From Tiny House Nation: How to create your own trendy tiny space
Ahhhh….the lazy days of summer are here…time to tackle the bigger home renovation projects on the list of things to do. One of the hottest design trends right now is all about TINY SPACE. Simply put, it is a social movement where people are choosing to downsize the space they live in. Even if you’re not ready to commit to tiny living, odds are there’s a small space in your home that feels more challenging to design. Consider that powder bathroom or turning an outside shed into an office or guest space. Tiny spaces are a hot trend because they require us to reduce clutter and are easier on the environment-if really committed, can help your bottom line. The tiny movement is HUGE right now. As they say, “less is more.”
Design expert from FYI’s “Tiny House Nation” Kim Lewis will talk us through how to design a tiny space -small can still have a bold impact. In fact, there’s even more pressure for selecting the perfect fixtures for tiny spaces, since everything in the room is more intimate.
Kim shows us ways to incorporate thoughtful finishes through texture and color. Vintage Nickel is a new trending finish for homeowners, as we appreciate turn of the century style. Earth tones and neutral colors are trending with the mid century style growing in popularity. The key word to create a successful tiny space is multifunctional. Bathrooms or workspaces require thoughtful designs to reduce clutter and organize. Drawers with built in outlets and multifunctioning compartments reduce chaos in the home, making tiny living more accessible.
Eye-catching artisanal pieces are trending in design. Tiny spaces are more intimate, so using hand-crafted pieces gives the space more charm and unique character. There is always room to reflect your own personality in design, no matter the size of a space!
Tips on how to design your bath, office or TINY guest space:
· Fixtures and Finishes- With smaller spaces, your selection of fixtures and accessories is even more important. Like completing your outfit with jewelry, faucets are the finishing touches to a space… Selecting the right product and finishs s like fashion in design.
· Artisan Movement – Choosing a sink with hand-crafted texture and pattern truly is ART in the room. Texture adds depth and interest to small spaces alsoReduce Clutter and Organize – When space is “tiny”, multifunctional pieces are key. For the small bathroom, we’ll look at thoughtful vanity designs to reduce clutter and organize this space.
· Individual Style – There’s always room for individual expression and style in tiny spaces. In fact, it’s even more important to be yourself in these spaces! Kim Lewis shares her favorite secrets for using color to make the room feel bigger.
· Eco Friendly – The tiny living trend is for the environmentally conscious. People are moving more into the city, working from home and may not want, need or be able to afford larger spaces. Selecting sustainable materials made from organic elements and fixtures that conserve natural resources makes the space a more calming environment, despite the sacrifice in square footage. You would be surprised how “zen” small spaces can feel, when you select the right materials!
ABOUT KIM LEWIS:
Kim Lewis is best known as the Lead Designer behind ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and founder of Kim Lewis Designs in Austin, TX. In six years with the television show, Kim designed over 120 homes in 43 states. Her work has been featured on television networks ABC, HGTV, TLC, National Geographic, Spike TV, Animal Planet, and most recently FYI’s “Tiny House Nation”. Austin commercial clients include restaurants ChiLantro, Juice Society, Crepe Crazy, and a new urban winery called The Infinite Monkey Theorem. Residential clients include celebrities, Jewel and Tiffani Amber Thiessen.
Written and online publications include People, InStyle, House Beautiful, Lonny, Apartment Therapy, The Washington Post, Austin Woman, TyPennington.com, BScene Magazine, Forbes.com, The Design Network, and others. In 2014, Kim was selected as 1 of 5 Trendspotters to develop her own countertop color with the global solid surfaces company, Silestone. The new color “Olivia” was released this summer 2015.
In her time during Extreme Makeover, Kim saw how truly design CAN change lives. In 2013 she partnered with Touch A Life in Ghana, West Africa to build a therapeutic art center for children, and is currently volunteering to design art centers in Cambodia for Rapha House, to be completed in 2016.
Kim is a motivational public speaker, working to empower the design and build industries to use creativity to inspire others.