Many people live in small apartments, or little houses. Some people live in small spaces because that is what they can afford, while others choose to live in small homes because they no longer want to care for a larger home, or simply because they like the cozy feeling of a smaller dwelling. Regardless of the reason for living is a small space, there will definitely be times when you will have to make some concessions in decorating, become extremely organized, and make some modifications to your style of living so that everything will be able to fit, without feeling overly crowded.
If your goal is to achieve an intimate, comfortable space, you can easily do this through the use of soft, plush upholstered furnishings in deep, warm shades, and artistic lighting. What used to feel like a cramped corner, can become an inviting intimate area.
However, if you are looking to maximize your small space, there are a number of decorating tricks that you can use to make the area look and feel larger. Rearranging the furniture, changing the color of the walls and ceiling, and adding attractive lighting, can create a more spacious and open feel in a room.
Here are some additional tips to make your small area seem larger:
- Clean Out the Clutter
Nothing makes a small space feel confining more than having way too much stuff! Figure out ways to keep collections out of site, organize them under table cloths, on shelves, or neatly stacked behind doors. With items neatly stacked, and out of view, the space that is in view will feel more open and clean.
- Clear the Way
If a room has furnishings and other accessories blocking the entry way, the room will appear congested and even smaller than it really is. Moving the furniture away from walkways will open up the room and make the room seem much bigger. Using shorter pieces of furniture like a low coffee table, an ottoman, or an open, armless chair for the main gathering area in the room, while confining the tall, large pieces of furniture to the outer walls will open up the room and create a larger feel. A good rule of thumb is that the more floor that you are able to see, the more open the room will feel.
- Select Light Cool Shades of Color
While deep, warm colors create a cozy enclosed feel, cool light colors create an open and airy feeling. For optimum results, select light shades in the blue or green color pallet.
- Let the Light Shine In
All rooms appear larger when they are well-lit, by either natural or artificial lighting. Remove any heavy window dressings and open the windows to let the natural light from outside come into the area. Adding more light fixtures to the space is another great way to introduce more light into the room. This can be done by simply adding more lamps, or by installing track and/or recessed lighting.
- Match The Furniture to the Wall Colors
Contrasting colors tend to make a room feel broken and piecey. Whereas, pieces of furniture that match the color of the wall are far less interruptive, and blend into the space, creating a more open, cohesive feel.
- Use a Monochromatic Color Pallet
Select colors from the same color family, and choose furniture that has tone-on-tone upholstery fabrics, light and delicately shaded fabrics for window dressings, and textured wall finishes. Light cool colors and faint warm colors generally create a more open appearance in a room.
