Ishika Narang is a Multimedia Writer at the Hindustan Times, with over three years of experience in digital journalism, specialising in health, lifestyle, beauty, and consumer-focused reporting. Her primary coverage areas include evidence-based health journalism, preventive care, wellness trends, and affiliate-driven consumer guides tailored for digital audiences. She began her professional journey in digital media, where she developed expertise in multimedia storytelling and platform-optimised editorial strategies. Over the years, she has worked with reputed organisations such as Park+, Jagran, and Wavel.ai, steadily building credibility in health and consumer journalism. Her work reflects a strong progression in editorial responsibility, combining research-backed reporting with audience-focused content formats. At Hindustan Times, she produces in-depth health and lifestyle features, expert-led explainers, and data-informed consumer stories. She also focuses extensively on affiliate articles, creating well-researched buying guides, product comparisons, and recommendation-based content that balances commercial intent with editorial integrity. Alongside writing, she conceptualises and manages social media storytelling, ensuring content is informative, engaging, and optimised for platform-specific consumption. Her subject expertise includes preventive healthcare, nutrition, supplements, women’s health, beauty trends, consumer awareness, and affiliate commerce content. She integrates expert consultations, peer-reviewed research, verified product analysis, and transparent sourcing. Her strengths lie in evidence-based storytelling, simplifying complex information, and producing reader-first affiliate content that prioritises trust and value. Ishika holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) in Marketing from Guru Gobind Indraprastha University, which enhances her understanding of consumer behaviour, digital commerce, and audience engagement, skills that complement her specialisation in consumer and affiliate journalism. She is committed to ethical reporting, transparent affiliate disclosures, rigorous fact-checking, and maintaining editorial credibility, ensuring every story upholds reader trust and journalistic standards.
Living in a small or compact home is not the problem; making the most of the limited space available is what truly matters. poorly planned interiors and the wrong furniture choices can make even a well-designed room feel cluttered While every corner has the potential to be useful. Whether it is the living room, dining area or kitchen, a messy layout can make a home appear smaller than it actually is. However, modern home design is changing the way people use their space. From multifunctional furniture to smart storage solutions, thoughtful purchases can help homeowners make every square foot count while keeping their homes organised, comfortable and stylish. The goal is not simply to make a compact apartment look larger. It is to ensure that the space supports the way its residents cook, work, rest, entertain and spend time together. Priyanka Gupta, Founder & Principal Architect at Prodigy Designs say “ With the right choices, even a modest home can feel organised, comfortable and personal, proving that good design depends as much on how space is used as on how much of it is available. The idea of a well-designed home is evolving as urban families reconsider how much space they actually need. In cities where property prices and rents can make larger homes difficult to afford, a compact apartment with a practical layout may offer a more suitable balance of comfort and cost. The focus is no longer on filling every room with furniture or making an apartment appear larger than it is. Instead, homeowners are paying greater attention to air ventilation, storage, furniture proportions and how different areas connect. One of the most practical ways to maximise a smaller home space is to choose furniture that serves more than one purpose. Instead of dedicating valuable floor space to separate pieces for every activity, homeowners are exploring designs that can adapt to changing requirements.
A sofa bed, for example, can provide everyday seating while accommodating overnight guests. An extendable dining table can remain compact during regular meals and open up when family or friends visit. A storage ottoman can function as additional seating, a footrest and a place to keep blankets or other household essentials. In bedrooms, beds with built-in drawers or hydraulic storage can help accommodate seasonal clothing, spare linen and other items without requiring additional cabinets. Foldable desks and wall-mounted workstations can also be useful for people who work from home but do not have a dedicated study. Before investing in multifunctional furniture, homeowners should also check its dimensions, opening mechanism and clearance requirements. A sofa bed, for instance, needs sufficient room when fully extended. Planning for its open position is just as important as measuring its everyday footprint. In many compact apartments, combining the living and dining areas can create a more flexible arrangement than treating them as completely separate zones. An open layout allows light to travel more freely through the space and can make everyday movement easier. This does not mean every wall needs to be removed. Structural walls, ventilation requirements and the practical needs of the household must be considered before changing an existing layout. In some cases, simply repositioning furniture can improve the sense of openness. The growing focus on space efficiency does not mean homeowners are giving up on attractive interiors. Instead, the emphasis is shifting towards design choices that combine visual appeal with everyday usability. In a compact home, luxury may mean a well-organised wardrobe, a kitchen that supports comfortable cooking, a bedroom with clear walking space or a living room where the family can relax without constantly moving furniture around.
