Are You Decorating a Small Home?

There are many people who have decided to downsize; some by choice and others by necessity. Living in a smaller space may bring decorating / design challenges that really need to be discussed. As with everything real estate related, there are some common misconceptions about how to do this correctly. The number one misconception? Using all white will make your room look larger. Actually, that is not true at all.  Another incorrect belief is that less and smaller furniture is the only option for small home spaces. But decorating in a limited space is more about the furniture placement and a careful use of color.

The Importance of Color 

It may seem strange to some people but sharp, bright colors seem to work the best in small spaces. Interior designers and home stagers advise using splashes of color throughout the room; places like the insides of bookcases, windowsills and throw pillows. 

You can choose one wall in every room as your "accent" wall and paint it a different, more vibrant color than the other walls in the room. This will bring some depth to a small room.

If you have a small kitchen, it helps to go very bold. Two hot trends right now are deep teal and bright orange. Another room people tend to go neutral is in the bathroom, but this is another place you can have fun with color. Try using a royal purple or warm brown.

Just like vertical stripes in clothing make you seem to look taller and thinner, stripes also draw the eye upward in a room. Try adding wallpaper with vertical stripes. Believe it or notk wallpaper is back in style! Paint your ceilings a lighter color than the walls to open the room up. 

Before you begin painting, however, here is  a word of caution:  Experiment first with a small can of the paint. Paint a small area to see if you like it. Most hardware stores will let you try a small sample can. Many stores have tools you can use to see what the color might look like in a virtual room. 

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More tips to make your small space look great 

1. Mirrors are good! Mirrors reflect light and create more depth in a room. You should try hanging your mirrors opposite of your windows. Also try groups of mirrors as you would groups of pictures.

2. If you have limited storage space, the best thing to do in the kitchen is to hang things. Pots and pans, utensils, even china, which can be both functional and decorative.

3. When you have extremely limited family room space, you can use a trunk for an end table, putting clothing inside if you need to. Purchase furniture, like ottomans and tables, that have storage space inside. Add some shelving. Be sure to arrange the shelves in a visually pleasing way, interspersing necessities with decorative touches.

4. You must create negative space wherever you can in order to reduce a cluttered, claustrophobic feeling.

5. Use sheer window coverings to let in the light.

6.  Most importantly, let your own personal style shine through regardless of how much space you have to work with. Let your space reflect who you are, and visitors won't even notice the size.

For more information on decorating or home staging, please contact me!  I'm here to help you.