Written by Topology in collaboration with Essential Living

Living in a city usually means that space comes at a premium. Perhaps you’re familiar with having to fork out a bit extra per month for that spare bedroom or you’ve opted for a smaller pad simply for a better location. However, what if we told you that there are easy effective ways of getting the most out of a small space with 5 simple tips.

Well, you’re in luck as we’ve teamed up with Essential Living, a new generation of rental property developments. Essential Living offer modern living in beautiful London areas, that allow you to personalise your rental space.

Mirror Orientation

Unless you’re living in one of Essential Living’s epic apartments with heaps of floor to ceiling windows, you may find that often natural light is a rarity. And did you know a lack of light can have a detrimental impact on your well-being and mood. In light of this, excuse the pun, positioning your mirror opposite a window is a great way to inject more light into your home. It easily opens up a space and reflects light around the space not only making it feel bigger, but brighter too. Don’t be afraid of putting two mirrors in one room either!

Clever Storage Solution

Often, the frustrations with living in a small space stem from not having enough storage, which can make a space feel cramped and overwhelming. Research even proves that simply knowing that a cupboard is crammed with ‘stuff’ inside can increase feelings of anxiety in the home. So, when buying items of furniture, it’s a great idea to choose pieces that have some form of storage built in. Think an ottoman instead of a coffee table, bedside tables with multiple drawers and even a chaise sofa with storage underneath. Sounds obvious, but the extra storage will enable a tidier & calmer home.

Use Bowls &  Baskets

 

 

If you find your bedside table, or sideboard, or console tables get messy with daily clutter, add a small bowl or basket to hide the messy things that don’t have a permanent home. You’ll be amazed at how quickly this can take a messy table top into a calm, neat environment.

Trick of the Eye

One of the easiest ways to make your space feel bigger is essentially an optical illusion. Furniture on legs or with transparent elements (e.g. perspex or glass) that allow you to see natural light and floor space around them, tricks your brain into thinking your space is bigger. Try a cabinet that’s wall mounted rather than on the floor, or a glass coffee table, or a sofa on tall legs. The more you can see of the room around the object, the bigger the space will feel.

Create Your Own Urban Jungle

Living in an urban environment often entails sacrificing being surrounded by nature.  However, this doesn't have to be the case within your home.  Plants don't only look good, but research shows that they work great in cluttered spaces as they balance the atmosphere. So if you’re in a small space, where keeping tidy may be tricky with your lack of storage and excess possession, try adding some plants around the space to counteract the clutter.

If you’re in the market for a modern, well serviced apartment in some of London’s finest locations, head over to our friends at Essential Living to see what sort of epic apartment you could be living in. All Essential Living buildings across London come equipped with spacious communal areas including; roof terraces, dining rooms, lounge areas and libraries - giving their residents that little more extra space to host. Oh, and did we mention they’re pet friendly and usually have roof terraces with panoramic views capable of making any friend instantly envious!?

Vantage Point

Topology

Author

Topology Interiors are award winning interior bloggers and London based design duo, run by designers Amy & Athina. On a mission to show that great style doesn't have to come at a cost, these girls are all about sharing the insider knowledge on affordable & accessible home design