It does not matter how big or small a house is. It can always be well-organized and beautifully furnished with budgets that are limited. The main thing is always to choose those furnishings that will maximize space. However, there are other things that have to be considered. Gary Friedman, CEO of RH (formerly known as Restoration Hardware), shares simple tips everyone can use when furnishing smaller homes.
Storage
A really good thing you can do is to always think about storage potential when you add furniture. When you have places where you can store things you basically make a huge difference in removing home clutter or at least keeping it at levels that are manageable. You want to be particularly attentive to:
- Space under your bed – consider bunk beds or built-in drawers.
- Under your stairs – shelves or built-in drawers can be considered.
- Tables – great options include coffee tables, nightstands and end tables with storage added.
- Add some toe kick drawers under the kitchen cabinets.
- Consider benches that have storage.
- Look for storage options in your bathroom.
Multipurpose Furniture
These are highly recommended as they can simply serve multiple purposes. The best example is the couch that can turn into a bed but you can also consider tables to use as desks or lift-top coffee tables.
Alternatively, you can also look at fold up furniture. The possibility of removing furniture with ease when it is not used can do wonders for maximizing space inside a smaller home. You can always consider Murphy beds, desks, folding chairs, tray tables and even portable kitchen carts.
Use Your Walls
Walls are normally overlooked in most houses. When space is small, you can always go up by simply using shelving units and bookcases. High shelves work great but you can also hang some items from your ceiling. Closet organizers should also be seriously considered as they can be designed to perfectly fit individual needs. Keep your clothes and the entire closet manageable at all times.
Remove What Does Not Work
When the budget is low it is common to end up buying any item that is cheap but this can easily lead to a clutter of furniture that is not at all functional. On the long run you end up losing money. When you have furniture that is in the way and you cannot remove clutter because of it, just remove it. Working around the items that are not functional is usually a huge strain.
Remember the fact that furniture that does not actually match your storage purposes does not need to just be thrown away. You can always sell furniture on Craigslist, eBay or in garage sales. Alternatively, you can trade furniture with the use of social media. Only after you cannot actually find a way to sell furniture you can consider giving it away. Use the money you get to buy furniture that can be used for multiple purposes or that simply helps you with storage problems. Never buy something simply because it is beautiful if the house is small.
