Modern townhouses are light, bright, and airy, suitable for singles, couples, downsizers, and families alike.
‘Despite their smaller footprint, well-designed townhouses offer all the functionality of a standalone home, without the same price tag,’ says Boutique Homes Interior Designer, Nadija Saluwadana. ‘Often it just takes a few clever interior and floorplan tweaks to make your home feel larger and to meet all your needs.’
Boutique Homes Interior Designer, Nadija Saluwadana
Bright and airy colour palettes will make smaller spaces feel large and more open. Think creams, light grey and beige, particularly for your walls and hard surfaces, coupled with timber accents. A lighter colour palette also provides the freedom to play with your furniture tones and textures.
‘At Boutique Homes, we offer three professionally curated colour palettes, including the ever-popular Organic and Coastal schemes which are made up of neutral tones,’ says Nadija.
‘That said, our dark and modern Minimalist scheme also works well, particularly in townhome designs with plenty of natural light. Just remember to pair the scheme with softer furnishings in light greys and whites.’
You might also consider playing with feature walls, particularly in your bedrooms. ‘Adding a contrasting darker tone on the wall behind your bed while keeping the other walls light can make the room feel larger and add your personality to the space,’ adds Nadija.
Make every room feel spacious by minimising clutter. Think of ways to enhance your storage and ensure everything has a place.
‘Choose a bed with drawers to store throws, extra pillows, and even clothes. A storage ottoman or bench seat placed under a window is perfect for hiding away kids’ toys, linen, and general clutter,’ suggests Nadija.
You can also use functional furniture pieces that are retractable and extendable, for example, your dining table. Extend it when entertaining guests and retract it to enhance your walking space. European laundries are another great addition to your townhome, offering room for a trough, bench space, and storage.
‘You can even add overhead cabinetry and a broom cupboard, all hidden behind closed doors.’
European laundries are the cornerstone of vertical living and allow you to create a functional space without compromising your bedroom or living room size
The rooms that feel the most open are light and bright, so additional downlights are a fantastic upgrade option to consider. For spaces without a wealth of natural light, such as a bedroom or bathroom, adding a simple pendant or wall light can quickly elevate the space and make it feel larger.
‘White light reflects off surfaces, creating a feeling of openness and space,’ adds Nadija.
When searching for a townhome floorplan, look for rooms that can provide multiple functions. For example, an e-zone incorporated into your living space rather than a study or a couch in your loungeroom that doubles as a pull-out bed for guests.
‘Another affordable way to make a larger room multi-functional is to use curtains, dividers, or furniture to dictate its purpose. For example, a kids’ corner in your lounge,’ says Nadija.
‘I also like to place a comfy chair and lamp in the corner of the master bedroom to create a little reading nook.’
A quick, easy, and inexpensive styling option for vertical living: mirrors! Light bouncing off your mirror will instantly make your room feel larger. Maximise its impact by placing your mirror on a wall opposite a window.
Mirrors also benefit from being a decorative item that takes up zero floor space.
‘I love using mirrors on the side wall of a bedroom to help it feel more spacious. I’ll always recommend customers include mirrored robes in their minor bedrooms,’ says Nadija.
‘Another great option is to include a tall mirror in the hallway to make your entryway seem larger.’
To maximise your space, invest in small, lightweight furniture pieces in round and organic shapes. These take up less space than chunky, square, and heavy furniture! They are also trending, with minimalist, lightweight sofas a popular option among homeowners.
‘Tuck the furniture around the perimeter of your room rather than taking up floor space. If you can, have your couch up against a wall,’ suggests Nadija.
‘And remember less is always more – mount your TV on the wall, for example, rather than buying a bulky TV cabinet.’
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