Maximise small sitting room space
To save space, you can use the lamp stand , centre table and windows for your photo frames, decor pieces and storage boxes as illustrated in the picture. Photo by Ismail Kezaala
We all love to have enough space in the sitting room to carry out our daily activities with comfort. However, most homes have small space and always have trouble utilising it. In most cases the room is left so messy with no breathing space. Therefore, to have a well-spaced house, you need to plan well for the furniture you install in your house and how you install it. Here is how to maximise your sitting room space.
Reduce the furniture
Dorothy Nabatanzi, an interior designer, notes that you have to reduce the furniture to give the room enough breathing space. The sitting room should be limited to a few furniture for it to look elegant. One set of chairs can be enough since too much furniture will pack up the whole space, making it messy. Avoid adding unnecessary furniture like stools that would do the same job as the existing furniture.
Clean often
With limited space, cleanliness should be a priority, a dirty place increases discomfort in a home hence unpleasant to stay in. According to Mary Namukose, an interior designer at Duffur interiors, you should avoid littering the place because the mess makes it more occupied.
“Some people do all their work in the sitting room and leave the things there, for example, flat irons, clothes, shoes and all this make the place jam-packed,’ she says.
Use multipurpose furniture
Instead of having a lot of several items such as chairs, tables, TV set, cupboards, which normally fill the place to capacity hence looking untidy and stuffy, incorporate furniture that does two jobs. This could include a TV stand that will act as shelf for your books and newspapers.
A chair that has cabins down to keep books and other documents other than having them all over the place among others.
“For those who love watching TV while resting, you can opt for a furniture that acts as a bed and chair,” Namukose adds.
Use indoor plants
Indoor plants are a spice used to create more beauty and comfort in that small sitting room. These can be hung on the walls or around house corners. Flowers enhance beauty and bring a fresh breeze to the interior. “Some of these plants can include blossom fern, peace lily, bamboo, among others,” Namukose notes.
Don’t litter the place
Too many things in the sitting room makes it messy hence unpleasant, filling the place with too much furniture, things such as cleaning materials, dust bins among other things.
These make the space filled up and, in the end, there is no air in the house causing a smell at times.
Utilise the vertical space
We usually leave the vertical space unattended to yet it could help reduce the jam on the ground. Sharifu Mwesigwa, a builder, notes that you should incorporate the TV on the wall to avoid having a TV stand. You can also have the book shelf put on the wall to have the books safely kept, as well as reduce wastage of space. “To achieve beauty, you should incorporate decorative furniture on this space because this is space for ornaments, and other decorative arts,” he adds.
Prices
Paint is between Shs50,000 and Shs100,000.
A simple TV stand on the local market costs between Shs350,000 and Shs1,000,000 though this could be higher in showrooms, and sometimes the quality of the material also matters.You can get a TV stand from any furniture shop or interior store.
Paint, light and effect.
Dorothy Nabatanzi, an interior designer, advises that you need to utilise the effects of light in the house.
She notes that sometimes this is best planned when building. In this case, windows are placed where the sun rises. This will bring clear light in the house and when reflected well with paint in the house it can create a spacious effect.
She adds that white is a perfect colour that reflects the light hence lighting up the room.
“Using mirrors also helps in making the room spacious as it reflects with the light, mirrors can also be used as decorative pieces in the room as well as tools to create more space in your small sitting room.
Paint
Paint has the power to create any effect in your house as long as it’s used in the right way. When blended well, it can make small rooms look bigger.
“White and blue are some of those colours that make the room look elegant, as well as spacious when blended well with colours,” she says.
