No room for wasted space in a compact new build
New houses in this country have typically followed the mantra of ‘bigger is better.’ With large garages and one or more spare bedrooms, storage has simply been a matter of dumping stuff out of everyday sight. It’s the McMansion philosophy, encouraged by the steady accumulation of possessions.
Downsizing to an apartment or terraced house brings these issues to the fore. The usual ratio of 30% storage space in a new build isn’t adequate when you don’t have a cavernous garage or spare bedrooms to keep clutter out of view.
Now it’s time for a more mindful approach to storage, brought on by urban plans that prioritise high-density living.
To show what’s possible, Blum created a model apartment with a footprint of just 22 square metres. And to prove that this ‘tiny home’ wasn’t just a gimmick, the company invited a young couple to move in. The results can be seen in a video that shows how real people respond to smart storage ideas.
One feature was the absence of ‘dead space’ – i.e. the voids near ceilings and in other under-utilised areas. Vertical tower units with Blum opening systems proved easy to access, providing the ideal storage facility for infrequently used items. Other clever features designed by Blum included a hidden clothes horse and a u-shaped drawer to capitalise on wasted space beneath the kitchen sink.
The Blum video proves that a very small space can be very liveable – as long as you use clever thinking and well-designed products to turn dead space into smart storage.
