“Let’s imagine you have two flats, side by side,” says Matt Gibberd, co-founder of The Modern House. “Even with the same square footage, there’s so much that could be different. One might face south rather than north, one might have a step or two, or higher ceilings in the living area. I find it endlessly fascinating.”
It’s a thought experiment that neatly lays out the way that seemingly similar spaces can offer a vastly different experience within – and one that suggests the trick to creating a space that serves you well is becoming better in tune with what’s already there. So where to start?
“I’d begin by thinking about how the sun moves around a room and see if that gives you a clue as to how you might use it,” says Gibberd, whose estate agency specialises in design-led homes. “If you’re going to be working at home during the day, you’ll want a desk set up to maximise daylight. Now what’s that view like? Can you see trees, people coming and going, the passing of the weather?”
Less is more
Interior designer Alexandria Dauley, founder of Dauley Designs, wants us to abandon our collective fixation on creating the illusion of more space. “Not all rooms need to feel bigger,” she says. “A smaller space can be comforting.” She warns against the idea that painting walls in white is something of a magic wand for modest proportions. “It can make a north-facing room, which will draw in a grey light, feel cold. I’d argue that by putting a deeper, darker colour in that space, you can make it feel cosy and snug.”
At the heart of any home is an ability to adapt. “Some sort of division gives you so much more flexibility, even if you’ve got a studio,” says Gibberd. He’s a big fan of the London Barbican’s L-shaped Type 20 flats, which can whip up a study or second bedroom behind sliding doors, but he also recommends using a curtain to sequester a sleep space if needed. When it comes to dividers, Dauley is a fan of simple wood partitions for the Scandinavian vibe they add to a home.
Zoning in
Furniture is another flexible solution for effective – and simple – zoning. “Bookshelves on casters may be quite 90s but are definitely an option, and can be wheeled out of the way if need be,” says Gibberd. Stacking them high with books can make a room feel dark, so consider leaving gaps for ceramics and other objects. Subtler ways to suggest a transition from one area to another involve changes in flooring and paintwork. Dauley’s own dining area is defined by a contrast wall, but a rug also works well if you want to square off a space.
Lighting, too, can be a powerful tool in your zoning kit. “Lots of people have done open plan rear extensions, which sometimes feel vast and a little bit cold,” says Helen White, co-founder of lighting brand Houseof. “Using less bright lighting in a living nook will make it feel separate from a dining area. Just make sure it’s wired in a way that gives you total control – the last thing you want is a sea of spotlights controlled by one switch.”
The furniture you choose and how you arrange it can help transform the feel of a room, and here a little planning goes a long way. You don’t need expensive computer programmes to map out where you might put your furniture, says Dauley, who points out that everyone starts with a scale ruler at design school. “It’s such a cheap and easy way of creating a floor plan – I think everyone should learn how to use one.” First measure your room and your must-have pieces, and then it’s simply a matter of plotting everything to scale with a pencil and paper. She recommends A4 or A3, as good sizes to work with.
Cardboard cutouts
For those who find it hard to visualise a plan on paper, one of her favourite tricks is to lay out cardboard on the floor in the dimensions of, say, a sofa or table, and then live with it for a while. “It’s really visual. You’ll know quickly if you can move around easily, or if you’d be likely to trip or knock into it.” Bigger commitments call for slightly more involved methods, but are worth doing to avoid spending years skirting around a badly placed item. “For kitchen islands, I’ll use trestle legs with a length of MDF on top to mark the size of the worktop,” Dauley says. “Then you can see if it’s at the right height, too.”
The influence of feng shui might be fading, but it’s worth being particularly mindful about how you enter and exit an area. Being presented with the back of a sofa when you walk into a room immediately arrests your progress, says Gibberd. “I’m an advocate of giving people a logical route through a space, and not massively keen on having to manoeuvre around things. Although needs must, of course.”
Sight lines
As well as getting a feel for the way furniture will shift the flow of your home, consider whether it could block sight lines through a room, which would ideally end at a window. Who, for example, hasn’t flung open a bedroom door only to be faced with the side of a wardrobe? If you’re hamstrung by a piece that won’t work against a different wall – awkwardly placed radiators are often the culprit here – Gibberd has a suggestion: “I’ve re-hung a door to open the other way, just so it’s not interfering with the side of a wardrobe.”
If ever in doubt, defer to animal instincts. “A pet will naturally show you the best-performing areas of the home,’ says Gibberd. “They’ll always sit in that pool of light where it’s warmest and brightest, or find the most comfortable armchair.”
Cat’s eBay space edit
Some of these items are being sold by auction so listings may end at any time. If you love a piece that’s gone, search for something similar from these sellers:
No space for a sideboard? This modern, ladder-style shelving is a great way to utilise vertical space.
This appealing corner desk makes smart use of an awkward corner – bonus points for the extra shelves.
Wall-mounted furniture that appears to float will free up extra floor space, like this contemporary bedside cabinet does.
With its full-width rail and two drawers, this contemporary wardrobe with hairpin metal legs is great for hiding clothes and clutter.
This elegant metal log-holder keeps your firewood nicely stacked and ready to use.
A drop-leaf table, like this Ercol Originals piece, can be pushed against a wall when not in use.
Art Deco in feel, this set of glass topped nesting tables can be stored snugly together.
It doesn’t get more streamlined than this solid mango wood desk, which could be neatly slotted into any room.
This open shelving unit offers a softer way to partition a room than a screen or sliding door.
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