So far my few recent articles  about the super small living have all been about storage. Although, they have not touched much on one large topic; the finishing touches. The finishing touches of a space or home complete the picture. Apart from finding a way to ensure all your space is properly utilized, It’s time to make more with less!

So, firstly  the important thing about small living spaces begins with leaving an open plan concept. It does no good to partition off areas that aren’t needed. If you need to enclose the kitchen for worries of food odors, then use glass as partition or doors. The use of glass will provide a very modern look in your interior and provides a partition without the visual obstruction.

Then there is the floor to ceiling height. This is where you need to take lots of care, as this can determine how cramped your living space will look. For instance, if the ceiling height doesn’t suit you, there’s a good possibility that the ceiling can be removed and you will be able to have an exposed soffit look. This is a matter of taste as some people do prefer to have a more exposed feeling in the living space with the benefit of having more headroom.

Then look at the windows. Not so much the windows themselves, but rather the light that is brought into the living space. Sometimes with a small place, there isn’t much chance of having a great deal of natural light. It doesn’t mean that there is no remedy to this; try false windows! Incorporating lights behind a piece of frosted glass will create a lit light source that resembles a window. This will illuminate the area and also make the space seem lighter, brighter, and bigger.

Then your windows will need curtains or shades depending on taste. For smaller living spaces, the uses of thick curtains that have pleats are quite heavy. Blinds are much lighter and aesthetically more suitable for the small spaces. They are easily cleaned and do not gather as much dust that a thick curtain would. These blinds are easily installed to the ceiling and are concealed very neatly inside small boxed rolls at the top of the windows.

Talking about lighter, brighter, and bigger; one huge key of interiors in small spaces is the colour scheme. Do limit the use of bright colours all over and do not use too many colours. With the use of many colours, the space will feel more segmented and smaller. If you have an open plan but segment the rooms with different material colours and finishes, then the open plan concept would be completely wasted. Make sure the walls have a light finish and try to stay neutral. Create a personal flare with the use of a feature element or wall. This can be the wall you see from the entrance or beside the TV console, but pick wisely so that it will become the centerpiece of your place!

So, here’s where I will conclude the series of small living.

There are so many other interventions for interiors that are being experimented with and tested every day. With technology moving on faster and faster, it is important to keep your eyes open and be aware of things around you. Prepare your house for integration of systems that will simplify your life and provide better solutions for living.

Check back in next week for a following series that will look into the future of our daily lives.