How To Decorate Small Condos

How To Decorate Small Condos

If you have gone looking to buy or rent a new condo in Toronto, you may have asked yourself if the condos are getting smaller and smaller. The answer is yes. Condominium sizes in Toronto have been shrinking in size over the years.

The average size of a condominium built in Toronto today is around 700 square feet. New condominiums are 35 per cent smaller than the condominiums built in the eighties and 33 per cent smaller than those built in the nineties.

Small condos have their advantages: lower price, often a closer proximity to bustling downtown areas, and a cozy charm…if you know how to decorate it properly.

One misconception people have about decorating a tiny condo is that all the focus should be on functionality instead of design. That’s not true. Your condo may be small, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style.

The following decorating tips will help you make the most of your space and still let your personality come through.

1. Visually Separate Your Living Areas

It may seem like open concept living is best when decorating a tiny condo. This approach – however - can be overwhelming to the eye and a lack of definition in the space can lead to things looking messy. Do your best to define separate areas and give each area a specific purpose. Put coat and shoe racks by the door to round off your foyer. Put a buffet between your kitchen and dining areas for easy serving and extra storage. Back your sofa up to the foot of your bed to instantly draw the eye into your living area.

If you have a hobby, don’t be afraid to let it play a key role in separating the space while showing who you are. An indoor bike rack leaves your bike looking like it’s a part of the room rather than just being stored. You could also use plants to signify changes in the use of space.

2. Buy Dual-Purpose Furniture

When dealing with a small space, every inch counts. Make the most of a room by purchasing furniture pieces that serve two purposes. Rather than trying to work your space around furniture, focus on buying pieces that will work with you. Bedrooms are the perfect rooms to have multi-purpose furniture.

Consider a murphy bed that can be lifted into a wall unit, a hollow ottoman that can be used for can be used for storage, or a dining table with a leaf that will make it easier to entertain guests.

Whatever furniture you choose, make sure it is size-appropriate to your space. Overstuffed furniture only makes your living space look smaller. There are many furniture stores in Toronto that cater to condo living where you can find the right size furniture.

3. Rethink Unused Spaces

After living in the same space for a while, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut with how you use it. You know that you store extra baking dishes in the oven when not using it, extra candles in one of the kitchen drawers and plastic bags in a storage box under your bed. It’s good to ask yourself: “Am I using my space in the most effective way?”

Challenge yourself to look around your condo and find all the spaces that aren’t serving a useful purpose. Find unused corners and blank walls, and try to figure out ways to use those spaces to your advantage.

Turn a large windowsill into a workspace for when you need to work from home. Purchase a corner shelving unit to give yourself a place to store your books. Place a few baskets on top of your fridge and use them to hide your serving plates.

4. Store Vertically

In planning the best way to make use of a space, it’s important to think vertically as well as horizontally. Tall, narrow storage systems are great when trying to get the most storage out of the least amount of space.

Place two bookshelves on either side of a doorway for a built-in shelving look or a large entertainment unit that goes from floor to ceiling serves as a great room divider between your sleeping and living areas.

5. Create an Organization System

Everyone knows that storage is important when it comes to small condo living. You need tools to help hide clutter from view, but all the storage in the world won’t help you if it’s so messy that you cannot tell what’s being stored. Invest in some organizers to help keep you on track.

Back-of-the-door shoe-hangers can be used to hold anything from cleaning products to extra snacks. Lining shelves with small baskets creates a uniform look while hiding any clutter from view.

Once you own a few organization tools, the key is actually using them. It takes time for this sort of organization to become a habit. Set a goal of returning items to their proper places immediately after using them. After the adjustment period, keeping your condo organized will be a snap.

6. Choose Light Colours

Keep things light when choosing colours for your condo. Rich, darker colours tend to make spaces appear smaller to the eye, while light shades open things up. Use the right colour palette for your interiors when choosing colours for your small condo.

When choosing your palette, focus on using three colours: two light, bright shades that decorate the majority of the space. Add in one darker accent colour to ensure things stay visually interesting.

If you really love bold colours, you can still do that with furniture. Choose one main colour and buy all the furniture for that area in the same shade. Then, pick a second bold colour for the room’s accents. You may want to limit your pop of colour to one section of the condo. Too many statement colours in one tiny space can get overwhelming.

7. Add Curves with Furniture and Decor

Since most tiny condos tend to be box-shaped, use your furniture to add some curves back in. Curvy furniture can keep things from looking monotone.

Think about using a round dining table or a sofa and chair set with angled sides.

Once you’ve found pieces that suit your needs and your personal style, make sure to compliment those by using similar shapes in your accessories. Instead of using a rectangular bathroom mirror, choose a round one that makes a statement. Instead of straight floor lamps, try more rounded table lamps.

8. Layer to Add Depth

One thing that small spaces lack is depth, since there is only so much space to look at. You can – however - make up that depth by layering in your design.

Shadow boxes make excellent wall hangings. Add a few throw rugs to add dimension to carpeting. Layer your bedding with multiple blankets and throw pillows add depth while keeping you warm and cozy.

It’s important to note that layering is not just about piling one design element on top of another, it’s also about creating contrast. When you’re selecting the items that you’d like to layer throughout your condo, go for pieces that have varying materials, textures, and patterns.

9. Embrace the Floating Design Trend

Large, bulky furniture pieces can make a small condo seem closed-off. Incorporating floating elements into your design can open things up by allowing the eye to travel all the way through the space, while still providing the same functionality.

Try using floating shelves instead of a bookcase or a floating sink in place of a traditional vanity. In terms of furniture, pieces with legs will seem to take up less space than those that sit directly on the floor.

10. Unclutter Your Condo Regularly

It’s only natural to accumulate clutter after living in the same place for some time. When living in a small condo, the clutter is much more apparent because there are fewer places for it to hide.

Once or twice a year, make sure to go through your possessions and decide what should be kept. You’ll be surprised how many items are unnecessary and how much clearer your home looks once you’ve finished.

Try setting a deadline, organize one area at a time and start with the most cluttered area first. Keeping organizational tasks small will help things seem more manageable.