Renovation - making the most of a shoebox

These steps may help you create an extra functional space or even another bedroom.

• Clear the room of all the furniture and junk you have collected there. You will probably be surprised at how spacious it looks when it is bare.
• Work to a plan. Furniture in a small bedroom, for example, should be kept to a minimum. Bedside units can take up a lot of space and if you can get away with one, rather than one on either side of the bed, so much the better.
• Consider placing a mirror on the wall above the bed to draw the eye up, away from the confines of the floor plan. It will also reflect light.
• Choose colours and furnishings that are light and unobtrusive.
• Include an unusual focal point within the room to distract from the lack of space. Let your imagination run wild!