The UK has the smallest housing in Europe, with the average house size at 71.9 square meters. With rent prices soaring, many people have been forced to downsize further into smaller apartments or houses. Between your bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, there’s hardly any space for a home-working desk or a workout area. Now more than ever, we need to create a spacious feel in our homes with minimalist designs and smart furniture choices.

Here are a few tips to help your home feel a bit bigger, even if it’s very small.

Decluttering and minimalism

You’ve heard it a million times before, but the minimalist approach is the key to a smaller home. With less stuff in your apartment, there is more free space, which instantly makes it feel bigger. There is nothing worse than a tiny home with things everywhere. It can make you feel claustrophobic, stressed, and unhappy with your living situation.

Go through your belongings and only keep the things you absolutely need or hold value to you. For example, you don’t need your memory box, but it holds a lot of emotional resonance, so you should keep it. Organize the things you decide to keep in a system that works for your lifestyle, and make sure everything has a home.

Choose the right furniture

Bulky furniture does not belong in a tiny apartment. You need lighter fabrics, modular designs, and wardrobes that work with the space. For example, if you work from home, you could use the dining table as your desk during the week and then use it for hosting a dinner party at the weekend. Make sure your bed has built-in storage so you can store items you don’t use on a daily basis, like your holiday bikinis, suitcases, and Christmas décor.

Furniture arrangement

The way you arrange your furniture can open up the space and create a better living situation. Choose your focal point for each room and place everything else around that. For example, in your living room, the TV is usually the focal point, so the sofa needs to be arranged around that. Create pathways in your home so you can walk around without bumping into chairs and cupboards.

Storage solutions

Take everything you don’t need on a weekly basis and go through it piece by piece. Decide what you absolutely need and consider the best way to store it. Smaller pieces, like spare bedding, are easier to store than bulky items like suitcases, boxes, and outdoor furniture. You could even pay for a storage locker outside of your home if you don’t have enough space.

The clutter-free look is the key to smaller living. Remember to declutter every few months to keep things tidy as you collect more items.