The street style trends from CPHFW to try now
The street style trends from CPHFW to try now

Oyindamola Animashaun

How Copenhagen became the coolest week on the fashion calendar
How Copenhagen became the coolest week on the fashion calendar

Oyindamola Animashaun

Page Turners: ‘The Glass House’ author Rachel Donohue
Page Turners: ‘The Glass House’ author Rachel Donohue

Sarah Gill

The best Irish films of all time, according to the IMAGE staffers
The best Irish films of all time, according to the IMAGE staffers

Sarah Gill

A stylist’s guide to mixing vintage and modern fashion finds
A stylist’s guide to mixing vintage and modern fashion finds

Sarah Finnan

WIN a 9ct gold T-Bar pendant necklace from Gear Jewellers worth €250
WIN a 9ct gold T-Bar pendant necklace from Gear Jewellers worth €250

Edaein OConnell

Join our networking event: ‘Building a Business: The Real-Life Path to Success’ in Galway
Join our networking event: ‘Building a Business: The Real-Life Path to Success’ in Galway

IMAGE

Join our networking event: ‘Building a Business: The Real-Life Path to Success’ in Galway
Join our networking event: ‘Building a Business: The Real-Life Path to Success’ in Galway

IMAGE

Meet Emily Jean O’Byrne, the Irish designer dressing Ballerina Farm
Meet Emily Jean O’Byrne, the Irish designer dressing Ballerina Farm

Ruth O'Connor

Caolum McCabe: ‘It’s incredibly challenging to resist the pull of relocating to cities such as London’
Caolum McCabe: ‘It’s incredibly challenging to resist the pull of relocating to cities such as...

Sarah Finnan

Image / Living / Interiors

5 ingenious small space design ideas inspired by real homes


By Lauren Heskin
07th Aug 2023

instagram

5 ingenious small space design ideas inspired by real homes

Being tight on room doesn't mean you need to be tight on creativity, as these small space design ideas prove.

Over lockdown, we got to really see design elements that work – and those that distinctly don’t. Whether it’s a big project that requires custom joinery, or a simple lick of paint, now is the time to figure out exactly how best to make your home function as best as possible.

Let there be light

Photo: Frank O’Sullivan / Jed Niezgoda

In a narrow, steep site in Cork, Gareth Sullivan of Simply Architecture needed to include two flights of stairs that weren’t too wide, provided sufficient separation between spaces and didn’t impact the level of light entering the home. He opted for a straight, stacked stairwell along the side of the house.

Rather than add windows looking right into other people’s homes, the design called for a large roof light that runs the full length of the staircase. To allow this to seep through to the lower floors, the wooden steps were left floating, appearing to be suspended on all sides except for a thin metal framework.

Be bold

Photo: Greg Cox / Bureaux

You should know by now that making a small space feel big is difficult to pull off and can often leave a room looking cold and characterless. Instead, embrace the cosiness and go dark with your walls, making you feel enveloped as soon as you walk in. This is also ideal for dark, north-facing rooms too, as going for a light colour will only enhance the dullness and make it feel grubby and sad.

Mirror, mirror

Photo: Ruth Maria Murphy

It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book, but mirrors really do make small spaces feel more open and interesting. For the best effect, go for floor-to-ceiling mirrors with as few seams as possible to avoid distraction, as in this bathroom in the Dublin home of architects Paul Kelly and Deirdre Whelan.

Bunking up 

Bunk beds are not just for children you know! If you’ve got a bedroom that’s high on volume but low on floor space, why not consider commissioning a joinery to build you a bunk bed? That way, it’ll fit perfectly, you’ll be able to hide storage, lighting and electronics for a sleek finish and you can design it specifically for your needs.

It’s a great idea for a child’s room, as it’ll work great for sleepovers and also convert beautifully into a teenage space and, eventually, a spare room once they flee the nest.

Take a seat

Photo: DeVol

For small and narrow kitchens, it can be hard to know what to do to make them feel more welcoming. Opening shelving above is a great way to remove shadows of clunky upper cupboards and you should take advantage of all the light you can. Locate a breakfast bar or a window seat by the window. That way, even if the room is dark, you’ll still always have the best seat in the house.

This article was originally published in August 2021.