Oh my I am just drinking in all the details of this little home, I am so in love with it’s soft, calming palette of neutral colours. Two words – yes please!
It’s the home of Stockholm-based stylist Josefin Håågs, who blogs at the brilliant and inspiring 20 kvadrat (do check it out). Here, what the space lacks in size, it makes up for in quiet, unassuming style, monochrome colour blocking and cosy, soft textures. From the gallery wall of black and white photographs to the dark greys of the linen bedding and the vintage wooden accents, it’s a calm, cohesive space with perfectly styled surfaces that never feels cluttered. The white walls make it look light and spacious, while the framed prints unite the different functions of the space. Have a look and I’ll tell you some clever tips and tricks you can nick from this space-saving home…
I think it really shows just what you can do with a small space; after all this is essentially one 20 sq m room with a hallway and bathroom. So here’s what you can learn from it if you have one room to play with:
– Paint the same colour on all the walls, ceiling and window frames to give a sense of spaciousness. Here, white leaves the walls as ‘background’ and brings the furniture and artwork to the foreground
– Likewise having the kitchen cupboards the same colour as the walls makes them blend in and increase the sense of space
– Painting the hallway a dark colour makes it feel like a tighter space, so when you enter the light living space, the room appears much bigger than it actually is
– If you have multiple functions in one space, instead of trying to separate them off from one another and giving them different identities, which can make a room look quite busy, unite functions into one cohesive space with artwork and furniture of a similar colour palette. Here, the dining table doesn’t look too strange next to the bed, because the prints wrap around that wall and make it part of that cosy corner
– Use versatile furniture to transition from different functions, a bench might be a bedside table, but later become a seat if you have a friend coming over
– Less is more – declutter and keep to the essentials, even if your essentials (like me) are piles of magazines 😉
– Utilise every surface. Here the windowsill has become a display area for books and plants, while a metal rod has been used in the kitchen to hang utensils and tea towels that get in the way; even the floor can become an extra space to sit with the help of a sheepskin rug and a cushion or two…
What would you steal from this space?
Images: Emily Laye, Fantastic Frank
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