Interior Design Tips to Keep Your Space Organized and Beautiful

The thoughtful builder partners of University District design residential units to be functional, and Staples at University District has everything you need to customize your space to your needs – all close at hand. 

We sat down with Louis Duncan-He Designs and the U/D Staples team to hear their perspectives on functional design. Read on to learn more about how you can bring functional tips to the spaces where you live, work and play!

Photo courtesy of Louis Duncan-He

Louis Duncan-He Designs is the mastermind team behind the beautiful Rohit Communities Dean’s Landing in U/D. Check out their top pieces of advice for building a functionally-furnished space.

Small Spaces Do Not Mean Small Furniture
Don’t let your space diminish your furniture dreams. Says Louis Duncan-He,  “The biggest mistake by far with a small space is to automatically buy small furniture – this is not the answer. When designing your space, look at the room as a whole – what do you want the room to be? Think about ways to add design value outside of furniture (e.g. walls, ceiling, drapery, light fixtures, panel details + millwork) – because if you are just relying on furniture, things can start to look crowded and busy.”

Invest in Customized Pieces
Customized pieces are an investment, but having a piece you will cherish for a long time can add a lot of value to your space. Continues Duncan-He: “With smaller spaces, one of the key factors to consider is scale. Having a sofa created at the perfect custom size will do wonders in making it seem like the room was thoughtfully designed. Consider what key pieces you’re able to spend a bit more money on to ensure it fits your space perfectly. You really want to try and limit the amount of dead space, so if there is an extra one foot of space on either side of your sofa, maximize that space because it will not serve any other use. It will also create the illusion of more flow and openness.”

Buy Functional Furniture 

When you’re working in a smaller space, there’s an opportunity to bring in pieces that can have multiple purposes. Duncan-He explains, “Ottomans and other pieces of furniture with dual purpose storage are great for smaller spaces! A smaller ottoman with a lid can serve as an extra seat and a foot rest and can be used to store extra blankets and pillows. This is key when designing a smaller space, think about multi-purpose pieces.”

The transition to hybrid and work from home work models means many of us are using our at-home offices more than ever. The U/D Staples team has some great advice on getting started on small space organization and customizing your office to fit your needs.

What “staple” products help organize and upgrade small spaces?

Staples: “We have a lot of great choices, but our most sought after is always any of the Poppin products! The colourful pieces brighten up any space and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and functions to suit any desk or office!”

Another key product Staples offers is ergonomically friendly chairs and sit-stand desks which are sleek and functional design options, making any desk work supportive and comfortable.

How can someone with a small space use your products to make it organized, functional and beautiful? 

Staples: “Our biggest tip for any of our customers is to always declutter. Less is more when you’re working with a small space. Add some verticality to your desk with a Poppin monitor riser to keep paperwork/keyboards out of your workspace if it isn’t needed, or keep your pens and pencils in a Poppin pencil cup! We all know clutter can lead to unnecessary stress, and there’s a lot of ways our assortment of Staples products can keep you stress-free while adding a bit of colour to life! If you don’t know where to start, our experts from Staples Professional can work with you to design your home office from the ground up and bring your vision to reality.”