Design Tips for Flexible Space

Houses today can be as small as 200 square feet. In India, the regular 2BHK  has also shrunk to be between 600 to 700 square feet. With spaces shrinking rapidly and no pause in sight, flexible spaces is set to be the new norm in Interior Design. Flexible spaces are rooms that serve more than one purpose and can be transformed into their many avatars with sliding or lift up panels. If you want to design your home with flexible spaces here are a few design tips to follow.

Declutter

Flexible spaces were initially designed for micro houses which have only the bare minimum. To optimally plan flexible spaces declutter and get rid of everything that is non essential. Flexible space planning pairs beautifully with a minimalist interior style.

Choose Flexible Furniture

When planning a space that has multiple uses, the furniture in the room should play multiple roles as well. Furniture with built in storage is ideal for flexible spaces. Also look at furniture that can expand and contract according to your requirements. For example, dining tables with a extendable top, coffee tables that can be made taller when needed.

Store it Right

When planning flexible spaces, add plenty of storage. Let cabinets go all the way to the ceiling as lofts. Utilize hidden spaces such as the space above doors by building shelves or cabinets. Between open shelving and closed cabinets, the latter is preferred for flexible spaces.

Paint it White

Since flexible space planning is needed most in small spaces, use a light colour palette to make the space seem bigger and brighter. Warm white makes the perfect primary colour for flexible space colour palettes. Avoid using a lot of wood polish and more than three colours in your colour palette for the space to look its best.

Look Vertically

When carpet area is limited, look towards extending the height of the room. An easy way of making a room look taller is to install curtains rods just below the ceiling and drape full length curtains that skim the floor. Wherever possible let the windows be tall as well. An added benefit of tall windows is the added sunlight that can enter the room making it brighter and warmer. Using a darker flooring as compared to the wall colours will also make the room look taller.