Make space for more fun

Tiny apartments can function fully with the right planning and  multi-utility furniture, says Nayana Natarajan.

With fascination towards a lifestyle followed in developed countries, Indians are leaning towards global architectural and interior designs. From courtyards to colonial style buildings and German interiors to Italian kitchens our desi small home owners are challenged on how to adopt these funky videsi style features and yet make it look  modern and fully functional enough for their busy lives.

Some of those thoughts have a valid reason. If you have traveled in Europe you would have noticed how small the countries are and they are faced with almost the same problem as Indians – space constraints due to growing population. One thing that stands out is the size of the bathrooms across Europe. Really, you can call them closets or cubby holes.

The European bathrooms can also be energy and water efficient with their different shower and toilet fixtures. No matter how narrow the space is, there is a shower cube or a bath tub, a sink with or without a vanity counter, a toilet and a couple of cabinets to hold toiletries. Given the time one spends in the bathroom this seems to work just fine for them.

 A small loft can function fully with the right planning and multi-utility furniture and house ware. For example, a company at a furniture show held in Bangalore sold sofas that also worked as a seating diwan and a bed. Another company sold picnic tables that function as a children’s work table, garden seating and camping table that could be adjusted for 2-4 people.

It comes with a large colourful umbrella as well to protect you from sun and rain. When you fold it you will see it fits in a flat rectangular box that will go at the back of your car and you will hardly notice any loss of space. Due to its flatness it is very stackable and the aluminium body gives it a fairly firm structure that can hold a few kilograms of weight on top of it.

The greatest need for a smaller place is storage and shelving. Typically when we talk of storage we talk of metal almirahs and some ugly book shelves. Today, you will be swept away by the choices you have in the market. There are television stands for flat screen TVs that also serve as elegant book shelves. If you have a closet close to five feet, you may use the top of the closet as a shelf for beautiful vases or table top decorations. Strapped for space to have more seats for your guests?

Find a modern furniture store or a good carpenter to have a square or a circular coffee table that has triangular cushioned seating tucked underneath the table. The triangular shaped seats will fit neatly under a circular or a square table, optimally using the space underneath. No one will notice them when you serve your coffee and snacks but will be amazed when you pull those short comfortable seats for them to sit. Kids will adore them if you are having a little birthday party with your close family members.

My favourite is the bed with storage. King, queen or twin, whatever the size of your bed may be, one can create a magic world in the space underneath these beds. Growing up in the 80s, we were used to sleeping on mattresses spread on the floor. What would you do with them after you wake up? Roll them under that one big cot in your home. Peep under and you would find a whole world of children’s toys and books. For those mothers too tired to look beneath their beds, here arrives one that can hold a gazillion items at the slide of a wooden board.

Not only can you store all your blankets, quilts, pillows in this space, you can choose to use it exactly like how you would use a closet depending on the room it is housed in. Typically a queen sized storage bed can cost anywhere between Rs 18,000 to Rs 28,000 depending on the type of wood and customisation. Furniture and modular system stores or a carpenter can easily stretch your money to buy a bed and a closet in one. Many years ago I visited a friend’s house in Bangalore.

In her room all I saw was a flat board fixed to the wall. Upon investigating further I was delighted to learn that board served as her study table when unhooked from the wall and clipped to fasten it near the hinges. The hinges held the board fixed to the wall. A few years later I saw this idea grow in popularity. The board flattened against the wall when not in use, served as an ironing board in the living area or as a breakfast table for kids in the kitchen area when required.

Although found to be a smart idea, these space saving concepts come with their own risks. All furniture that is stackable flat against a wall has to be engineered well to hold their weight and not hurt people. Buying reputed brands at a premium may give you some peace of mind although owners’ risk is higher than sellers’ risk. Using sound judgment and having a long term view will help you choose the right fixtures. Storage units generally weigh heavier than other furniture in your home.

Lighter woods raise the question of durability. Strike a balance by understanding various materials available when buying furniture. It is most likely you will find a furniture piece that is made up of more than one material for multiple needs of your family. Finding furniture that is easily movable, stackable and storable will allow all members of your family – young and old to have flexibility in arrangements and will also avoid injuries resulting from bumping into them.

The cherry on the top is convenience and making your small space seem a lot larger than it really is. What with so many fascinating choices at affordable prices, home owners can comfortably dwell in their humble abode in an elegant and practical fashion in Indian cities.