A small flat can be a tricky sell, especially right now when a top priority for many renters is having more space. However, for those who are living alone or on a tighter budget, there is still demand for smaller homes – and small doesn’t have to mean poky. If you’re a landlord with a small flat to rent, here are a few things you can do to make the most of the space so that new tenants will want to move in.
1. Freshen it up
It’s a really good idea to freshen up a property between tenants – and that can be as simple as bringing in a professional cleaner and putting a new coat of paint on the walls. With any tenancy there is natural wear and tear, and while a few scuffs here and there might not seem like a big deal, it’s amazing how much more appealing a space can look if it’s been cleaned up and taken care of before the next tenants move in.
2. Keep it bright
The easiest way to make a small place feel stuffy is to use dark colours and thick, heavy furnishings. Aim for brightness and lightness in your small flat – that means pale floors, white ceilings and light-coloured walls. If you’re providing your flat furnished or semi-furnished, make sure that you’re not using dark wood or fabrics, or big, heavy furniture. Choose furniture that works for the space, and don’t fill up the flat with more furnishings than it needs.
3. Focus on lighting
Lighting is another good way to open up a space and make it feel bigger. Try to let in as much natural light as possible (i.e. avoid long, thick curtains and don’t crowd windows with furniture) and also think about the lighting in the room. Are there any dark corners that make the flat feel cramped? Adding in a few discrete spotlights will make the space feel brighter and will also mean tenants can comfortably use every corner of the flat.
4. Maximise storage
A small flat might feel OK when it’s empty, but when a tenant moves all their stuff in they can quickly start to feel claustrophobic. The solution to this is good storage, and as the landlord, you can maximise the storage space in your property. Think high shelves and overhead cupboards, hooks on doors and walls, and even furniture with built-in storage, if you’re providing your flat furnished. Even if you’re not going to provide storage yourself, at least make space for it – for example, by choosing beds and sofas that have storage space underneath.
5. Look up
A common mistake that people make in small spaces is to forget about walls and ceilings. A small flat can easily get cluttered when everything is happening at floor level, so think about what’s going on overhead too. Interesting light fittings will draw the eye up to the ceiling and make the space feel more open; well-placed mirrors can create the illusion of more space; and overhead shelves will make the ceilings feel higher.
Do you have a property, big or small, to let in Bristol? Gough Quarters can guide you through the whole process, so contact us today to find out how we can help you.
Cover photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash
