fbpx

Interior Design Tips to Keep Your Space Organized and Beautiful

May 17, 2023

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.”

If you are looking for your next space to call home visit U/D Discovery Centre to learn about all living options in U/D including Rohit Communities’ featuring Louis Duncan-He Designs’ incredible interior designs. 

To bring some quick and easy organization to your space, shop in store or online at Staples in U/D!


Join the Discussion

Comments are moderated before being posted. Your email address is required but will not be published.

Join our email list for more information and our newsletter.
I'm interested in learning more about:
Popular
Meet Our New Neighbours: A Warm Welcome to all of U/D’s Newest Retailers
Fall in Love with Comfort and Convenience – An Inside Look at Autumn by Homes by Avi
Celebrating Another Great Summer at U/D
NOTICE: University District Has a New Parking System
See All Blog Posts
2023, A year in review, active, Activity, Age-friendly community, Aging in place, Alberta, Alberta Children's Hospital, All ages, ALT Hotel, Alt Hotels, amenities, Ana Cummings, apartment rental, Aria, Artist, August, Autumn, Bakeries, baking tips, Balcony, Balcony Decor, BBQ, beard grooming, Bike routes, BILD Awards, Block Party, blockbuster movie night, Bookstores, Bragg Creek, Breakfast, Brenda Stafford Foundation, Brenda Strafford Foundation, Brookfield Residential, Brunch, Bubble Tea, Bucket List, Budget, Budget conscious, Builder Launch, Building Industry and Land Development, Business, Calgary, Calgary Activities, Calgary Art, Calgary bakeries, Calgary business, Calgary community, Calgary Drinks, Calgary events, Calgary Fitness, Calgary Hearing, Calgary LRT, Calgary Parks, Calgary Real Estate, Calgary restaurants, Calgary staycation, Calgary tourism, Calgary Trails, Calgary Transit, Calgary Women, Cambridge Manor, Canada, Canada Day, Canmore, Capella, Cartwright lighting & furniture, Celebration, centerpieces, Central Commons, Charcut, charity, cineplex, Classes, Cochrane, comfort food, Community, community festival, Community Living, condo life, condos, connections, contest, cookie baking, cooking, cooking together, Creative, Crystal Creek Homes, Curious Hair, Curious Salon, Date Ideas, Date night, Decor, Decor Shops, Decor Tips, Denim & Smith, Dental, dental care, design styles, Dining, Discounts and Deals, Discovery Centre, DIY, dog park, Dogs, Downsize, downsizing, downsizing tips, Easter, Eco decor, eLearning, Entertainment, environment, events, exercise, Explore, Fall, Fall Decor, fall design, family, Father's Day, Financial, fitness, fitness as we age, food, food waste, Functional Fitness, Garden Maintenance, gardening, gift guide, giving back, golf, Green Calgary, Grey Cup, Group Germain Hotels, Guide to Northwest Calgary, GUILD, gym, hair grooming, Health, Healthy Eating, Healthy Foods, Hearing loss, hobbies, holiday, holiday activities, Holiday Budget, holiday memories, Holiday movies, holiday parties, holiday season, holiday traditions, holiday wines, home, Home Automation, home decor, Home Maintenance, home office, Home organization, Home Ownership, Home Technology, homemade pizza, Homeowners, Homes by Avi, hosting the holidays, housing, I Can for Kids, IBI Group, Ice Cream, Ice Cream Shops, Ice Rink, inclusive, Interior Design, Interior Design for your pets, Interior Design Tips, interior lighting, International Womens Day, Isolation, Jayman, Jayman BUILT, Kananaskis, kids learning, Level Playing Field, lighting, local, local business, local good, Love on Main Street, love your pet, made in Calgary, Magna, Maple, Market Wines, McKinley Burkart, meal prep, meals, mens grooming, mental health, mindful spaces, Mother's Day Brunch, Movies at home, moving, multi-generational, Nature, New at UD, New homes, New Projects, New Resident, New Retailers, Night Market, North Calgary, North Hill Mall, North Pond, Northwest Calgary, Northwest Calgary Brunch, Northwest Commons Park, Northwest neighbour, Northwestival, nutrition tips, NW Calgary, Office, Olympic Oval, online learning, Orangetheory, Organization, outdoors, Park n' Play Design, Parking, Parks, Partners, party hosting tips, Patio Decor, pet care, pet love, Photography, Picnic, plant, plant care, play space, Playcore National Demonstration Site, playground, Programs, puppy love, rafting, real estate, recipes, redecorating, rent to own, rentals, restaurant, Retail, Retail Main Street, retailers, Rightsize, Romance, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Save-On-Foods, seasonal maintenance, senior health, Senior living, Seniors, sensory gadgets, shop local, Skating, Smaller space living, Smart Home, Sports, Spring, Spring Cleaning, Staples, Staycation, Summer Activities, Summer Food, summer getaways, Summer Recap, sustainable design, table setting, tablescape, Thanksgiving, The Space Reclaimers, things to do, tips, Tips and Tricks, tourism calgary, townhome, townhome living, Townhomes, townhouse living, Trails in Northwest Calgary, travel, travel alberta, TREC Dental, U/D, UCalgary, UD Events, UD Life, UDLife, University District, University District Dental, University of Calgary, Urban Balcony, urban dog park, Urban Garden, Urban Patio Decor, Valentines Day, Vegan Cuisine, Vegan Food, Vendors, vermicomposting, Village Ice Cream, Volunteer, Volunteerism, Walking, West Campus Development Trust, Wine, wine experience, Winefest, Winsport Zipline, winter, winter activities, winter festival, Winter Fitness, winter fun, winter memories, winter pet care, winter pet care tips, winter traditions, winter warm up, Winter workout, women grooming, Women Leaders, workouts, Yard, year in review, YYC Events, YYC Hot Chocolate Fest

Discover NW Calgary's most interesting places, people and things

Visit Our Channel

Looking for something to do in NW Calgary?

Check Out Our Event Calendar

The University District blog is a resource for Calgarians who want to live, work, play, visit or buy in the northwest. We will provide you with information, stories, news and a closer look at the things that matter so you can live a more inspired, active and connected life in NW Calgary at University District… Life works here.