Wow! We’d like to thank everyone who participated in our first ever Tweet Up on April 4th. It was exciting to have a real-time conversation with so many of you, and to gain insights into your own small-space living challenges.
We looked over the conversation thread after we were done and noticed some questions that seemed to come up repeatedly:
- How do I create separate living areas in a studio space?
- Where can I find extra storage?
- What colors work best?
Here are some of the suggestions we discussed:
Scott Springer's Share Space
Separate living areas: Distinct areas can be created by the placement of the larger pieces of furniture. For example, the back of a sofa can define and divide a seating and a sleeping area by creating a pathway between them. You can make this configuration more functional by placing a long sofa table against the back of the sofa. Storage containers and additional bench seating can also be stored under the long table. Another way to define space is to cluster furniture, such as dining or work tables, in a corner or center of the room, rather than lining everything up against the wall.
Screens, curtain panels and wall units finished on both sides, like the EXPEDIT unit, are good ways to divide the space when privacy is needed. When wall space is limited due to doorways and closets, create a wall by placing the large furniture pieces back-to-back with a curtain or wall unit between them.
ViennaLiving's Share Space
Extra storage space: This is one of the biggest small-space challenges faced by EVERYONE in a small living area! Some ways to find extra storage are:
- Use vertical space in the room. Hang storage containers on the walls, behind doors or over doorways. Consider a loft bed which makes the floor space underneath useable.
- Use underneath space. Beds and sofas provide large spaces underneath which are perfect for storing seasonal items. Use under-bed storage boxes to protect the items from dust.
- Look for furniture with built in storage space. Products like the EKTORP BROMMA ottoman or the KIVIK couch provide seating and extra storage compartments.
- Use furnishings that fold flat or stack when not in use. Perfect examples are the NORDEN gate leg table or KLUBBO nesting tables.
Lisa's Share Space
Colors for a small space: While there are no hard and fast rules for using colors in a small space, bear in mind that light and bright colors can make a space feel more open. White and off-white will make a space seem lighter and airier. Bright colors can absolutely be used in a small space, but try a lighter tint of the color and carry it throughout the entire space, or limit other colors in the space to one accent wall. Using a variety of dark colors can tend to make a space seem closed in and smaller.
And for those of you who missed the conversation, here's the recap of the small-space tweet up:
We loved hosting the Tweet Up and look forward to holding another one soon! So start thinking now: What design topic would you like to see covered in our next Tweet Up? Let us know!
-Janice