Intentional design uses thoughtful practices to maximize a space, and while that is always important, it is arguably even more so when working with a small home. Here are some ways to incorporate it yourself.

1. Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture

In a small space especially, it’s a great idea to have your furniture and decor do double duty – think a bench or ottoman that also boasts hidden storage, a murphy bed or sleeper sofa, or a hidden trundle in your bedframe.

2. Don’t Forget About Vertical Space

Utilizing vertical space in a small home can add both much-needed storage and visual interest. This can take the form of everything from full height cabinetry and millwork, bunk beds, hanging pot storage in the kitchen, pull down drying racks, and slat walls for hanging storage in utility spaces like entries, mudrooms and garages.

Related: Our 10 Favourite Coffee Tables for Small Spaces 

3. Go Custom When You Can

Some may think it counterintuitive to invest in smaller spaces, but it is quite the opposite. Introducing custom-built seating or storage ensures it fits seamlessly into your small space and everything feels balanced. We love this solution for banquette seating and small-but-mighty workstations.

4. Embrace the Quirks

Leaning into aspects of your small space that can seem challenging at first allows for unique design – consider hanging a mirror in front of a window or off centre, going with a single or asymmetric wall sconce and continuing shelving across a window mullion as designer-approved options.

Related: 10 Nightstand Solutions for Small and Awkward Spaces

Regardless of the size of your space, intentional design goes beyond being just a trend to provide you with thoughtful and functional design, that will serve you for a long time to come. Going hand in hand with concepts like “slow design”, approaching your space with consideration for how you use it daily is something we all should be doing!

Stubborn salt stains are an unfortunate but inevitable part of winter. Let’s break down how to get rid of them in a few common items like shoes and car mats, without any chemicals and with items you probably already have on hand.

Materials you’ll need:
– microfiber cloth

– clear dish soap

– boar bristle brush (optional)

– kettle

– shop vac

Related: 10 of the Best Ways to Deep Clean Your Outdoor Rugs

For Shoes:
To get salt stains out of shoes all you need is warm to hot water on a microfiber cloth with a little bit of dish soap. Scrub the salt stains off the shoes gently and allow to dry. It’s that simple! If your shoes are suede, you can use the same method but swap out the microfiber cloth for a boar bristle brush and scrub in gentle circular motions.

For car floors and mats:

Once again, you don’t need much to get your car’s interior looking good as new during the winter months. Boil some water and pour it directly on the salt stained areas. This may seem scary, but trust the process and have a shop vac on hand to soak up any access from the pour. If the stains are fresh, that should do the trick, but if they’ve been sitting a while use a brush to help work out the stains and let air dry. This method also works for outdoor mats and floor mats.

Related: How to Get a Wine Stain Out of Furniture

With a little elbow grease you can easily restore your salt-stained items to nearly-new form! Repeat as often as necessary during the winter months, and don’t be afraid to try the same steps on other outdoor garments, like jackets and snowpants, too!