There’s nothing like a bit of constraint to get the creative juices flowing. In fact, many of the technological world’s greatest innovations have relied heavily on constrained creativity – from the Sony Walkman right through to Vine and Twitter.
As far as creative use of limited living space goes, the challenge can mean hours of fun, whether you’re working through the conundrums on your own or with a group of friends. It’s the kind of thing you can put aside a cosy weekend alone for, or turn into a bit of a house party with a purpose – if one thing’s certain, it’s that everyone invited will have an opinion.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a little space-saving inspiration. Not every idea will suit your situation, but it’s interesting to look at how different people have approached similar problems the world over.
Oh, and before we begin, we ought to note that this list isn’t by any means finished. Drop your suggestions in the comments feed below, and we’ll keep adding in and refreshing it over time. Our thanks in advance!
1. Make fewer items do more work
Clearly, furnishing your space with stuff that can do more than one job makes a lot of sense – and again, a little creative thinking can grab you an extra square foot here and there.
There are plenty of obvious furniture items that this applies to, of course, whether you’re sleeping on a sofa bed or throwing a drape over a full chest and using it as a coffee table. But you can be even more meta than that, especially when it comes to single-function devices. Is there much need for a blender and a mixer, when a food processor will do both jobs adequately? Do you really need that bread maker when your apartment is fitted with a perfectly good oven?
We’re not suggesting throwing that extra stuff out. You may have room for it all in your next place, so – as we like to say around these parts – ‘it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later’. If only there were someplace you could store it all in the meantime…
2. Hire Gary Chang
Video via Stina Lütz on Vimeo.
OK, so not everyone has the kind of money needed to hire this guy, but this video is worth a few minutes of your time for inspiration (and its ‘wow’ factor) alone.
Gary Chang is an architect living and working in Hong Kong, a city known for its cramped living conditions. While a 4x8m room might sound like guaranteed claustrophobia to some people, Chang has mastered the art of living in what appears to be the inner workings of a Rubik’s Cube. Everything slots into place; beds and computer desks slide out from what appears to be nowhere, and it’s all put together with a designer’s eye for pristine, minimalist detail.
While you may not have Chang’s budget, it’s worth noting that a bit of imagination can take you a long way – and that’s completely free.
3. Build in your own storage
Follow The Box Room’s board Build your own storage on Pinterest.
You need only look as far as Pinterest [link to drive readers to Boxman’s Pinterest board, if we have one] for ideas on how to incorporate storage into the fabric of your space. Photographers who document this stuff seem to have an obsession with stairs that have been transformed into bookshelves, which is all well and good, but what if you don’t have the luxury of stairs?
Check out our Pinterest board above, for a few great ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
4. Take advice from Japan
By necessity, the Japanese have become experts in box-style living. In such a mountainous country, where land that can be built on amounts to about a third of the terrain, tiny apartments are the norm. Hence the invention of the futon, which – in its original Japanese form – is simply a comfortable mattress that can be folded up and stored in a concealed cupboard each morning.
If you have a larger budget, take a look at how sliding doors can make more of your space. When one room doesn’t seem big enough, all you have to do is knock those doors back and combine two. Great for parties, and great for letting the breeze in to decontaminate after parties.
5. Use visual sleight of hand
The mind can play tricks, but you can play tricks on the mind just as easily. De-cluttering your surfaces and cutting down on unnecessary items brings a sense of calm, which is essential to living comfortably in a condensed space. That doesn’t have to mean living the Spartan life, of course. There’s a lot to be said for minimalism – just ask Gary Chang.
Similarly, the use of reflective surfaces can make a room seem much bigger than it is, especially if you can angle your lamps to bounce more light around. Just be sure to warn your guests, before someone new to your apartment tries walking into ‘that room over there’.
6. Take control of your inner-hoarder
In the process of writing this article, we asked a number of friends and acquaintances for their tips on space saving. One of the most common answers was that they regularly reviewed what they had and what they didn’t need, and then they did something about it.
One great idea we’ve come across is to arrange your wardrobe so that all of the clothes hangers have their hooks facing forward. If you wear the item, turn the hanger so that the hook is facing backwards, and after a set period – a month, or even a year – you’ll easily be able to see the items that don’t get a lot of use.
There’s no need to throw this stuff out, of course. As we said earlier – it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. Storing your stuff elsewhere is a cheap option, and on-demand storage makes it easier still.
7. Get more on your walls
Got no room for that 72-inch plasma screen you’ve always dreamt about? Got 72 inches of white wall space to play with? Projectors do the job just as well, and they can be attached to an overhanging beam or placed on top of a high bookshelf to keep them out of the way. Which brings us to…
8. Make more use of your vertical space
Keeping things off the ground naturally offers more floor space, and even if you can’t fill that freed-up area easily, the added sense of space will not go unnoticed. Many people who live in compact spaces make use of hanging shelves, hanging TVs or hanging wardrobes, and it’s even possible to hang your plant pots upside down these days – just have a look at Boskke to see how it’s done.
9. Create fake rooms
Of course, one of the downsides of the hanging wardrobe is that you can see everything that you’ve got ‘in’ it. Not everyone is an exhibitionist, and it’s always nice to build in a bit of privacy if you can. If you live in a single-room studio apartment, dividing the area you have can make a big difference.
We’re not suggesting you get out the mortar and knock up a temporary wall, but a strategically placed curtain could be a simple way to keep your underclothes from prying eyes. Some people find that their room can be easily divided into entertainment and sleeping spaces simply by placing a low shelf with their TV on it across the middle. Having that separation can make a real difference to how you view your space.
10. Find the right colour scheme
Choosing various shades of the same colour can make your apartment look more unified – and so less cluttered – while going for the right hues and patterns can give the illusion of space. Opt for a pale shade on the floor and walls to make your apartment seem more open and airy, or use a striped carpet to add the impression of length to a cramped room. If the thought of paying out for new flooring makes your credit card wince, then a large rug in the right shade will help you achieve the same effect for a fraction of the price.
How would you make more use of your limited space? Do you have any brilliant space-saving solutions? We welcome your comments and suggestions in the comments below. Head to our parent site for more information on Boxman and on-demand storage.
