7 small space design lessons we learned from the 'tiny home' trend

The tiny home movement is a sight to behold. People across the nation, and around the world in select areas, are trading in 2,000 square feet houses for something, well, tiny! Small space living consists of doing your daily household routine in under 500 square feet of floor space.

The idea behind the movement is beautiful. Trade a consumer-driven lifestyle for a more modest and environmentally friendly one. There are loads of perks for the trade-off too, such as saving loads of cash.

And like any other dwelling, tiny homes present a unique decor challenge. Namely, making the most of the floor space without clutter or discord. Here’s what we’ve learned thus far.

Your tiny home is craving multifunctional furniture

Anything worthy of being in a tiny house needs to be multi-functional. One of the best ways to determine if that piece you are eyeing fits the bill is if it is foldable.

Small space living requires versatile options that free up floor space when not in use. And a great example of this can be found in the bedroom area. The bed.

Ideal beds can be tucked away or broken down when not in use. Think foldable bed that doubles as a couch during the day. Or a bed that transforms into a dinner table.

Yes, it is a thing.

Related read: The Tiny House Movement Gets a Luxury Upgrade >

How to make your tiny house feel bigger

Mirrors are an essential item in tiny houses. Why? It’s because these brilliant reflectors effortlessly maximize the look of your open plan!

First and foremost, mirrors can help you shine light on the darkest, hard to reach areas in your tiny home. The only tricky part is deciding where to place them to get the best reflect angle. To accomplish this in a quick manner, go for multiple mirrors. Preferably fashionable ones that match your interior design.

Related read: 3 glamorous ways to make your interiors sparkle >

Second, mirrors are really good at making space seem bigger. Don’t believe us? Try it! Once you equip your interior architecture with a couple of delightful and shiny mirrors, your small space it will appear much, much roomier than before.

Kick the clutter in your tiny home

The tiny home movement is all about simple, clutter-free living. And that takes work. One of the major obstacles to overcome when you are first starting out is learning how to evaluate potential must-haves. To determine which ones will aptly complement your new lifestyle, consider the following 3 questions.

1. Does it earn the right to be in your tiny living space?
2. Will the item grant more square feet than other pieces?
3. Is it complementing the entire living room and tiny home lifestyle?

If the answers are mostly yes, the piece is a prime candidate! Especially if the last question got a yes. Functional pieces that complement the interior architecture and design of your tiny home are essential. Think of them as somewhat similar to centrepieces on a table. That's where your eyes are going to wander to and focus on.

Related read: Entertaining In a small space: the only guide you need >

Is this item sparking joy?

Over time, unused items will become easy to spot. Namely, due to the fact that they will start to hinder your daily flow. If you do not want to let this painful observation creep up on you until it becomes overwhelming, test a specific item for a week.

Take note of how frequently the piece is used. Compare this to how often you look at it. If you are looking at it more than using it and it is not pure decor, consider tossing it out sooner rather than later.

What's seldom used is sometimes still essential

There are going to be some infrequently used essentials in your tiny living space. For example, clothing. To keep these items around without cluttering your livingspace, storage is needed. A positive way to accomplish this is by adding furniture equipped with this type of functionality.

One specific item to scope out is your bed set-up.

Try to go for bed frames that have drawers below them. Another good one to seek are seats and chairs with compartments. Be sure to mull over all the possible storage space solutions so you can address a wide variety of cases along the way.

Related read: How to go maximalist in your interior design - without the clutter >

Making the most of your tiny home is easy, with the right pieces and decor.

Ideal pieces include foldable furniture and items that provide storage space so you can maintain the clutter-free goal. When it comes to interior design, start with the floor and work your way up.

And remember, going bold in a calculated way can really pay off.

Explore all the colours of the rainbow!

As with any interior design project, decor matters. Sure, foldable furniture and multipurpose items are a staple. But being bland is not part of the tiny house movement. So, show off what your micro home is all about! Being beautiful, simplistic, and comfortable.

Related read: The essential colour aesthetic guide from FibreGuard’s design team >

You can achieve this in all sorts of ways. So play around with your color options! Find the perfect shades to complement your furniture,mood, or preferred style. Even if that means transforming your open plan into a bold, futuristic setting.