Smart Design Ideas for Small Spaces

They say that size matters, but when it comes to small spaces you never have to compromise on style or practicality. Here, Pringle & Pringle’s Creative Director, Sophie Pringle, shares her expert interior design ideas to make the most of your small rooms

Bring in the clutter… yes, really!

The old interior design rulebook would have you believe that small spaces should be minimalist and painted in light colours to make them feel bigger. However, I firmly believe that bringing beloved objects such as collectibles, photos, sculptures and artwork in to a small room makes it feel cosy. Layers of pattern and darker tones also work really well in small spaces. The key is not to focus on making a small room feel bigger, but to focus on making it feel comfortable. This snug room (pictured) in the Devon treehouse we designed is in complete contrast to the rest of the house, which has big open spaces and huge windows. This north-facing room had very little natural light and a slanted ceiling, so it needed to feel completely different. Walking into a small dark room from a big light space makes it feel instantly cosy.

Decide on function first, then make it pretty

Try to give a small room its purpose and make it the best that it can be. I visited a house with an awkward room between the old house and a big new extension. So I suggested that the owners install a piece of bespoke joinery on one side and added a big television, two really comfortable armchairs and a side table for a drink. It was quite a through room, but it didn’t matter because when you were in there it had everything you needed to relax. At the start of every design project, always prioritise the function of a room over the aesthetics.

Consider traffic flows

The way you move around your home is so important to how it is designed, particularly in small spaces. Carefully considered layouts mean that you won’t be constantly bumping into family members, awkwardly weaving around furniture, or inadvertently creating thoroughfares through spaces that should feel restful. In the kitchen of this Battersea family home (pictured), we blocked off an unnecessary second entrance into the room which took up valuable wall space. Instead, we installed an internal window above the new sink to maintain light and lines of sight into the double reception room beyond where we could install much-needed storage and create a dedicated reading and music room. 

Don’t always open up spaces

It can be so tempting to knock down walls to open up small spaces, but it’s not always the best solution. In my London flat we could have taken down the wall on the left of the kitchen (pictured) to create an open plan kitchen, dining, sitting room, but I would have lost a lot of storage space in the kitchen. Instead, there is a large opening in the wall above the units so it feels more like a breakfast bar and adds light without compromising on storage. It doesn’t matter if your home looks beautiful if it feels stressful because you have nowhere to put anything. Great storage is essential in small spaces.

Maximise every nook

With a little creativity and imagination, every nook in your home offers potential. Shelves can be installed in the smallest of spaces, while cosy corners below awkward sloped ceilings or under the stairs are the perfect places for children’s reading dens. We created this beautifully intimate children’s reading corner, complete with clever storage, in the eaves of the Parson’s Green townhouse we designed (pictured). In a different project, our clients living in this terraced house in Twickenham loved hosting, so we maximised this dark corner behind the kitchen door by fitting a fabulous bespoke bar area with a distressed mirror to reflect the light (pictured).

Go for bespoke joinery

Small houses work much better with built-in storage so you can maximise the wall space. We always design joinery that is completely bespoke to our clients’ lives. For example, we will design a linen cupboard with space for two sets of linen per bed, and wardrobes with storage for every piece of the client’s clothing. In my flat in London we could have narrowed the hallway to make the rooms bigger. Instead, we installed a large bank of bespoke joinery along the hallway filled with storage for everything from ski equipment to wrapping paper. It made the whole flat feel bigger. In this Cavendish Square office space (pictured), we hid the sink, fridge and bins behind elegant cabinetry.

First impressions count

Think about how the room feels when you walk into it and where your eye is taken. If you have a small sitting room with an alcove either side of your fireplace, floor to ceiling joinery in those alcoves will make the room feel smaller because you are effectively bringing the walls in even further. Whereas if you put in lower units with mirrors above, your eye will be taken to the furthest point, so the room will feel bigger and the mirrors will reflect the light. Also think about adding storage behind you as you walk into the room, so your eye will still be drawn to the furthest point. 

Watch “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”

Anyone who lives in a small house needs to watch this Netflix show – it’s brilliant! I’ve followed her approach in my own home and it makes such a difference.