How to create the perfect flow in a small living space

No matter your space, don’t let it go to waste!

Creating a functional living space is sometimes difficult for students, particularly if you don’t have a ton of space to work with. Whether you live at home with your parents, rent a place of your own (or with roommates) or even live on campus, we all know that square footage is hard to come by.

Making the best use of it is paramount to building a home that you can be proud of and that can aid in your well-being.

A liveable home is one key to wellbeing, and the positioning of items in order to maximize whatever space you have available is the first step in creating the space of your dreams.

Living with roommates

A picture of two animated characters having a conversation about one leaving and the other waiting for his friend to come back. — *Via GIPHY*

Even though rent in Toronto has started to decrease, it’s still very expensive. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto? It’s estimated at around $2,260 per month as of October 2025.

While we know this is a lot of money, sometimes splitting costs with a roommate or two can significantly decrease the cost of living and free up money for other ancillary costs.

Although this can be a great benefit, creating strict boundaries and respecting each other’s space is crucial to maintaining a good and healthy relationship between housemates. It can be beneficial to both parties and who knows, you may even develop a friendship over time!

Creating friendships through mutual respect

A picture of two men finishing a game of tennis and shaking hands at the end. — *Via GIPHY*

Sometimes living with roommates can be tough. You might share a kitchen and have very different cooking habits. You might have different standards of what is considered a “clean home.” Perhaps you share a TV and you like old movies and they like sitcoms.

The key to getting along is actually quite simple when it is broken down. Having respect for one another and making concessions can not only help create bonds of respect but also friendship.

After a period of time, you might find yourselves sharing the sofa and watching something together! Perhaps you both find something you don’t know you’ll like but are convinced to change your mind. Try something new, just remember to be respectful of each other’s space.

Positioning furniture

A picture of a room with various pieces of furniture in the form of brown, square boxes and other items. — *Via GIPHY*

Incorporate a focal point and build around it. If you have a large TV in your living room, try and position the rest of your furniture around it so that it stands out and can be viewed clearly and easily. Anything can be used as a focal point, be it a fireplace or even a piece of art.

A minimalist approach is also highly recommended. This entails avoiding clutter and really prioritizing those pieces of furniture that you value and have meaning to you. Each piece should have significance and importance. This will also result in more wide-open spaces to make your living space look larger than it actually is.

Use mirrors to augment the appearance of small spaces and create the illusion of more space. By reflecting lights and views, the illusion of depth and openness can really transform a space. If placed strategically, it can be a visual extension of your furniture.

Maximizing lighting can be used strategically to impact room size perception, mood and even ambiance. Natural light is one way to add an element of space and can even be a mood boost! Windows are key, but sometimes you simply don’t have access (think basement apartments, for instance). In that case, try and recreate light by using ambient lighting, which can come from artificial light sources. Try incandescent, fluorescent and LED bulbs and strips.

Feng shui

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There are many different approaches to finding a balance of peace and tranquility in your home, but we’re going to highlight Feng Shui! It’s an ancient Chinese practice with the goal of creating harmony and balance in our physical environment.

There are five main elements defined in terms of Form, which include Qi, wind-water, four emblems, form and directional theories. This can be simplified to simply mean “flow.” Another way of looking at Feng Shui is yin and yang, or balance. Finally, it can also be seen as the five elements, which are wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

This concept is also reliant on the concept of “chi,” which can be viewed as everything having “natural energy,” be it a person or even a living space. This theory can be applied to how arranging our living spaces can directly impact how we feel day to day, and long-term can be an additive to our well-being.

Although this ancient wisdom started in China, it has now become popularized around the world. Having a good and peaceful living environment coincides with wellbeing and can even recharge your battery. Have respect for your living space, no matter its size.

Have fun!

A picture of a yellow character cartoonish character jumping in the air, flipping, with the word "Fun" spelled out behind. — *Via GIPHY*

Regardless of where you live or how cramped you feel at times, try and have fun with your surroundings! Are you a fan of a certain musical group or artist? Why not buy a poster and pin it up in your room?

Whenever you get up and see it in the morning, it can perk up your day and maybe even make you crack a smile!

Do you like stickers or mood boards? Why not use them to spruce up your place? The key to creating the perfect flow in a small living space is to make it uniquely your own.

Our built environment and choice of interior designs impact us. Your home is your sanctuary, so treat it as such!

Feature image courtesy of Cat Han via Unsplash.

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