from: http://www.foxnews.com/
Rent
to Own.ph: Most of our homes have that odd space. We don't quite know how to
make the most of it. These examples of tricky space designs show us how to make
that space more functional.
From
long and narrow "railroad car" apartments to teensy studios and rooms
that seem to be all doors and windows, every home has its own design
challenges. If you've hit a roadblock (where
in the world can I put that sofa?) or just feel there must be
a better way of arranging your space, read on -- we're covering solutions for
11 of the most common space-planning dilemmas.
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Getting started. As with the beginning of any design project, it helps to look at your space with fresh eyes. Go out, grab a cup of coffee and come back for another look once you feel refreshed. Better yet, bring a design-savvy friend along with you and ask what he or she would do with the space. Sometimes just hearing others' ideas can help get your own creative juices flowing and lead to your best ideas.
If
the room is really giving you trouble, I recommend taking every scrap
of furniture out and looking at it completely bare. When layers of
stuff are clogging up your view, it can be hard to imagine setting up the room
in any other way.
Move
the stuff, and you may be able to move the mental roadblocks too.
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 1: Long, narrow hall
The
solution: Think art gallery. Fresh white walls are the classic
choice, though textured grasscloth or a coat of rich color would work equally
well. Go sleek and simple with all black and white pieces, or create a quirky
gallery with eclectic, colorful artwork hung in a line, with some
frames left intentionally empty. Finish the space with proper lighting. Try
overhead track lighting and/or small wall-mounted lights to illuminate the art.
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Tricky
space 2: Small home, long hall
The
solution: Rather than let precious space go unused, put your hallway
to work by installing floating cabinets and shelves. Floating the storage
pieces off the floor keeps the area from feeling too heavy or cluttered. Just
be sure to measure carefully, choosing cabinets that are narrow enough to allow
ample room to walk by. Make a point of keeping the floors clean and surfaces
carefully curated -- clutter will become noticeable quickly in a tight space
like this.
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Tricky
space 3: Small space, no entryway
The
solution: Don't bother trying to squeeze a teensy table behind the
door. It will only bug you, and it won't be big enough to hold much. Instead,
look for the first available open wall and place a larger desk or storage piece
there, letting it do double duty as an entertainment center or workspace.
If
there is literally nowhere to put a table, try using a few small, sleek
wall-mounted pieces instead. A few hooks for keys, coats and bags and a
floating shelf or sorter for mail are all you really need to manage the
essentials
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 4: Eat-in kitchen with too many doors and openings
The
solution: In places where a square or rectangular table would stick
out like a sore thumb, go round instead. Curved shapes generally fit better
into awkward spaces, softening the hard edges in a room. Try to pull your round
table near a wall, even if it's only as small a section of wall as in the room
shown here; it looks more natural than placing the table dead-center.
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 5: Living room with multiple doors and windows
The
solution: If your living room has an element (door,
window, fireplace, radiator) that prevents you from placing furniture near the
walls, try pulling the arrangement toward the center of the room instead. Use
the symmetry of a matching pair of sofas to counteract the chaos of the entries
and exits, and add a cozy area rug to anchor the conversation area.
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 6: Living room with very little available wall space
The
solution: If your living room is driving you nuts, take a look at
your dining room instead. Could you make a swap? Multiple windows and
doors don't really matter in a dining room, as furniture needs are minimal
(table, chairs, maybe a sideboard). And what is more romantic than dinners by
the fire?
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 7: Tiny studio apartment
The
solution: Small-scale furniture and careful planning are key in a
tiny space that must serve many purposes. Round tables and furniture
with curvy shapes make navigating tight quarters easier, while glass
or Lucite tables create more visual space.
Ample
storage will make your life much easier, so look for smart designs that sneak
in extra space. You could use storage ottomans instead of a coffee table
or an antique dresser instead of an entertainment center, or even hide an
entire wall of shelving behind attractive curtains on ceiling-mounted rods.
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 8: Slanted ceiling the under stairs
The
solution: If you can afford to make the investment, custom
built-in cabinets, shelving or desk space is a wonderful way to make use of
every last square inch. Otherwise, low-profile furniture such as a small daybed
(with no headboard or footboard) or chaise can turn an awkward nook into a cozy
hideaway.
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 9: Small living room
The
solution: It's a bit counterintuitive, but too many itty-bitty
pieces can make a room feel cluttered and cramped. Strike a balance by choosing
pieces that look substantial but have sleek lines (no rolled arms!).
Substituting an upholstered ottoman for the usual coffee table is an easy way
to sneak in extra seating, and a pair of petite armchairs can fit in the space
of a single overstuffed version. Finally, be sure to place lighting all the way
into the back corners of a space -- nothing shrinks a room faster than poor
lighting.
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 10: Long, narrow room
The
solution: When it comes to decorating a long, narrow space, you will
want to build in a few breaks in the sight line, which visually divide the
space and provide areas for different uses. Rather than push the sofa against
the wall, try using a smaller-scale loveseat placed perpendicular to the wall
as one of your room breaks. You also can use a low cabinet or table behind the
sofa to define the line between two main zones; just be sure that the cabinet
is level with, or a few inches shorter than, your sofa.
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| www.renttoown.ph |
Tricky
space 11: High ceilings, big open space
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