Decorating Small Spaces
The common response to decorating a small space is to paint everything white. The theory is that the lighter the colors used in the room are the larger the room will seem. I take the opposite approach. Rather than to try and make a small room seem like something it’s not – a bigger room – why not play to the small size instead? There are benefits of a small room that are frequently overlooked, and when capitalized on, will help you to create a sparkling gem of room that draws lots of attention.
Little lessons
Loving your small room will help you to create a room that’s cozy and charming. Often these rooms are sparsely furnished. But a quick trip to a furniture store will show how a surprising amount of furniture can fit into a small space. Unlike a traditional home, furniture stores have to combine a suite of furnishings into a small area and make it look good enough to buy.
The lesson to be learned from furniture stores is that successful small rooms are thoughtfully put together. Decorate your small room with some thought about arrangement and design, and your little space will be as attractive as any showroom at a furniture store.
Small thoughts
Rather than retreating from color, pattern and decoration in your small room, run in the direction of strong décor instead. Don’t be afraid to put a strong color on the wall. Dark color in small spaces enhances the coziness of the room and makes it warmer and more cave-like – which is always a big draw. Everyone loves a cozy, cave-y room. Pattern is another small room fear.
Work from an inspiration piece, such as upholstery fabric or rug, and select one bold pattern. Avoid mixing and matching too many patterns but look for colors from that inspiration piece to work from. One color could be used for the wall color and then other colors could be pulled from the inspiration piece for draperies and upholstery. Be careful of using too many colors, though. Less is more.
Another fear in small rooms is fullness and size of furniture. Don’t be afraid of using large furniture pieces. As long as the large piece is balanced with smaller ones, then you can create a room that can function well and be cozy at the same time. We have a small media room and it’s the favorite room of everyone who comes to visit. They love how cozy and cave-like the room is. At holidays, everyone fights for a spot on the large sofa with attached chaise.
Tiny tricks
To make the room seem larger, place a plant at the corner opposite the door. This draws the eye to the corner and makes the room appear bigger. Another option is to look for a single large piece of artwork or furniture to create a focal point. Another design technique is to add a leaning mirror or large wall mirror.
This brightens the room and makes it feel larger. The best trick is to keep the colors all on the same tone, such as medium beige walls, carpet and upholstery. This single color scheme will blur the lines of where the walls are and open up the room. If colors are in the same color value, that’s when the room exudes that cozy appeal. However, if chocolate walls are contrasted by white furniture, the jarring color scheme will make the room feel cramped.
When you have a small space, play up that size by opting for cozy design. A good dose of color will create a beautiful room that’s comfortable and a turn your small room into a little jewel.
