Small spaces are a challenge. A client of mine had a living room space that was not working for them. There was too much furniture, the flow in the room did not work. I noticed that the architectural details of the room were lost. They need some help making the small room work for their lifestyle.
Smaller rooms can work if you know what to do and pay attention to. Here are some suggestions that might help you if you are feeling a little cramped.
6 Suggestions to help improve small spaces
1.Go upward- by that I mean make the small space feel larger by bringing the eye up. Have you ever been in a house that has high ceilings, but you realize the room is very small? The height gives the illusion of a bigger space. Using the height of the room can make it appear larger even though the footprint is still small.
2.Open up the floor– when purchasing items for the room like a couch or chairs; having the legs exposed gives the feeling of more space. Consider a shelf instead of a nightstand in a bedroom, it will make the bedroom feel more spacious. Removing rugs in a small space to expose the hardwood is a great idea to do too.
3.Reflection– mirrors and glass help open up space. A coffee table made of glass or mirrors on the opposite wall of the windows makes the light reflect in a small space making it feel more spacious and open. In addition, use accessories that have the same effect– glass base lamps, mirrored accessories but don’t go overboard. Too much of a good thing is just that- too much.
4.Paint- Painting your ceiling the same hue as the walls can help make a space feel larger. It erases the visually defined space. When everything is the same color it is harder for the eye to tell the parameters of the room, therefore, appearing larger. Using color is such an important factor when decorating a small space. Not sure which is best? A professional color consultant will be able to help.
5.Let the light in – Let natural light pour through the windows in a small room, makes a room feel larger also. It’s good for the mind too.
6.Proportion – The items you use in a small space,(actually in any space), above all, need to be proportioned to the room size. I have seen too many houses that have either too much furniture in the space, or they have too large of furniture for the space. It’s like a large football player wearing a too small outfit- it does not work, or look good for that matter. Proportion is very important when picking out furnishings.
These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. I have other tricks up my sleeve and if you need some help planning you tiny area out, let me know!
Other good reads:
https://freshome.com/depth-in-interior-design
