Stylish city living: Ikea interior designer on maximising space

What are your three top tips for decluttering and maximising space in a small home?

1. Divide the task

“Begin with one area or room to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Even decluttering a single drawer or shelf can make a difference.” 

2. Regularly declutter

“Make decluttering a regular habit to prevent buildup and keep your space organised. Adopt a rule where for every new item you bring an item into your home, you remove one. This helps maintain balance.” 

3. Categorise items 

“When decluttering, I find it helpful to divide items into four categories: keep; donate; recycle; and discard. Try to be honest about what you really need and actually use.”

How do you balance functionality and aesthetics when designing compact spaces? 

Modular furniture  

“Invest in quality modular products you can adapt over time if or as your needs change. And choose furniture that serves multiple purposes. For example, a sofa bed or folding dining table that doubles as a workspace.”

Closed storage

“Beautiful design is all about creating balance. I like to have both open and closed storage solutions. Have only essential products on show to avoid unnecessary clutter.

Display storage 

“Floating shelves and hooks can be both functional and visually appealing. Vertical storage solutions utilise otherwise wasted wall space while displaying items that reflect your personality. This also helps to keep the floor area clear, avoiding the room feeling cluttered.

“Suction shelves and hooks are a great renter-friendly option for bathroom storage.”

How can you create the illusion of more space? 

Colour

“Using colour and lighting effectively can significantly enhance the perception of space in a small home. Light colours, such as whites, pastels, and soft neutrals, reflect light and make a room feel larger and more open, while darker colours can be used for a moody, cosy feel. 

“Colour placement is also important. Using colour to emphasise vertical space draws the eye up and creates the illusion of height.”

Versatile window dressings

“You want to ensure any window dressings don’t block out natural light in the daytime. Using layered textiles around the windows is a great tactic. I like to opt for three layers combining a blind, sheer curtain and thicker lined curtain that can be opened fully. This allows you to vary the amount of light you let in, based on your needs.”

Versatile lighting 

“I adopt a similar approach when choosing lighting for my design. A combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting contributes to a well-lit space. This also helps eliminate shadows and highlights different areas of the room.”

What four common mistakes do people make when trying to save space in their homes? 

1. Forgetting about vertical space 

“Many people forget to utilise vertical space, such as walls and high shelves - missed opportunities for additional storage and organisation.” 

2. Overfilling storage 

“A frequent pitfall can be cramming too much into closets, cabinets, and drawers, which can make it difficult to find items and lead to items bursting out. It’s important to leave some breathing room in storage areas to keep them functional.” 

3. Disorganised storage 

“Without proper organisation systems, even the best storage solutions can become chaotic. Using labelled bins and baskets helps keep everything in its place and makes items easy to find.”

4. Not taking time to plan

“Jumping into space-saving projects without a clear plan can lead to inefficient use of space and resources. Taking the time to measure, plan and visualise the layout can result in a more effective and aesthetically-pleasing outcome.”

Do you have any advice for maximising space when you have limited outdoor space like a balcony? 

Use vertical space

“When it comes to greenery, make use of vertical space. Hanging baskets, green walls and dangling plants add visual interest without taking up valuable floor space.

“Similarly, outdoor shelves are not just for storing forgotten plant pots. They can be used to display your plants and store items in an artful and inspiring way - just like indoor open shelving.”  

Choose clever furniture 

“Choose furniture like folding or stackable chairs and tables that can be easily tucked away when not in use. Storage benches are ideal for keeping cushions, gardening tools or other items out of sight.”

Add lighting 

“For a balcony that exudes that warm, inviting feeling, why not add solar string lights or hanging pendants? Effective lighting also prolongs the amount of time you can use the space.”

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