Your house may be spacious when you consider its total area, however, you probably have at least one room that is smaller and needs special attention when decorating it.
And the type and size of furniture and other decorative items you choose can really change the overall look of a room.
We asked home decorators and designers their thoughts on keeping small spaces from looking cramped, and we shared their ideas and tips.
Avoid ornate furniture
Planning the optimal layout of a space is not always limited to the size of the furniture alone, as the actual installation of the piece, regardless of the size, can affect the overall aesthetic of the room.
And home design experts recommend avoiding any piece of furniture with texture if you want to make your room appear larger than it is.
However, that doesn’t mean you need to avoid woven or designer furnishings entirely. If you have a sofa, chair, or china cabinet that you love, use it.
Having only one piece to display in the room keeps the focus on that element without distracting from other furnishings that can make a smaller room look untidy.
Think ease of use
When you’re short on space, you need everything in a room with a purpose. It’s OK to be eye-catching or unique, but not everything in a limited-sized room serves only one purpose.
If you have a special chair with a special chair, make sure it’s storage too, even the walls in a small area should be designed to do more than display family photos.
Brigid Steiner and Elisabeth Kruger, owners of The Life with Be, suggest using a storage ottoman as a coffee table as well or placing decorative mirrors as art and a place to check your look as you pass by.
Make sure the pieces you choose will serve at least two or more purposes, examples might include using a dresser as a nightstand, or a coffee table that opens to store blankets.
Even a desk that doubles as a dining table, double up as smaller pieces like side tables or stool types that can be pushed together as a coffee table and used individually too.
Less is more
If your living space is small, you may be tempted to fill it with all the bookcases, chairs, or sofas,
Or whatever you think you need for your daily routine,
trying to make the most of every inch.
However, this only leads to chaos, which in turn increases tension,
When every part of your room has something to occupy it,
your eyes will have nowhere to rest.
If your eyes can’t rest in the room, the room itself is not comfortable.
It will be difficult to enjoy being in that space if the room is messy.
Nobody wants that, we all want every room in our house to be peaceful and conducive to our lifestyle,
So be selective about the furniture and art pieces you choose for each room, regardless of size.
Consider the color
Your small space may or may not have a window or any kind of natural light.
Regardless, a space needs an appearance of light to give it an airy, more spacious feel.
The first rule here is to keep the walls of the room a light color, as basic as possible.
For the pieces of furniture that you place in a small room,
you should also look for items that are lighter in color or tone.
Upholstery color isn’t the only consideration when trying to make a smaller space appear larger.
Whatever scheme you like, stick with it.
Staying monochromatic will go a long way, whether it’s all dark or all light,
continuing the tone will help make the space appear larger.
Look at the legs
If your small space is the perfect place for a chair or sofa,
consider adding a piece with exposed legs.
Having that unexposed space around a piece of furniture makes everything feel more airy,
it gives the illusion of more space,
Because the light goes all the way through and isn’t blocked below
as it would with a sofa or chair with fabric extending all the way to the floor.
Skip the overstuffed, overstuffed arms of a sofa in favor of those that are skinnier and more compact.
The same goes for furniture legs. Skip the bulky look and opt for more slender, streamlined silhouettes.
vertical furniture
When the floor space is at a premium, use the height of the room.
Wall paintings or tall pieces of furniture
Such a chest of drawers for storage works very well in a smaller space.
You’ll be able to make a statement and add storage while keeping your overall footprint small.
Consider displaying pictures or prints arranged in a vertical layout to add dimension to a room.
Chose one colour
When choosing furniture and art for your smaller space, look at the dominant color scheme.
Adding lots of different colors or textures in a smaller space can make everything look cluttered.
Stick to a cohesive color palette for the space, and this will make the entire space feel more calm and less cluttered.
To add a little interest, texture can act as your style,
Play with tactile organic materials such as linen, leather, jute or wool.
Even a small space in your home can add style and function with the right planning.
These tips give you a head start on creating a look that’s all your own and totally usable at the same time.
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