Living room design ideas

• Small space living
• Living room design ideas
• Kitchen decorating
• Small bathroom designs
• Bedroom design ideas
• Use hidden spaces
• Useful contacts

Knocking two rooms into one can provide a multifunctional open-plan area that will instantly feel bigger. You can then define zones with flooring or furniture. Bringing in more light will also open up a room.

Clever solutions

• Good storage is key to keeping things uncluttered, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling cupboards will provide lots of space while requiring a relatively small footprint.

• ‘Built-in benches can be crafted to include a surprising amount of hidden storage,’ says Guy Morgan Harris.

• Make the most of hidden space by removing the partition wall between studs to create display storage, building shelving in the eaves, or even by using the void under your floorboards. ‘Install a ring-pull latch and make ply boxes to store stuff in,’ says Guy. Great for wine or toys.

• ‘In double-height properties, a mezzanine or platform can be a good way to separate living and sleeping areas,’ says Elizabeth Wilhide, author of Small Spaces. (Consult building regs first.)

• Wall-mount your TV and conceal your DVD and hi-fi.

• Use a chest instead of a coffee table for extra storage.

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