Five of the best Instagram accounts for small-space interior design inspiration
The Hampshire coffee table in oak is compact with handy storage for small spaces; €102, The Range.
It's easy to think, as we scroll through social media looking for inspiration for a home project, that everyone is living palatially with a bedroom for each child and at least one spare room for guests, put together to perfection by someone who has her interior designer on retainer.
While our logical heads know these photos are often for show and there’s probably a pile of clutter out of sight behind the camera, it can be dispiriting to see such perfection, especially if you’re living in limited space where you’re struggling to fit in furniture essentials, and you’ve been told all-white walls are a must.
With a little planning inspiration even the tiniest space can feel roomier and calm. Instagram caters to this topic, too, with plenty to show beyond pretty pictures, so once you start searching for small spaces, the algorithm will be filling your feed by the time you’ve finished scrolling before bed.
To make a start, take a look at Apartment Therapy’s account (@apartmenttherapy, its main value being how it looks at every permutation of apartment design, from the purpose-built box to the quirky conversion carved out of an industrial building, whether you want to transform your space or just make small, meaningful changes.
Style-wise, it’s a mix of traditional looks to eclectic design and charity shop sourcing, periodically offering guides on how to choose essential items, mattresses being a recent one, and covering lifestyle topics, which gives followers the sense of being part of a community. Even though it’s an American account, just recently it posted about Nollaig na mBan, which until a few years ago was hardly heard of outside Munster.
Space planning is the biggest bug-bear for anyone trying to make everything fit in while maintaining a reasonable path of travel through a space without bumping into the back of a sofa or trying to open a wardrobe without the door hitting another piece of furniture. Designer Julie Jones (@juliejones_designs) is one of the best-kept secrets on Instagram despite having over a quarter of a million followers. Being practical and creative, she takes her followers through the space planning dilemmas they send her, offering solutions which not only remedy the problem for the homeowner but also provide useful tips and solutions for anyone else with a similar problem.
When it comes to interiors, is Canada the new Scandinavia? We might not automatically think of Canada as a source of inspiration for home interiors, but Rita Melkonian, the woman behind Small Space Designs (@smallspacedesigns) has made her little bungalow the focus of her account, documenting its development to make a stylish and cosy space for her family.
Taking its influence more from Scandinavian interiors than the neighbouring US, it’s an accessible look for us here in Ireland and one to appeal to, given our love of Scandi chic. With a mix of mid-century inspired elements, industrial, and even some rusticity, her hallway alone is a top-notch lesson in maximising a short, narrow space, characteristic of so many Irish homes.
Take inspiration from her built-in storage, slimline shoe cupboard, and how the scant use of colour throughout the bungalow will delight minimalists. But it’s far from cold thanks to a touch of rich navy paintwork, a few tan accents and thoughtfully placed textiles.
By contrast, the American account Never too Small (@nvtsmall) is all about colour and eclecticism for those of us who want a home that makes a statement about our good design taste.
Bear in mind these are American small homes, which means something entirely different in a country which is far from being short of space. At the same time, it’s an inspiring account if a little ‘out there’, especially when it comes to colour, showing they’re not scared to go over the top, so expect to see walls, bookcases and sofas all finished in pink or even orange.
If you’re looking to make a start this weekend on pulling together your small home, Tiny Flat (@tiny.flat) is the account to search. Consistently straightforward, maybe a little clinical without the cosy, chatty tone of other accounts, each post provides pictures of small-scale apartments with a floor plan, and gives the amount of space in square metres, which helps enormously in figuring out if a particular furniture plan will work in your own space.
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