Real Estate Matters | Ideas for Small Spaces: Making the most of restricted space

Juliet Risdon is a Director of JML Property and a property investor.
Having established the company in 1994, JML Property offers Investment Property & Homes. It specializes in managing properties for owners and investors, and providing attractive and comfortable homes for tenants.

The reality for many people living in Macau is the restricted space available, and that means making the most of the space we are given and adapting to a space far smaller than you may have been used to.
Last week we looked at Living Rooms, Kitchens and Bathrooms, and this weeks article is about bedrooms and the general layout.
Bedrooms
•  IKEA have some fantstic and comfortable beds with massive lift up storage areas hidden beneath. These are big enough to store shrink-wrapped winter clothes, bed sheets and linen or bicycle parts if you are so inclined.
• Once again, floor to ceiling wardrobes are essential in the bedroom. The top shelf or cupboard is perfect for storing travel bags, luggage or just about anything else that is bulky but not heavy (just in case it falls on you or you have a spouse with a warped sense of humour).
• Bedside tables can hide a multitude of books, electrical equiment, phone chargers etc, provided they have enough drawers. Tables with drawers are far more practical than a table top with just legs.

Mirror, Mirror…
Strategically placing mirrors around the apartment reflects light and enlarges small spaces like you wouldn’t believe.
A full height mirror creates the illusion of doubling the space, making the apartment appear far larger than it really is.
Using reflective surfaces such as high-gloss cabinetry where possible will also brighten and enlarge small spaces.

A Unified Colour Scheme
A unified colour scheme helps to make a small room seem bigger, but its a popular misconception that white is the ideal solution for a small space.
Colour stamps an interior with individuality and it’s one of our most favoured tools when rejuvenating a living space. If your stuck with “Macau Chalk White Walls”, go for a for a sophisticated neutral look by using different textures, shiny and flat, fluffy and silky etc.

More Duplicity
Housing visitors can cause a real headache in a small unit.
One solution is to use the 2nd or 3rd bedroom as a relaxation area or study during the day, switching to a bedroom in the evening.
Orienting the bed sideways will allow it to be used as day bed, and a second ‘trundle’ bed beneath the bed doubles accommodation capacity.
Another way to increase sleeping space is to use a Sofa that can be turned in to a bed at night.

We hope we have given you some inspiration and enjoy putting some of the ideas in to practice!

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