How To Maximise Space & Set Up A 1 BHK House With Products Under INR 3,000

Too much colour, more specifically too many bright colours everywhere can drown a 1 BHK. The key with colour is to pick neutral shades and cleverly pair it with pops of vibrant blues, pinks, yellows  - be it in the paint you pick or patterned upholstery and general furnishing. Understand that muted tones, pastels and colours like white or grey will make any room (bedroom, kitchen or living) look decluttered, more airy and spacious while one or two colourful elements will add nuance and an overall clean and fresh look. We'd suggest painting the entire 1 BHK with whites, neutral tans and greys, and keeping the bolder colours limited to one or two accent walls (pro-tip: use designed/embossed wallpaper). You could also keep the paint monotone and experiment with bright and printed floor-to-ceiling curtains like this printed, sheer curtain from Freedom Tree (sheer curtains also allow in more light which is always great to create the appearance of space) or this juntos mi casa artsy curtain from Over A Pint Of Beer. Switching up cushion covers and bedsheets is another great way to sneak in colour without overkill. We're totally recommending Fabindia's collection (priced between INR 190 and INR 2,000) and Klotthe's bed covers under INR 2,500.

Other brands to check out: Zeba, Kairu, The Shop, SWHF, Fundane Studio

Buy cushion covers, bedding and curtains on LBB

In an effort to save space and still make your 1 BHK home efficient and full of pretty knick-knacks and hidden gems, you must pick multi-functional decor accents. Basically, a piece of decor that is not just aesthetically pleasing but also serves a purpose. This macrame wall hanging shelf from Indian Yards, for example, is a wall accent and can hold books, tea lights, planters and more. For more function, this floating shelf from Wakefit does the same sans the frills. Decorative jars like this amaryllis hand-painted jar from Folkstorys, planters that double as trinket dishes like this concrete floater planter and nifty kitchen essentials like this printed cutlery wall mount holder from Brick Brown, and wooden towel holder/rack from The Weavers Nest are all space-saving, highly utilitarian winners! For more luxurious items, shop this octagonal decorative box in brass and glass from aptly named, 1 BHK Interiors or this painted box by Art by Anita.

Other brands to check out: Door to Home, Crayton, Niche Studio, Ikea

Looking for multi-purpose tables? We've picked space-saving options here.

A cleverly designed 1 BHK will have sneakily included storage units all over the house. To maximise space and use, get this black basket set from Sashaa World that comes in three different sizes to store laundry, make-up or books and magazines. We're also digging this organiser basket for the kitchen from Kopou Homegrown Products, and this black metal wire basket from Hollyhock. SPIN is another cool, IKEA-type brand that has cool storage options - tool kits to storage baskets to cool wall hooks, pen stands and trays, and tables - all designed to take up little space but hold a lot. Prices here stay well under INR 3,000 too. Speaking of smart storage, pay attention to the furniture you pick out to set up your 1 BHK - it is important to buy pieces like coffee tables, sofas, and side tables with storage spaces, pouffes with storage like this one, or that can be used as bins, a bed with storage and a slim TV unit with cabinet to shove away CDs, electronics and books.

Other brands to check out: My Gift Booth, House This, Wooden Street

Shop for storage baskets and organisational decor here and here.

Furniture can make or break a 1 BHK. Make sure to pick out smart options like a pull-out couch-cum-bed, side table or expandable table with seating options, foldable dining table or a Murphy bed (beds that can be folded into the wall when not in use). For the living room, focus on picking out multiple types of seating (nesting stools, foldable chairs) options rather than one bulky piece of furniture that will eat up all the space. One way to accomplish this and accommodate more guests is by using pretty stools or pouffes like this sleek ottoman from Nestroots or this jute textured cube pouffe from Sheen Decor. Also occupying less space and easy to stow away when not in use would be this space-saving side table from Unisoul - use it in the hall or as a bedside table. Diversifying furniture this way is going to save you a lot of space and also make your home look fly!

Other brands to check out: The Decor Remedy, Unisoul, FurnitureRoots, Zishta (for traditional bamboo stools)

Buy functional furniture on LBB, here.

Natural or artificial, light can make any space look big. Aside from picking a 1 BHK home with many windows (doesn't seem like a reality, but try), a foolproof way to make your apartment look bigger is to buy lamps and lighting - pendant lights and wall-mounted lights to be exact. These will shine light from higher angles, so brightness fills in the space all over plus they do not take up floor space which we've already got less of! Ceiling and wall lights are usually expensive but we're hitting you with under INR 2,000 and uber-stylish options in this canopy macrame pattern ceiling lamp from Aadyashre and this cool pandora origami ceiling lamp from Codedgami. Fos Lighting has way too many styles of wall lights for us to choose from, take a look for yourself - options start as low as INR 1,400. Also, throw in a secondary source of light either through neon light or string lights to make the space brighter while adding depth and character (especially if you're steering clear of adding decorative home accents in general).

Other brands to check out: Oorja, Decon, Earth Heart, Think Artly, Logam

The lights and lamps available on LBB range from unique to beautiful - head here and here to know what we mean!

As a general rule of thumb while setting up a 1 BHK house - stick to minimal decor pieces, stay away from larger patterns that will overwhelm the space, try and design an open layout and invest in room dividers for demarcations, add mirrors whenever you can to establish a sense of space. Floating shelves in the kitchen, bathroom or living room are your best friends. Avoid free-standing storage stands - instead build floor to ceiling wall niches, or invest in open storage shelves (Ikea, Urban Ladder and Pepperfry have plenty) that work well as dividers too, and lastly, switch out all swing doors (balcony to wardrobe, except the doors to rooms) to sliding doors as they don't block space.