Your Condo Décor Guide to Balance Function and Aesthetics

Much like with feng shui, you will want to strike a balance of form and function in your home to bring in a sense of harmony, good health, happiness, and prosperity. Beyond choosing your property based on feng shui philosophy, however, you will also need to make smart and efficient interior design decisions that’ll lead to the most stylish and usable living space for your needs.

A common condo décor myth is that you can’t have both beauty and functionality in a tiny home. You might have been led to believe that you can only have one or the other - looks or usefulness. But the reality of smart design is that you can enjoy both, as long as you make the right interior design choices that balance out both of these crucial aspects as much as possible.

This guide is here to help you strike the best balance possible between aesthetics and functionality so that you can enjoy the most comfortable and convenient lifestyle at home. With the right combination of personal style choices and multi-functional equipment, you can get a taste of condo living at any of the available rent-to-own (RTO), pre-selling, or fully furnished and ready-for-occupancy units at DMCI Homes.

1. Choose colors and textures thoughtfully

One timeless interior design tip that you can always apply is to choose your color scheme and textures as thoughtfully as possible. Select light and neutral tones for your furnishings to create an open and airy feel to your unit, and then pair them with bold accents to enhance aesthetics without overwhelming the place.

Explore layering textures as well to make your small condo feel bigger and bolder. Try your hand at blending wood, metal, brick, and fabric textures to make your unit look more dynamic and feel more well-designed, without taking away from the room you need for a functional lifestyle.

2. Invest in multifunctional furniture

Multifunctional furniture is an essential tool for condo homes, as it can serve multiple uses and help you save on crucial floor space. These multipurpose tools can either double as furniture and storage or be expanded and put away based on how you want to use them. Some great examples of this type of furniture include convertible sofa beds, ottomans or stools with hidden storage, and foldable or expandable tables.

Make sure to choose high-quality, versatile pieces to reap the benefits of these space-saving, practical, and stylish solutions. Don’t buy cheap versions of these furnishings, because you’ll want them to last a long time in your home. You can easily purchase these pieces from online furniture shops in the Philippines for both local and reliable choices.

3. Make ergonomic furnishing choices

Comfort is another important aspect of a functional and stylish condo home. Whether you want to fill your unit up with cozy fabrics, soft layers, or ergonomic furniture pieces, you should always remember to choose pieces that make your place feel warm, comfy, and easy to live in.

If you’re going to invest in ergonomic furniture, make sure to go for chairs, couches, and surfaces that provide a lot of support and comfort as well. If you work from home and utilize your condo’s workspaces and rest areas often, you’ll want these furniture pieces to be as comfortable as possible to boost your productivity.

4. Optimize storage without sacrificing style

Want more room without sacrificing your unit’s style? Consider storage ideas that create wider spaces while also making your unit look chic. These ideas can include built-in storage like open shelving, under-the-bed drawers, and floating cabinets, all of which can help you store or hide your belongings without taking up a lot of room.

Your creative storage ideas can also include movable solutions like woven wicker baskets, wooden boxes, and hanging shelves that attach to windows, walls, or doors. These smart storage ideas are made to look like they’re part of your décor, while still serving as great solutions for your tiny space.

5. Go for smart technology elements

Smart technologies that integrate seamlessly into the look of your condo can be a great way to bring necessary appliances into your home without making it feel too cluttered. Smart bulbs and lights, for example, can help you customize the color and look of your unit without physically changing it. Climate controls and security systems can also be integrated into your unit to provide convenience while maintaining a sleek appearance.

For other kinds of appliances, make sure to go for wireless technologies or wall-mounted devices for your screens and TVs. These streamlined devices ensure that your cables are concealed, keeping your place looking as tidy and as free from clutter as possible.

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1. Before anything else, declutter your condo.

If you want to optimize the space in your unit and fill it up with great décor, you’re going to have to downsize your condo to make room for your desired look. By making sure your place is free of clutter and useless junk, you’ll be able to set it up for an organized and serene living experience with just the essentials on hand.

2. Don’t go against the unit’s natural layout.

Whether you’re working with a bare studio setup or a wider two-bedroom area, make sure to set up your furnishings to follow the natural shape of your unit’s layout. Following the layout will help you maximize the area and make it feel easy to move around, without fighting against the flow of your own home.

3. Define various areas for different purposes with zoning.

Creating defined zones across a room can help you maximize an area and minimize extraneous accessories and décor. You can use items like rugs and furniture to cluster areas and set specific zones per purpose, even with a limited amount of floor space.

4. Go for floating furniture vs. wall-hugging layouts.

A floating furniture layout provides you with more room to move around your furniture pieces, ensuring a smooth flow across a certain living area. By pushing furniture against the walls, you restrict movement to the center of the room, decreasing the amount of free space.

5. Utilize mirrors to create the illusion of space.

A well-placed mirror in your condo can help to reflect light and create the illusion of a larger living area. Make sure to incorporate one into your design to open up the tighter-looking areas of your home, like your living room or hallways.

If you’re on the lookout for ways to incorporate even more space-saving décor elements in addition to optimizing your rooms for flow, here are some great furnishing suggestions to try as you decorate your property:

1. Wall-mounted desks or foldable tables

To maximize your small condo and its usable areas, try installing wall-mounted desks or using folding tables that you can easily bring out and put away depending on how you want to utilize the area. With these types of flexible furnishings, you can transform an open area into a dining room, workspace, living room, and more - all with just a few changes.

