When it comes to decorating, there’s an upside to working with a smaller space: all it takes is one clever design feature to totally transform a room. In fact, lots of our favourite designers and tastemakers actually relish working with a limited footprint because it’s a chance to flex their creative muscles. We asked them to reveal the 2025 trends and techniques that they’ll be leveraging to make even the smallest spaces sing.
The small-space trend: layered lighting
Bringing a sense of atmosphere to a small room is a breeze when you work with a mix of lighting: wall sconces, floor lights and side lamps. Designer Abigail Ahern credits the technique with creating a cosy vibe at home. ‘Layering lighting creates a magical atmosphere, curating little glowing pools of light that cast a dappled glow and make any space look heavenly,’ she says. ‘Portable lamps are ideal for adding much-needed glow in those hard-to-reach places. As soon as you enter a beautifully lit room, you immediately get that feeling of squishy contentment.’
Well, who doesn’t want a bit of squishy contentment in their lives? Ellie Fennell, lighting buyer for John Lewis, agrees. ‘Lighting can provide a calming effect,’ she says, suggesting a way to tick off two trends in one: ‘With pistachio being this year’s colour of the season and with many of us working from home, practical lighting options like the Anglepoise desk lamp in pistachio is a great choice to create a calm home office’. Ellie also recommends lamps with adjustable heads and swing arms to offer flexibility between more ambient light and directional light.
The small-space trend: colour drenching
Colour-drenching the walls, woodwork and ceiling creates an illusion of depth, making a small room appear bigger and giving a cohesive feel. It’s a clever bit of visual trickery favoured by interior designer Sam Grigg. Reassuringly, she says that you can achieve a gorgeous effect no matter which shade you choose. ‘The key is to pick a colour that resonates with you – and how you want to feel in that space,’ she explains. ‘Trust your instincts. If soft neutrals or muted pastels feel calm and airy to you, use these to keep things feeling open and expansive. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to go dark and deep if you’re drawn to rich, bold hues and want your space to feel more cocooning.’
The small-space trend: clever vertical storage
You can use narrow and tall dimensions to your advantage with floor-to-ceiling storage. Simon Glanville, managing director at A Place for Everything, tells us: ‘We’re big advocates of thinking vertically. Our modular Swedish over-door system is great for clearing the clutter.’ Designer Edwina Boase recommends using existing features such as a chimney breast or window ledges to create something bespoke to display or store belongings.
Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL, tells us that you’ll never regret including tall wall cupboards in your kitchen layout. ‘They may be harder to reach, but the space can be invaluable. Using glazed wall units gives an illusion of space too, as does slim shelving or open slim shelving units,’ she explains. To keep the scheme from looking too rigid, Helen often staggers the depth of worktops to create small, shallow areas for seating and slim cupboards.
The small-space trend: multifunctional design
This clever desk area, designed by interior architect Marc Boase and interior designer Edwina Boase, is lined in oak
Reimagining small spaces is something interior designer Edwina Boase is particularly passionate about. ‘Think outside the floorplan when configuring the space – don’t be afraid to beg, borrow and steal space from other areas by punching into a wall,’ she enthuses. ‘This could give you that workspace, bedside shelves, breakfast bar or even a bed you didn’t think there was room for.’ Edwina also recommends embracing built-in carpentry to achieve the maximum amount of storage. The trend for sliding pocket doors is great in a compact space, especially when designing bathrooms or creating wardrobes in smaller rooms.
And when it comes to furnishings, Harriet Carter, textiles and functional decor buyer at Anthropologie, heroes pieces that double up as storage: ottomans, sofa beds or coffee tables with hidden compartments and extendable features.
The small-space trend: reflective surfaces
Glossy tabletops and marble counters will bring glamour and warmth to a scheme; if you angle your lights cleverly, you can also bounce the light across the surface and around the room, as with these swan-neck lights from Original BTC.
Marie Karlsson, creative director and manager at Cole & Son, also recommends using wallpaper with reflective qualities, such as Kalahari, to maximise natural light and make small spaces feel larger and brighter. ‘They instantly add visual depth and dimension, enhancing aesthetic appeal while maintaining a cohesive design,’ Marie explains. Mirrors are a classic small-space design trick, but you can also opt for copper finishes and accessories – they’re one of this year’s hot trends and can enhance the luxe feel at home.
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