You need to think more while designing the small flat. Because home-owners expect all the comfort and luxury from their small house, and for providing all those facilities designers need to plan house in a way that the flat should not look congested, there should be an ample space for easy movement for everyone staying in those homes.

Buying small flats sometime is adjustment made by the home-owners due to the financial constraints and in some cases small flats are purchased deliberately considering the practical approach. Designing those small flats is the challenge faced by the interior designers or layout planners. Here are some tips for designing small flats and adding functionality factor to it.

While designing small flats two rules should be followed strictly.

• Keep it minimum & Place for every item and every item on its place.

Structural change – you can change and add space to your small flat by altering the window size and adjusting them at the height of 20” to 24” from the floor and installing cill Patti depth of 18” to 24”(inches) so it will add more natural light to the room and there will be an additional  sitting area where you can relax sometimes with cup of coffee watching outside view and you can also place some decorative pillows and small hanging light fitting for decorative purpose . You can remove all the internal walls except bedroom and bathroom and customise layout of the flat with the help of the storage units so the storage units can be used as multi functionality purpose of partition purpose and storage also. Try to make adjustable furniture like folding dinning table.

Sofa – sofa sets, play vital role in giving an aesthetic look to the house. The option of Sofa cum bed can be considered while interior designing of the small flat. Bulky sofas should be avoided which consumes more space of the living room. Instead of that sleek sofa set should be preferred.

Kitchen – maximum storage should be made in the wall cabinets and overhead storage units. Which will maximise the floor space in the kitchen. In kitchen generally more than one person works at a time, so space should be arranged accordingly. If there is not ample space for kitchen platform then, the parallel platform (passage way counter) should be made. Parallel counter is preferred by top chefs for their preparations, collapsible or sliding kitchen platform can also be made. You need to design kitchen considering inch and inch in that area. Furniture in the kitchen should be made by measuring every proposed storage unit perfectly and its purpose should be clear. One can put small stool in the kitchen for the easy access to the loft storage area for performing day to day activities; chair cum ladder is also good option.

Children’s room – Bunk bed is the first choice for designing the children’s room when there is size constrain in small flats. If you have only child, then you can have the top bunk (loft bed) and storage space or study table can be made at the lower portion.

Flooring and tiles – Natural lighting works wonders to make any small room appear larger, colour combinations plays vital role in giving a bigger look to smaller flats. Using similar shades of colour for walls and flooring will give unified feeling to the room and will look bigger. Light colours provide ample light to the flat which will create the illusion of space. Avoid darker shades for walls and flooring. Fixing different shades of floor tiles in different rooms should be avoided as it will give cramped feeling to the house.

Curtains – small printed curtains should be selected especially with vertical pattern  which will give a bigger feeling to your  house . You can also go for plain pattern or self-print patterns which will give single unified and aesthetic look to your rooms.

Glass and mirrors – let as much natural light as possible into a room as it opens up space and gives a character to the room. Hang mirror on the wall opposite a window which will reflect the Natural light in the house and will ultimately reduce your electricity bills. Choose mirrors with thick glass, which better reflects dimension. Using glass for partition purpose will also give your house bigger look.

Happy decorating from Excel constructions & Interior Designers.