However, it's still possible to live it large in compact homes by altering layout and employing a few design tricks.

Wasted space is evident in both old properties and new builds, says Darrell O'Donoghue, MRIAI, partner at awardwinning ODOS Architects.

"People initially react by saying they need to extend. But once they sit down and work with the existing structure they can see that they have a lot more space than initially appeared, " he says.

While many home owners hanker after an openplan layout, older properties tend to be broken up into a series of smaller rooms. "Collectively the area they have available is quite large but it is broken up, " says O'Donoghue. "If you have partitions or non-loadbearing walls, it can be more straightforward to knock down walls or create an opening between areas. If part of the house has a generous floorto-ceiling height, you could put in a mezzanine. You could also excavate into groundfloor level or break into available attic space."

Relocating stairs can be another way of saving space but this can be quite costly, says O'Donoghue. "Whether you are able to do it or not depends on the age of the house, its size and structure.

However, if it will work, you could reorganize a space so that what was once only used for circulation could be incorporated into the living area."

Harnessing natural light by bringing it from a higher level in a lightwell through a floor above will open up an area.

"Failing that, use artificial lighting concealed behind or below an illusion of depth, " he says.

A lot of houses have high walls and small windows looking onto rear gardens. Even on a tight budget, you could create an opening into the garden or decking. "Although it's an external space, you read it together with the internal area, " O'Donoghue says.

Anyone embarking on a renovation project should consider recessed storage in walls which can stash anything from books to decorative objects to cosmetics in a bathroom or wetroom. "They introduce clean lines which helps draw the eye in a calm manner into the room, " says O'Donoghue.

Even if you can't undertake a refurbishment, there's plenty of stylish approaches you can adopt to optimize spacestarved rooms. "Some darker colours will reduce the appearance of space whereas lighter colours will increase it" O'Donoghue says.

Choosing furniture and kitchen units that are a similar hue to your walls will give the impression the pieces have 'disappeared' into the space.

"The room will feel a lot less cluttered." Consider painting dark built-in wardrobes the same shade as the walls.

Double doors are a popular way of opening up zones while offering the option of closing them off for privacy. However, a typical trap is to use two or three different floor treatments. "Bringing the flooring all together will make it appear visually a lot bigger, " says O'Donoghue.

One of the oldest tricks in the book to put an oversized mirror on an entire wall or part of it. "We have used this a number of times in small bathrooms which might not have as much light as other rooms."

Watch out for Dublin-based designer Kate Fine's 'Mirrored Art' in Habitat in September.

SMALL SPACE, BIG IMPACT

>> Leg it Furniture with legs allows light to hit the floor and can avoid that overcrowed effect of having several pieces of furniture in a compact zone. Perspex furnishings and transparent frames will also maximise the sense of space.
>> On a roll Keep window treatments unfussy.

Clearing your window of curtains could make a real difference. Some people are happy to go for uncovered windows but if that isn't practical or acceptable, plain roller or Roman blinds can work well.

>> Get connected Look at your house as a whole and try to create a sense of connection through wall and floor coverings as well as other elements such as lighting.

>> Store it up There's nothing like a load of clutter to clog up a house. Have a clear out and provide storage . . . flush floor to ceiling solutions in keeping with existing materials and colours . . . in redundant areas of the house such as hallways. Try to keep kitchen worktops free but if that's not possible, go for clear glass jars. If you don't have any plans to sell up, invest in custom-made furniture to make the most out of rooms with sloping ceilings and other awkward areas.

Hang out Sanitaryware hung on a wall is best for bijou bathrooms. Keep the look light with a mirrored cabinet and large mirror.

Box clever Add interest to a bland box room with a box-bed containing storage.

Cover up in some funky bedlinen and complete with an understated roller blind.

Multitask Don't buy too much furniture and make sure your kit will work hard. Think height adjustable tables, beds that open up to reveal storage, bathroom mirrors with integral shelving, sanitaryware that incorporates towel rails and drawers, and room dividers with storage compartments.

If your guest room is going unused most of the time, make it into a multipurpose area such as den or study with a sofa bed or wallbed. Folding furniture is often inexpensive and a great way of furnishing poky places or accommodating unexpected guests.

Get on the move Butcher's trolleys, tables or wardrobes on castors offer fabulous flexibility while a nest of tables means that extra surfaces can easily be created, without taking up space.