2. Multilayer shelves or benches with storage

Dual-purpose accessories and furnishings can be a great way to save on crucial storage spots in a tiny living area. Equipment like ladder shelves, hidden benches, and ottomans with secret storage are just a few great examples of multipurpose furniture pieces that you can use to put away your belongings in an efficient manner.

3. Home furniture on wheels

Another way to save space is to get home furniture with wheels so that you can roll certain things in and out of a room as needed. Some excellent examples of furniture you can add wheels to include coffee tables, kitchen trollies, and display boxes; you can bring these around and tuck them away for more surface use and storage overall.

4. Hanging or stackable planters for greenery

If you want to bring plants and greenery into your property, but also don’t want them to take up too much room, consider investing in hanging or stackable planters. These vertical styles of pots and planters will allow you to grow your plants at home without them taking up too much room in your smaller living area.

Using space-saving furniture and optimizing your floor area for flow are just some of the practical ways you can ensure utility without sacrificing style in your home. To go the aesthetic route and figure out smart ways to design your apartment, continue to the next section of this extensive guide.

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1. Simple décor to show off your personality

Whether you’re a self-confessed geek or a chic design expert, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through your décor. Think about your unique likes, favorite hobbies, and passions in life. Then, translate these into color schemes, patterns, and textures that you can incorporate into your property’s one-of-a-kind look.

Consider small but unique touches that you want to bring into your space to showcase your personality as well, like art pieces, framed photos, or a few meaningful objects. Be intentional about what you pick, and then balance these style choices out with practical pieces that ensure an optimized living experience.

2. Lighting as a design and functional element

Acondo space with proper lighting can easily impact your mood and create a better living experience. When it comes to design, choose lighting fixtures that double as decorative pieces to accent your home, like lamps, wall sconces, and colored bulbs. For functionality, utilize multipurpose bulbs and fixtures that can change color and density depending on your needs and desired mood.

You can also layer your lighting design choices to include ambient, task, and accent features. These fixtures allow for flexibility in setting the mood and matching your room’s style, whether you want it to look modern, traditional, or colorful - based on your unique mood and personality.

3. Swappable designs with pillowcases and blankets

Want the ability to quickly update your interior design ideas and easily explore a variety of color schemes, textures, or fabrics? Try switching up simple décor elements like your pillowcases, blankets, sheets, couch covers, table runners, curtains, towels, and the like for greater variety and flexibility.

If you want to test out a new style for your unit, just change up simple elements like your covers and textiles to see if they scratch your design itch. Whenever you want a new look to your property, you can use this affordable design tip for a flexible yet effective means of achieving your desired aesthetic.

4. Greenery for beauty and wellness

Looking for ways to make your condo unit look fresher, healthier, and more alive? Try bringing in simple greenery like potted herbs, easy-care succulents, pet-friendly snake plants, pothos plants, and more to inspire a much-needed sense of beauty and nature around your home.

Air-purifying plants can easily improve the quality of air at your home, while also sprucing up the look of your condo. Stylish planters, on the other hand, can help you bring in pops of color to your own place to match the rest of your décor themes. In this regard, plants serve to freshen up a space while also making it more colorful and lively - offering great aesthetic appeal without sacrificing on purpose.

With all these gorgeous design ideas in mind, you can begin planning out your living areas without having to sacrifice their functionality and usability. For an even more successful interior décor venture, check out the next portion of this guide for things to avoid throughout this home styling journey.

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5. Common condo design pitfalls to avoid

Balancing form and function can be a tightwire act, and you can easily make condo design mistakes that lead to awkward décor choices and a stuffy-looking home. Here are some of the most common pitfalls to avoid as you walk the thin line between looks and usability:

• Forgetting your verticals - One big condo design mistake people often make is forgetting to utilize their vertical surfaces. Walls are a great place to set up floor-to-ceiling shelves, hanging overhead displays, and other vertical style choices that can elongate a room and create extra storage when necessary. You can even use them to hang pots and pans in a kitchen, or vacuums, mops, and brooms in a storage closet.
• Overcrowding the space -  Too much furniture and décor can also easily make a tiny living area look even tinier, cluttering up what little room you already have. While having design pieces that express your personality is great, don’t make the common mistake of overcrowding your floors and filling it with unnecessary and non-functional décor items.
• Prioritizing trends over timeless functionality - There are tons of timeless home design choices that you can make to kickstart your decorating process and ensure beauty without forgetting functionality. Things like multipurpose furniture and pairing neutral tones with textures are just some of the evergreen choices you can make to inspire your style, ensuring you avoid fleeting décor trends that you’ll come to regret shortly.
• Being afraid to make edits - Of course, you shouldn’t be afraid to try things out if you want to incorporate them into your condo interior design. If you feel that the flow of your room isn’t working, or that you could do with more efficient storage solutions, don’t hesitate to make edits to your current layout to improve your quality of life as well.

By avoiding these simple but incredibly common missteps, you can achieve a sense of beauty and usability in your tiny living areas. You’ll be able to personalize your property with ease, leading to a happier condo experience overall. Once you try all these tips out and find the perfect blend of form and function, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and relax in your harmonious condo home.

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Think of this challenge as a creative opportunity for your beloved home. Beauty and function can coexist when you know what elements to prioritize in a smaller-sized condo. Just make sure to take advice whenever possible so that you can make smart decisions without any regrets. Once you’ve set your space up for the lifestyle you want, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your unit properly at your next DMCI Homes property.

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