How to make the best of the small spaces in your home!

I hate articles that start with the over-used “In today’s economy”, so I am not starting this article that way.
More and more I am seeing people down-sizing, usually selling their homes and moving into condos or apartments, which is great for the bank account, but difficult to manage when you don’t know how to work with small spaces. What can be done to open up your smaller spaces and how can you make the most out of the limited room you have? Read on to find out.

Small rooms can feel confining , fortunately there are many design concepts that fool the eye into seeing the rooms as if they are larger and more spacious than they really are.

Color

One of the first things to focus on is color. Painting is almost always the first step to revamping any room, but many people don’t know the color techniques to use when trying to make a room appear larger.

Dark, warm colors will make your space feel cozy and intimate, but will make the room appear much smaller, whereas, light, cool colors make a space feel open and airy. If your goal is opening up the space you’re working with, stay away from dark colors.

Lightly colored walls reflect light very well, therefore, creating the illusion that the room is airy and spacious. On the other hand, dark colors absorb light, making a room look smaller.

I love warm cream colors and cool/icy blues, but I’ve also been using many warm greens and mauves in recent designs. A helpful tip is to keep your trim/frames/moldings and ceiling painted light (always lighter than your walls). It causes your walls to appear as if they are set farther back, thus brighter and more inviting rooms. Remember, your space is small, so the illusion is everything. Choose a monochromatic color scheme. By choosing colors in the same family you have more furnishing options as well.

If you don’t have much natural light entering the room you will want to pick even lighter colors. The more natural light you have in the room, the darker the color can be.


Lighting

Lighting is an important element in opening up a space.

If you do not have a lot of natural light, you can add some lighting features to the room to make it look bigger. You will be amazed at how this small addition can make a big difference. I prefer lighting fixtures installed in the ceiling, in order to utilize floor space and to minimize surface clutter. Look into having the lighting fixtures put on a dimmer, this allows you to set different moods in the room to suit the various uses for the space.

If you have access to natural light, make full use of it. Full height glass panes or picture windows work best in making a room seem bigger because a barrier between your guests and the outside view has been removed. Your friends and family will see an expansive view of the outdoors. Try to purchase window coverings that are short and sheer, or at least lightly colored. This will allow the natural light in better than if your had long, draping, heavy fabrics.
If the view outside your window is less than appealing, you can use hanging plants and potted flowers near windows.


Furniture

Furniture is usually the focal point to any space, but it also takes up the most space, so keep it simple.
Multi-functional furniture is a favorite of mine. Coffee tables with storage space, daybeds and futons are some of my go to items for furnishing the main spaces of homes or apartments. Use an extendable dining table or folding table, and folding chairs, which can all be tucked away when you don’t need them.

Stick to clean lines and simple upholstery. Select soft colored or neutral upholstery instead of harsh patterns or prints. Use textures instead of colors. Textures add interest without breaking up the space.  Believe it or not, bigger pieces are often better. Using many small pieces will create the appearance of clutter and disorganization, but always scale the furniture to fit the size of the room, because an over-sized couch is hard to work around.
Place the larger pieces of furniture against walls so that you avoid creating unnecessary harsh lines and breaks in your soon to be more open space. Leave ample walking space, having simple and visible pathways will keep the room from appearing cramped.

If the furniture(such as an entertainment center or armoire) in your room is tall, it might lead to it seeming as though the ceiling is lower than it actually is, so make sure there is plenty of space between your furniture and the ceiling.

Finishing Touches

You have your colors and your furniture and lighting covered, so you should be set to accessorize.

Simple is always better, so don’t cove your walls with a lot of pictures or paintings. A single, large painting always works better than a group of small paintings or photographs, because if there’s too much going on at once, it can make the room feel busy and crowded.

Mirrors can make your room look larger. Use the focal point in the room (in the bedroom the focal point is most likely the bed. In the dining room, its probably the table etc.)and angle your mirrors towards it, which will give the illusion of depth. The mirrors also reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night. They bounce light deep into the room, making it appear bigger. This is especially effective with near a window so the outdoors can be reflected. Mirrors on the walls and glass tabletops will make it seem like there is a more open flow. You can also use mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel large and uncluttered.  


No matter what your reason for living in a small space, you know undoubtedly that you have to make some compromises in your decorating. Start by get really organized, and simplify in order to make everything fit and not feel cramped.

Hopefully you have learned something, or these tips and tricks will be of value to you!

I will start working on an article featured around living in bachelor/studio apartments for all of my friends sticking to a tight budget.



Until next time, hugs and smooches!

Owlivia