Pune

Who says compact homes ought to be functional and not creative? Here are some quirky ideas to enliven your studio apartment.

Use advanced technology, multi-functional and expandable furniture and maintenance-free finishing materials to design your home; In compact housing, emphasis is on making the home feel spacious.

'Less is more' is the mantra; Designing and using multifunctional furniture items such as modular or convertible sofacum-beds, armless chairs, bench seating, easy-to-move sidetables, height-transforming centre-tables and extendable dining tables are great spacesavers since these can fit in the available space without making the room look cramped; Use multi-style tables that are mobile with built-in wheels.

They are also multi-functional in every way; Modular kitchen companies are coming up with innovative ideas to provide slim-looking cabinets with plenty of storage options; Lift-top-box beds, space-saving dressing mirror cabinets with room for small items inside, wardrobes with sliding shutters, trendy wired baskets and wardrobe organisers could be used while designing bedrooms.

Innovative foldable wall-beds are gaining popularity in cities, which can offer a higher degree of flexibility in deciding or multiplying the function of a room; Perfect-fit window treatments like roman blinds or roller-blinds that clip into the window box, impart a modern minimalistic appearance; Full-length ceiling to floor curtains, vertical patterned fabrics, wallpapers, long pendant lights make the room look taller.

Ceiling lights directed to the walls or recessed lighting can give a sense of expansiveness while adding a beautiful accent and dramatic effect to the design; Though small dark spaces can look dramatic, always add light to your apartment. Making it brighter will make it feel bigger too.

Take away items on your windows that might be obstructing natural light; With little place to clean, organise and maintain, one can enjoy more time with family.