Live large in a smaller space

Written by: Sheri Bruneau

There’s a current trend for small living. While we haven’t necessarily seen Tiny Home communities in Calgary, we are seeing more single-family homes, row houses, and condominiums designed with smaller footprints. When space is at a premium, the key is creating beautifully designed, highly functional environments that feel expansive and luxurious.

Here are our top three tips for achieving smart, stylish small-home living.

Space Efficiency

When interior real estate is at a premium, we are always looking for ways to have spaces pull double duty. Can I say the Murphy Bed is making a comeback?  In our designs, we continue to design more custom Murphy Beds for our projects. Imagine a guest bedroom that doubles as a home office, library, or gym during the day. When guests arrive, simply unfold the bed for comfortable sleeping. We have incorporated more custom Murphy beds into our recent projects because they deliver true functionality without compromise.

For this project, our clients required a versatile room that could serve as a dedicated home office, accommodate occasional overnight guests, and provide ample storage. This custom Murphy bed design checks every box beautifully.

Functional Storage

Storage is everything in small spaces, and we are big advocates for drawers over traditional cupboards, especially in kitchens. With drawers, there is no wasted depth from shelves or blind spots.

Blind corners are incredibly common in kitchen layouts where L-shaped or U-shaped cabinets maximize every inch.

We love turning that traditionally “wasted“ blind space into fully accessible, high-function storage with smart cabinet inserts. Options like swing-out trays bring everything within easy reach.

These solutions eliminate the frustration of unreachable pots, pans, or pantry staples while keeping your kitchen looking clean and streamlined.

If replacing cabinets is not feasible, slide-out trays or organizers can retrofit existing cupboards. We partner with an excellent local company that specializes in these upgrades.

Lighting and Automation

Lighting is one of the biggest ways to elevate a small space's feel and perceived size. Layering lighting (ambient, accent, and task) is truly magical for making rooms feel brighter, deeper, and more inviting. The three layers of lighting are:

• Ambient lighting provides the overall illumination for a room, typically through overhead pot lights (recessed cans) and ceiling fixtures. Upgrading these fixtures can have a massive impact. Let's not overlook the lightbulbs themselves! Switching mismatched bulbs to a consistent color temperature is one of the easiest (and most dramatic) upgrades you can make. Nothing throws off a room's feel faster than a mix of warm 2000K bulbs alongside cooler 3000K ones in the same fixture. Uniform temperature ties everything together beautifully, making even compact rooms feel more spacious and polished.
• Accent lighting is all about drawing attention to your home's standout features. Artwork, architectural details, textured walls, or special decor elements. Accent lighting adds depth, drama, and that “wow“ factor that instantly elevates a room, especially in smaller spaces where you want to make every detail shine. Modern options make it easy to install without needing an electrician. Look for USB-rechargeable sconces, plug-in wall lights, or battery-operated picture lights that mount in minutes and deliver beautiful, focused glows.
• Task lighting provides focused, bright illumination exactly where you need it for everyday activities like meal prep in the kitchen, reading in a cozy chair, working at a desk, or any detail-oriented task. In small homes and condos, thoughtful task lighting prevents shadowy corners and makes spaces feel more practical and user-friendly. Common, effective options include:
  • Under-cabinet lighting
  • Floor lamps
  • Table lamps

These solutions deliver the right amount of light right where it's needed, reducing eye strain and making daily routines easier and more enjoyable in compact footprints.

Automation takes your layered lighting to the next level, adding effortless convenience and customization without requiring a full smart-home system overhaul.

Simple Wi-Fi-enabled outlets and smart plugs let you control everything from your phone to create personalized “scenes“ via an easy app.

Proper lighting does not only support everyday living, it transforms the ambiance and instantly makes small homes and spaces feel open, airy, and spacious.

Sheri is the owner of Get It Together. An eye for detail, she is able to proactively plan your entire renovation including the design, ensuring that no item, no matter how small, is missed. For more information about Get It Together and Sheri’s services, visit gityyc.com.