Brightening A Box Room: A Matter Of Comfort
Brooklyn Chair, £79, Furniture & Choice.
Box rooms can be used in many ways depending on how you need your home to work for you. A small box room can be converted into a storage area, a small guest bedroom, a utility, or perhaps even a compact home office. The purpose of this space is to be versatile for your extra needs and to make the most of any spare square footage that you have.
While a box room is a great addition to your home, it will probably be starved of natural light and can feel quite suffocating. For this reason, it is important to know how to brighten a box room to make the small space available feel bigger, lighter and more inviting.
With that in mind, here are five interior design tips to maximise a small box room in your home:
Balancing Privacy With Natural Light
If your box room has some natural light, it is important to make sure that you do not lose that while at the same time considering the aspect of privacy (especially if it’s being used as a spare bedroom.) Avoid heavy fabric curtains which will take up too much valuable space in the bijou room; instead, opt for Louvolite blinds which allow in the most possible amount of natural light while also ensuring privacy as and when required.
It is also a good idea to hang a thin, frameless mirror on the wall that will absorb and bounce around any natural light. The reflection from the mirror will also create the illusion that the room is double the size!
Paint it neutral
Dark paint colours are warm and inviting but they do make smaller spaces feel even smaller. To really brighten and lighten a space you do have to go for white or neutral shades. Choose an on-trend warm white if you are put off from using a pure brilliant white and avoid a matt finish. Instead, use a glossy finish which will help bounce light off the walls and will brighten the box room even further.
Add Compact & Skinny Furniture
Skinny furniture is the term given to furniture with small frames that allow air and light to travel through and around it. Avoid placing any chunky furniture with wide proportions in the room as this will take up all the space and the box room will feel cramped. Furniture which has feet that lifts it off the ground feels lighter than furniture which sits directly on the floor. Also, look out for compact furniture ranges such as mini desks if you are intending to turn your box room into a home office.
Skinny furniture options from Furniture & Choice.
Vertical Storage
Even if the main aim of your box room is to be used for something other than storage, that doesn’t mean you won’t need to store items there. While paperwork is less common in the era of cloud storage, any home office will no doubt carry paper bank statements, invoices and so on. Vertical storage solutions such as narrow yet tall shelving, hanging baskets and under-desk drawers can make a big difference and will stop the compact room from getting cluttered quickly. The key is to utilise all space - add pullout drawers and cupboards under any sofa beds and install thin floating shelving high up on the walls to make the most of all available surface area.
Sandywater Wooden Open Display Shelving unit in Solid Oak, £700, Design In The Sand.
Transforming storage into a decorative element not only enhances aesthetic appeal, it also promotes a more organised and clutter-free environment. Consider incorporating stylish baskets, black boxes or decorative bins into your living spaces. Woven or fabric options add texture and warmth while discreetly concealing items like throws, toys, or magazines. Decorative boxes and trunks serve as stylish storage solutions, offering a chic way to tuck away items in plain sight. Repurpose vintage crates, antique chests, or stylish storage benches to infuse character into your space while maintaining an organised appearance. By merging functionality with style, these decorative storage ideas contribute to a cleaner and more visually appealing box room.
This bedside table with added open shelving is a great option if you are looking to create a very small guest room. £395 from Vincent and Barn.
Add pops of colour
While the box room should be painted neutral to brighten the space, small pops of colour make all the difference to create an enjoyable, vibrant place that you want to spend time in. While it is important to only put essential items into a box room to keep it feeling open, look for wall clocks, art prints and furniture in bold, primary colours to add depth and interest.
Choose colourful stationery if your box room is to be a home office. Dunelm do a great range.
