To Nest or not to Nest

More and more American households are made up of single people.  From recent graduates to the retired, developers are predicting the greater rental market to be studio and one-bedroom apartments.  While some designers think that great interior design is only worth attempting in larger homes with “themed” rooms expressed in furniture style, material textures and colors, and associative “meaning,” good design is even more critical if small spaces are to feel like home.

Such design begins from the moment you open the door and cross the threshold.  What greets you?  Make it strong so that it is noticeable.  A soft carpet under foot, a favorite picture on the wall, and a shelf or table for your keys, bag and mail instantly welcome you.  Keep functional kitchens and baths clear of clutter, and shift the focus away from the fixtures and appliances with new towels and matching accessories.  If the cabinets are acceptable, add things that blend enhancing their presence; if not, add things that contrast and distract your visual attention.  Keep this simple:  if purple is your favorite color, then use it plainly and boldly.

For the primary living spaces, first think about the visual assets.  View is important because you “borrow” space from beyond your limited square footage.  If you have a good view, place your reading chair or desk there.  You’ll appreciate it every time you sit down or stand up.  Even if you don’t have an appealing view, put your dining table by a window.  This may mean that the table is not right next to the kitchen, but there’s no reason to save a few steps when the destination is pleasant.  Eating is a reflective and nourishing act.  Put a small lamp on the table reminiscent of an intimate bistro.  In the sleeping area, avoid jamming the bed sides against a wall or it will be too difficult to make.  A made bed is probably the single most worthwhile daily effort to make to keep a small place tidy and inviting.  Above all, have good lighting.  Evening hours matter and multiple lamps provide better illumination than a single bright ceiling light.  It is also nice to turn lights on when you arrive and off when you are putting your home and yourself to bed.  Include a plant – they clean the air and say a caring person lives here.  If it dies, replace it and try again.

One of the harder lessons is that it is better to have nothing rather than furnishings that are cheap, in poor repair, or that you just don’t like.  If it is dirty; clean it.  If it is beyond repair; throw it away.  If it doesn’t fit; sell or donate it.  Sparse is easier and quicker to clean, but shabby just makes you feel … well, shabby.  Even if you like to entertain, arrange your space to work best for when you are alone.  The activities change anyway when friends are over, but when you are alone, your nest has to support you both physically and emotionally.