Buy tables with drawers, use three decorations per display and ditch textured pillows: Kmart’s design lead reveals the secrets to transforming a small space
- Australian budget retailer Kmart is known for its affordable home decor items
- The brand’s design manager has revealed her tips for creating a stylish space
- Her hacks include clever use of colour, along with items that double as storage
When a Kmart designer reveals her best design tips for transforming a small space, it’s worth sitting up and taking note.
Kate Hopwood, the brand’s design manager, has shared how easy it is to create a chic and stylish home using the budget retailer’s homewares
She told My Domaine a small space can be reworked with a little creativity, a knack for layering and some smart thinking when it comes to storage solutions.
Here, FEMAIL takes a look at Kate’s expert tips including how to buy furniture to fit through to coordinating accessories for a look that’s fresh, sleek and on-trend.
Transforming a small space into a luxury interior takes a little creative thinking, a knack for layering and some smart thinking when it comes to storage solutions
Buy furniture to maximise a smaller space
Kmart brand manager Kate Hopwood (pictured) has revealed her top tips for transforming a small space
According to the design manager, before you even step foot into the shops to buy your first piece of furniture, make sure you’ve really thought carefully about how you use the space.
‘Think about how you currently use, and also how you want to better use your space. If necessary, use temporary solutions to check whether the new layout you want is actually practical, before investing in bigger ticket solutions,’ Kate told the publication.
Choosing stylish items that doubled as a storage solution, was also recommended by the design manager.
She said if you wanted to streamline an entryway, choose a table which has drawers to provide space to store knick-knacks or other items.
She suggested extending this thinking to other areas in the house including the bathroom, the kitchen and bedrooms.
‘The Scandi shoe rack (which doubles as a bench) has been one of the hottest items in the home this season. It is fabulously stylish, but also just really practical,’ she said.
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Kmart’s Scandi shoe rack is not only stylish but it can double as storage space
Layer items to create interest
According to the designer, the key to creating a harmonious space is layering.
Kate recommends assessing wall space for art or mirror opportunities and check which surfaces can be used for displaying key design pieces.
As a rule, she will stick to a maximum of three items per display to avoid a feeling of clutter.
If a room features a hero item, such a statement chair, layering here can also add an extra element of interest.
Textured throws or an interesting cushions are perfect additions.
Reflective surfaces, like mirrors or glass-topped tables, can help bounce light and can be used to make a small space feel bigger
If a room features a hero item, such a statement chair, layering here can also add an extra element of interest
Kate Hopwood’s top Kmart decor recommendations:
* Scandi shoe rack – $35.00
* Large round mirror – $29.00
* Textured throws – $25.00
* Cushions – between $8.00 – $12.00
* Occasional chair – $49.00
Create an illusion of extra space with light
When it comes to making any space feel more expansive, colour and light both play a part.
Kate said white tends to be a favoured interiors colour because the neutral is a perfect backdrop, one that offers so much versatility for home decor.
Items with reflective surfaces can also be added to create the illusion of extra space. These objects reflect natural light and can make a room seem larger than it actually is.
Place mirrors directly across from the windows. Decorative mirrors can also be used in lieu of art to fill empty wall space.
Play with pastels when it comes to accessories
Pastels accessories are perfect against a backdrop of white and can also create a feeling of space.
‘Light colours always give the illusion of space, so I favour whites and pastels,’ Kate said.
Here, strategic placement of decor items can draw the eye away from dull or dark corners and create an illusion of light.
Kate said when choosing accessories, ensure there’s consistency. A more neutral aesthetic calls for pared-back elements. Keep prints and texture to a minimum.
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