Creative ways to save space at home

SINGAPORE - As homes here are becoming smaller in size, the onus is on home owners to be more creative in maximising their living spaces.

Never mind traditional ideas, such as installing more mirrors in your homes or having large-sized floor tiles and arranging them diagonally to give the impression that your home is much larger than it is. It's time to start looking for more innovative space-maximising ideas.

Here's one hot trend: Multi-purpose furniture such as sofas which can be converted into multiple beds, dining tables which can disappear into the wall and foldable chairs.

Name: Trio sofa bed
What: A sofa which can be transformed into three beds. It's perfect when you have limited rooms, or on occasions when multiple guests stay over.
Sold by: Spaceman (www.spacemanstore.com)
Cost: $3,500

Name: Picture dining table
What: Hidden from plain sight, it hangs on your wall as a picture or a mirror until you need it, before dropping into place as a dining table for up to five people.
Sold by: Spaceman
Cost: $2,900

Name: Flux chairs
What: Made of polypropylene, these fix-it-yourself chairs come in a form similar to a piece of cardboard just 1.5cm thick, but can be turned into full-sized chairs in a matter of seconds. It can take up to 160kg of weight.
Sold by: Smootree (www.smootree.sg)
Cost: $250 for an adult-sized chair; $150 for a junior-sized one.