation.
The wall units are cleverly designed with a slightly inset lower section, which makes the worktop feel even more spacious.
Visit more of this Victorian maisonette transformed by a modest extension.
It made sense in this galley kitchen to lose floorspace in order to accommodate a large worksurface. Sam Cooper at E2 Architecture + Interiors chose worktops that are 750mm deep rather than the standard 600mm.
This allows the owners to store their kettle and appliances on the surface while still having space in front for easy food preparation.
The wall units are cleverly designed with a slightly inset lower section, which makes the worktop feel even more spacious.
Visit more of this Victorian maisonette transformed by a modest extension.
Prize drawers
Large pan drawers feature in many kitchens, but in this one they’re the main storage element. The space isn’t particularly small, but the absence of wall units reduced the amount of storage options in the room.
Simon Lennox of Adornas Kitchens & Interiors got round this by using drawers rather than cupboards in the base units. “They provide much more [usable] storage than a cupboard,” he explains. “With drawers being telescopic, you can see everything at the back – nothing gets lost, nothing is inaccessible.”
See how a cluttered kitchen gained order, space and light.
Large pan drawers feature in many kitchens, but in this one they’re the main storage element. The space isn’t particularly small, but the absence of wall units reduced the amount of storage options in the room.
Simon Lennox of Adornas Kitchens & Interiors got round this by using drawers rather than cupboards in the base units. “They provide much more [usable] storage than a cupboard,” he explains. “With drawers being telescopic, you can see everything at the back – nothing gets lost, nothing is inaccessible.”
See how a cluttered kitchen gained order, space and light.
Boost visual space
A mirror is an obvious but nonetheless very useful way to give a room a spacious feel, and in this basement flat it worked particularly well.
Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors added a striking pattern to the walls to brighten the dark space. However, in such a small area, the pattern could have taken over. The huge mirror breaks up the design and at the same time makes the room appear double the size.
Take a peek around this tiny basement flat boosted with colour.
Tell us…
Have you spotted any interesting space-enhancing solutions in our tours? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
A mirror is an obvious but nonetheless very useful way to give a room a spacious feel, and in this basement flat it worked particularly well.
Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors added a striking pattern to the walls to brighten the dark space. However, in such a small area, the pattern could have taken over. The huge mirror breaks up the design and at the same time makes the room appear double the size.
Take a peek around this tiny basement flat boosted with colour.
Tell us…
Have you spotted any interesting space-enhancing solutions in our tours? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
Interior designer John Wilson used a few key ideas to create a harmonious feel in this small flat. As the kitchen shares space with the living room, it was important to blend the two areas. So rather than fit traditional kitchen cabinets right the way along, he built a bespoke cupboard at the living room end so the storage looks like furniture rather than functional units.
To make the kitchen space work, John had to extend the right-hand run of cupboards into the living space slightly. He wrapped the marble worktop around the side to make it appear as an attractive marble block, then separated the spaces with a striking slatted screen, which has turned the division into a design feature.
Visit the rest of this characterful city home.