SOURCE: Windermere

The truth is, the average size of apartments in the U.S. is shrinking, and studio and one-bedroom apartments are becoming more prevalent (rentcafe.com). This means knowing how to design for small spaces has never been more important. Whether you’re not quite ready to purchase a home or you’re looking to downsize, the creative possibilities are endless for maximizing square footage at home without sacrificing comfort or style. Let’s dive into some of the ways you can transform your home by making the most of your space.

Small Space Design Ideas

Multifunctional Furniture

All your essential items have to go somewhere, but how do you find a right place for everything without taking away from the rest of your home? Multifunctional furniture can be a lifeline for finding storage space without cluttering your home. Explore ottomans that have compartments to stow blankets, magazines, and other living room items. Folding desks can also ease the burden of storage without getting messy. Thanks to items like these, you can avoid investing in an outside storage unit just because you have limited square footage at home.

Maximize Vertical Space

Fortunately, there’s more space available to you than the floor surface area of your home. Storage can be arranged vertically with items like hanging shelves and drawers. This can be especially helpful in the kitchen, where getting items up and away from the more cluttered areas within reach will clear counter space and make the space feel more open and inviting. Wall-mounted magnetic strips for knives and hanging racks for pots and pans can clear significant space.

Embrace Minimalism

When you move into a smaller space, you’ll be faced with a question: what do I really need? With only so much room available, this is the perfect opportunity for an exercise in minimalism. Paring down your possessions will reduce clutter and make the smaller spaces in your home feel roomier. Consider purchasing a bed with built-in storage drawers, which can eliminate the need for a bulky dresser in the bedroom. Get creative with floating shelves to lessen the need for large bookshelves and credenzas. Though these are common furnishings, they take up space and tend to dominate smaller rooms.

With a touch of creativity, you can transform your home’s interior while maximizing your square footage, and most importantly, making your home feel more like you.

SOURCE: Windermere

SOURCE: Windermere

Some home designs reach way back through history. Greek Revival architecture is inspired by the principles of design formed in ancient Greece. These stately homes evoke a formal and traditional atmosphere akin to the feeling you get standing in the presence of the Parthenon. Let’s explore the history and features of these unique homes to understand what makes them so special.

5 Features of Greek Revival Architecture

1. Grand Entryways with Columns: The columns found in Greek Revival architecture are the defining characteristic of the style. Without these towering features, these homes simply wouldn’t feel the same. When used in a residential setting, columns help to create a feeling of grand stature by combining stories and stretching the verticality of the house. Columns were commonly found in important buildings constructed in ancient Greece, and today, they give Greek Revival architecture its timeless appeal.

2. Large Front Porches: In a residential setting, ample porch space creates a natural connection between the home and the outdoors. For all their grandeur, the way these homes are designed, there’s still a connection between them and their surrounding environment. As Greek Revival spread throughout the United States in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, different variations of the style were adopted to fit needs of the homeowners in different regions. However, porch space remained a universal feature of homes created in this style.

3. Decorative Windows: If the columns don’t give it away, the decorative dormer windows found in Greek Revival homes are a telltale sign of the style. These important features maximize natural light, which is perfectly displayed in the open layouts commonly found in these homes. The windows stretch vertically to complement the columns and give a very structured look to the exterior.

4. Ornate Details: Looking back at the most inspirational and renowned design works of ancient Greece, it’s no wonder that the opulent detailing of these magical buildings continued to be an important feature during the revival period. Intricate molding, ornate carvings, towering columns, and luxurious tile designs all reinforce the beauty of these homes. Marble was commonly used throughout these homes originally, inspired by the ancient Greeks’ preference for the rock in their building construction.

5. Greek Revival Architecture Color Scheme: The dominant color in the Greek Revival palette is white. Yes, white marble was prevalent throughout temples in ancient Greece, but the preference for white amongst the designers behind the revival movement had just as much sway in how we see this style represented today. Many Greek Revival homes found today are constructed with wood or stucco and painted white. In terms of interior design, this typically whitewashed palette gives you a clean slate to decorate on top of. Primary colors and natural, organic hues pair well with these classic buildings.

SOURCE: Windermere

SOURCE: Windermere

There is perhaps no other home décor style as comforting as traditional interior design. Rooted in the masterfully crafted Chippendale and Thomas Sheraton furniture designs and classic Queen Anne colors, traditional décor is one vintage style that stood the test of time. Here are five distinct features of traditional interior design.

5 Features of Traditional Interior Design

1. Dark Wood Finishes

Part of the reason for traditional design’s timeless appeal is its use of woodworking. With woodwork as a foundation, this design style feels classic but not dated. The dark, bold colors resemble the Victorian style, but traditional interiors are simpler and less ornate. The dark tones of the wood create a foundation for a more colorful decorative palette.

2. Traditional Design Color Palette

Traditional design can handle a heavier color palette while still providing comfort. The darker wood tones allow for darker color to be used elsewhere throughout a space, such as dark window coverings. Floral, plain colors, and muted plaids are all common color schemes. Walls are often covered with patterned wallpaper, floral designs, or damask. In terms of designs, traditional interiors pair well with geometrics and small, striking yet understated patterns.

3. Hardwood Flooring

This design style is classic from the floor to the ceiling. You won’t find laminate or tile flooring in the common areas of a home that adheres to the principles of traditional interior design. Complimenting the surrounding woodwork, homes designed in this style have solid hardwood flooring.

4. Traditional Decorations

The decorations used in traditional design help to reinforce its unique, classic-yet-comfortable ambiance. Table lamps and vases are typical of a traditional interior, often displayed in pairs to create symmetry. Though these accessories are bold, they are never too ornate or over-the-top enough to dominate the room.

5. Design Philosophy

Traditional design is calm and orderly. Whereas a more eclectic interior design style may offer more surprises throughout its spaces, a traditional interior is more predictable. Even the textiles used are subtle, with typical materials ranging from cotton and fur to velvet and silk.

SOURCE: Windermere