Article written by us for a Vietnam’s number 1 real estate website (muabanhnhadat.com.vn), specifically for new apartment owners in Vietnam

As more and more of us purchase new homes, we are often challenged with creating a nice and attractive living environment while only having limited space to do so.

It is important to have a home where the atmosphere is clean and spacious, not cluttered and crowded. By organizing correctly your available space and choosing the right furniture you can make your apartment appear as bigger, tidier and tastefully decorated.

Here are some interior decoration tips that can help you make the most of the space available in your home and will amaze your guests.

If you apply these tips correctly, a small and crowded apartment will seem more spacious and well organized, making it a pleasure to live there, for you and your family.

1) Use multi-purpose furniture

If you are really in need of space, choosing furniture items that can fill two or more different functions is one of the first choices you should make when furnishing your apartment.

In small apartments in European cities like Paris or London, due to the very high cost of real estate, there is a very useful solution to the lack of space and it can be easily applied in Vietnam: using a sofa that can also become a bed.

There are different types of sofas that can do this, ranging from the very basic but effective “clic-clac” sofa to the more elaborate and high-end sofa-bed.

Keep in mind that low-quality and cheap sofa-beds will soon become uncomfortable as the mattresses will loose shape and the opening mechanism will fail over time. Choosing imported high-quality furniture will ensure that you enjoy both functions during a long time while having a modern and designer looking furniture item.

 

A sophisticated mechanism will make deploying the bed effortless and will last longer

High-end mattresses and slats, like these made in Italy will perform for years

Other ideas for multi-purpose furniture

Other kinds of furniture can transition from a decorative function such as a stylish trunk made in solid walnut wood to a library, bar and even a writing desk with private compartments.

Some multi-purpose furniture can be used in different ways at different stages of the life of your children. From baby to child, this furniture can serve different needs, without needing a new investment (and having to dispose of the obsolete furniture so that you don’t loose floor space).

Always choose furniture that can serve multiple purposes and help you save space while having a tidy apartment

You can use the same table as a dining table or as a desk if you are really tight. A bench, besides for sitting,  can also be used as a coffee table or console. You can use stylish bins for archiving, filing documents, laundry, etc.

Always keep in mind that some furniture you will use for different purposes might need to be moved so it makes sense that you look for something light or with wheels, anything that makes moving the furniture easy and comfortable for you.

2) Furniture with storage

There are many items that can combine a decorative and furnishing function while also providing storage. The storage can be completely hidden (for example storing items under a table and covering the table with a mantelpiece that will touch the floor) or can also be visible (such as drawers under a bed that will allow you to take advantage of space that would be otherwise lost).

 

This coffee table give an impression of lightness and lets the eye wander below and beyond the table, giving a better feeling of volume in the room. Using an elaborate opening mechanism, it can also serve as a small dining table and provides extra storage space too.

 

4) Use your walls to their full potential

Your walls are your best friends when it comes to decorating your interiors and saving space. Only your imagination will put limits to the many things that can be done with your walls so that they can both decorate your home while also helping you enjoy extra space on the floor. Do not “waste” your walls’ “prime real estate” and consider them as a major player in your interior decoration and home storage options.

Decorating walls with stunning panels can create a sensation of depth and increase the perception of volume within the room.

 

 

Other ideas for making the most of your walls so that your apartment seems bigger

You can hang furniture from your walls and achieve a very beautiful beautiful floating and weightless effect, it will save space on your floor and make the room seem bigger.

4) “Open” furniture to enhance visual range across the room

Use “leggy” and “hollow” furniture to give a better visual impression and open up the room. The space under a table top and between the legs of a console will definitely increase the sensation of space.

5) Ergonomical furniture

Modern furniture is designed with small improvements that can help you avoid having other bigger and redundant items. For example, a cleverly located reading light can be enough so you do not need a bedside table lamp and cupboards with an integrated light can help you save space elsewhere.

6) Think out of the box and look for creative furniture arrangements

Think out of the box, most people think of square or rectangular arrangements, you should try triangular  (using the corner of a room for example) and even circular layouts like for your sitting area. Be audacious and move your furniture around to create the perfect setting, even consider doing this every six months and you will see how positive it is for your mind and happiness.

Round or oval tabletops can also be very useful for small apartment terraces compared to square or rectangular ones.

7) Use sleek and visually light furniture

A contemporary Danish designer sofa will look much more lighter visually than a bulky vintage-looking sofa. This will enhance the sensation of space around it. Do not compromise with your comfort, be sure that the seating and back cushions are made with real feathers so that even though the shape of the sofa is thin and the design minimalist, you will enjoy it.

8) Modular furniture can also help you save space

A large square ottoman can be attached to your sofa to make a daybed and it can also be used as a coffee table when needed. Take advantage of the moving parts of a modular sofa set to compose different layouts depending on the situation.

9) Always use the available natural light as much as possible

Avoid placing objects against your windows so that natural light can pour into your home and this will make your space seem larger. Using light-coloured furniture will also help reflect the light better, improving the effect of visually increasing the space around you. Avoid using heavy curtains that will take up space along the walls during the day, this way you will let in even more light.

10) Take advantage of your corners

Besides walls, corners are the most under-utilized spaces in homes. Be it storage, a computer station or just decorative shelves, you can make the most of corners using a space would otherwise neglect and at the same time have your home looking tidy and neat.

11) Use sliding doors

These can help you separate different areas of your home without taking up much space (a conventional door needs space to open and close) and you can use them as decorative items too if you choose your panels carefully.

A conventional door, even when it is open, can obstruct the view from one room to another, making your apartment look smaller. A sliding door takes up minimal space and when open, allows a perfect view across rooms, enhancing the sensation of volume.

From traditional patterns to contemporary designs using a multitude of available materials, your imagination is the limit in making your doors a major decorative accessory.

The wooden frame and semi-transparent material blend in perfectly with the colours of the rooms		Symetrical sliding doors can add a nice effect too
The railing and the pattern provide a contemporary look		This door slides right behind the sofa
A practical way of embellishing an otherwise unattractive space		The entire volume of the room remains available at all times with these semi-transparent sliding doors

Having a small apartment does not mean you need to squeeze everything in, decorate it using your creativity and a practicality!

By applying the tips above you will be able to save space while making your living environment more pleasant, for you, your family and friends.

Begin transforming your apartment into a cute, cosy and happy home today!

 

About the author: Javier is an interior design consultant that has been working in the luxury interior business in Europe for the past ten years. He is also a furniture project consultant for international luxury retail brands such as Prada. You can contact him either using @Javi_Petrement (Twitter) or [email protected], he will be happy to answer your questions.All furniture displayed in this article can be purchased in Vietnam by clicking on these links: Luxury Furniture Vietnam (English) or Đồ nội thất sang trọng Việt Nam (Vietnamese)

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