Thursday, May 6, 2010

Tiny House, Happy Home

Living in a very small home presents its own unique challenges. While I immediately fell in love with the character and charm of our older home, I do still sometimes have a hard time working around the dark, small spaces. Therefore, I am using home solutions week to share how I have tried to make my tiny house a happy home.

So, here we go, 4 tips for small home living:

1) Make it personal...
I found that putting small, personal details in unexpected places makes a big difference. In a little house, every spare space counts, so I wanted to fill each and every space with meaningful details...



Above is the small space next to our front door. We decided that as our family grows, we want to catalog each home we have lived in by surrounding our current front door with pictures of our previous home's front doors. So far, we are only in our second place, but eventually I am sure we will add to our collection!



And of course, making my home personal includes monogramming everything I can get my hands on! Including the knobs on our TV armoire.

2) Carve out corners of interest...
Like I said above, every spare space counts, so I've tried to take small corners and make them more interesting. Each of these represent previously unused spaces. Now they have been given some small purpose. I find that they extend the barriers of the rooms they are a part of and command attention.



3) Keep it fresh...
I never knew the impact having fresh flowers all around me made until I made room in my grocery budget for them. I never spend more than $20.00 a month (and that is on the HIGH end) on fresh flowers, but I think they make a huge difference. My house can feel very cramped and extremely dark at times. Besides the living room, there is not a lot of natural light around the house. Having the fresh presence of beautiful flowers really opens up the small spaces and gives you more of the outdoor feel. I always go with what is on sale, and if all else fails, I just bring in some weeds or greenery from our own yard!

Tulip Bundles: $1.99 Sunflowers: $2.99

Ranunculus: $4.00!! Tulip Bundle: $1.99

4) Surprise them...
No matter what you do, I have found it is important to be surprising! I mean, that is what we all try to achieve in this fun crafty blogging world, right? Oh, and the moment you have been waiting for...Here is where I become very honest about my obsession with numbering EVERYTHING!




That's right, I cannot believe my husband gave me the go ahead with gluing black wooden numbers to the doors in our dark, dark hallway. I am loving it. We get to sleep in room 3. It's a bit like a hotel, but whatever! This was previously the doomed, awkwardly skinny, dark hallway of doors. Now, its almost like a game show ("What's behind door number 2, Harry?" hehe). Okay, okay I'm kidding. But really, I do think it is a lot of fun!

I hope you will leave a comment and let me know what you think and where I can find your solutions to small room/ home living! Happy Thursday friends!

17 comments:

Jessica May 6, 2010 at 6:21 AM  

Patrice, (Harry) I love the numbering of the doors. All of your home solutions are great uses of space and so crafty. Thanks for sharing your oh so cute home!

Amber Bertsch May 6, 2010 at 7:29 AM  

Hi Patrice! I am new to this blog world, and not crafty...AT ALL! That gene skipped me, but I want to learn;-) I really like your ideas, your before/after pix, your directions. I actually bought a garage sale item and am currently reconstructing into a Message Board for my very small Eat-In, Dining Room, Kitchen combo space...so thanks for your insight and FUNFUNFUN...ideas!

Cindy Sue May 6, 2010 at 8:13 AM  

Great Ideas! Love the window frames! My problem is with my kitchen/dining area, We are painting now, and it seems it's going to turn out with a bit of a retro and modern look to it, I guess that would be called eclectic, LOL...

TBonesMom May 6, 2010 at 9:02 AM  

Try living in an apartment...now THAT is cramped. :)

Our solution has been paint (yes, I know we have to re-paint when we leave, but I still love my BRIGHT orange bathroom, my daughter's brown & aqua bathroom, and my daughter's HOT PINK bedroom for now), fun pillows, and lots of family pictures!

Kari May 6, 2010 at 9:42 AM  

Patrice, I love your home! It is so cute, so quaint and so you! :)

pocahontas May 6, 2010 at 10:27 AM  

You have a great talent in decorating and making your space pleasant. I am going to take your suggestion to start using fresh flowers in my home. Thanks!

Unknown May 6, 2010 at 10:36 AM  

I LOVE the numbers on the doors!! That's so fabulous! Unfortunately I won't get to copy that most likely, since my hubby hates hallways. :( Great house though!

staci @ lizard n ladybug May 6, 2010 at 12:10 PM  

I love the numbers on the doors!! So cute! Your house is beautiful!

Pati @ A Crafty Escape May 6, 2010 at 2:54 PM  

The numbers on the doors is hilarious...

Unknown May 6, 2010 at 4:26 PM  

What great ideas! Beautiful pictures.

julie May 6, 2010 at 6:01 PM  

I just love how you used chairs & small tables to create interesting corners...GREAT ideas!

Jane@Little House of Projects May 6, 2010 at 6:12 PM  

It's great to see in this world of super-sizing a post on living in a small house. I can give a tour of my house from one spot! You can see the kitchen, dining, living, master, spare bedroom and bathroom from one location. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thanks for sharing!

Bibliochic May 6, 2010 at 6:16 PM  

what inspiring ideas!!! i live in a small space and this makes me excited to be doing so! thanks for sharing all your ideas!
xoxo,
tod @ http://bibliochicshop.blogspot.com/

Jaedyn May 6, 2010 at 7:04 PM  

Your home is so cute and has so much character! I'm inspired, for sure. We just moved into a smaller home similar to yours and I haven't really known what to do with it. Everything I have is too big! But the walls are still blank and I love the way you've arranged your wall art and put little things around that make it yours. :)

Amy May 7, 2010 at 3:20 PM  

Your house is amazing and full of character! I'm sure it's even better in person! Great ideas!!

Becca Ross May 7, 2010 at 4:14 PM  

This is so nicely written, with such beautiful photos! I hope you'll link this to my Home and Family Friday linky party.

http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/

Becca

Becca Ross May 7, 2010 at 11:25 PM  

Thanks, Patrice!

Becca

Related Posts with Thumbnails