WANT to know how best to improve your living spaces at home? We got current and former students to ask an IKEA expert for advice on how to make the most out of their rooms.
“How do I make a small room look bigger and clearer?”
Zoe, RMIT University, Hong Kong
Take a look at your furniture. Large pieces like an oversized sofa or bulky bed-head will make your small space look even smaller! Furniture that is low to the ground gives the impression of more wall space, whilst furniture pieces that have hidden storage or are multi-functional can help reduce the amount of furniture in the room all-together!
If your furniture is not the problem then assess the colour scheme in your room. Dark and moody colours tend to close the space in as they absorb light so opt for a more bright and airy colour palette when choosing paint, furniture and textiles. If all else fails, invest in a large mirror to give the illusion of space!
“What kind of layout for a study space will lead to the best and most comfortable work occurring?”
Laura, RMIT University, Australia
Your study space needs are dependent on how you study, and what sort of work you’re doing. If you’re studying a creative subject then you may need a deeper desk for making mood boards and models, lots of organised storage for all your inspiration magazines, coloured markers, cutting tools, tapes etc.
If your study involves mainly sitting at a laptop, then a conventional desk may not be necessary at all. BYLAN laptop support is great for those long hours on the couch staring at a computer screen and RASKOG trolleys are perfect for wheeling books, tech gear and stationary out from your room to your study space — wherever that may be!
However you work it’s important to make sure you have plenty of light to avoid eye strain, take regular breaks and sit in a supportive chair to avoid back strain when working for long periods of time
“My room has very little natural light, how do i make the space appear brighter and happier?”
Linnie, University of Melbourne, Singapore
The best thing about light is that we can ‘create’ it. Use bright globes for your lamps, but be careful to not go above the maximum wattage. A white light creates a crisper brighter glow, whereas a yellow light is more warm and soft – better suited to ambient lighting!
Furniture with a gloss finish or reflective surface will bounce what little light there is around the room to make it seem brighter, and be sure to use sheer curtains on your windows for privacy that doesn’t completely block out the available natural light
“What are some cheap ways to organise and declutter? And what do I do with all my cables?”
Diane, Alumni, Singapore
There’s lots of inexpensive and easy ways to organise and declutter your home — start with your wardrobe as we are in the thick of Winter. Chances are we’ll be wearing a lot more coats and jeans and a lot less shorts! Organise your out of season clothing into SKUBB storage boxes, these can be stored under the bed or at the top of your wardrobe and keep your clothes protected from moths and dust while they’re not being worn.
Often our study areas build up lots of unnecessary clutter too, and it can be hard to tell what’s important and what’s not. With handy labels on the front you can easily organise all your semesters’ papers, notes and books into TJENA magazine files and boxes with many colours available to suit.
A SIGNUM cable trunking holder can be screwed in under your desk to group your computer and electrical cables together and KVISSLE cable management boxes hide away bulky adapter and lengthy cables. FIXA cable management also provides stick on cable holders to keep them off the floor without damaging your walls!
This story has been brought to you by IKEA Australia. To learn more about IKEA, visit their website to see their entire range of products.