Decorating Small Rooms
How to Bring Big Style to Small Spaces
May 27, 2009 Chris Conard-Shultz
No matter your taste in decorating, even a small room in your home can have huge appeal. The trick is knowing how not to overdo when it comes to furnishings. It's a true case of "less is more," and the possibilities are endless, if you keep that in mind. Read on to learn how to give your small room a big makeover.
Bedroom
With the average bedroom size 10' x 12' there's no room for furniture overload in this small space. Here, the bed itself is prominent, so choose a style that reflects your individual decorating taste and get the best bed, mattress, box spring and linens that your budget can handle. Allow yourself the indulgence of a great headboard and/or foot board — something that draws the eye into the room at first glance. Keep in mind, though, that to keep the space apportioned, bed size should not be larger than a double so there's still a sense of airiness to the room.
Keep to an eye-pleasing wash of color, sticking with a monochromatic theme. Try pale blues and gray tones, muted greens or corn silk yellows, blending in various hues of the same in the accents and bed linens.
This is not the place for large chests of drawers, bulky desks or accent furniture. Go with a simple narrow dresser and a vintage coat rack to keep things like belts, bathrobes or jackets close at hand.
A simple chair or small cloverleaf table works well for a nightstand, or try an old trunk or a stack of vintage suitcases to double as tabletop and storage for blankets or pillows.
Living Room
This is the room where you kick back and relax; it may also be the room where a guest spends the night.
Versatility is key. First and foremost, invest in a sofa sleeper — two pieces of furniture in one.
Hang or prop an oversize mirror along the wall opposite the entryway to the room to give an immediate focal point and encourage the perception that the room is larger than it is — scour antiques shops or look for reproduction mirrors that are glazed to look old for a style that works with both traditional and contemporary decorating.
Don't overcrowd a wall with a jumble of framed prints or photos; the resulting look resembles unorganized clutter and actually makes the room feel smaller and hectic. Choose one or two great pieces and let them speak for themselves.
Kitchen
Install recessed lighting with dimmer switches above the main traffic area. This is especially effective if there are no windows in the room, you have a narrow galley type kitchen, or you want to control the level of lighting at particular times for ambience.
Paint walls in white or neutral shades but finish the ceiling in a bright color like a cumin yellow, lettuce green or chili pepper red to add dimension and added depth — here is where recessed lighting really shines.
Add a small throw rug or runner with complementing color hues of the ceiling, tying together both floor and ceiling.
Narrow bench seating along a wall can help eliminate the bulkiness of chairs around the table, especially if the room flow is tight.
If wall space is limited consider adding a set of decorative pendant lights or a pendant chandelier above the table or sink area to draw the eye up and outward from the edges of the room.
Keep the bed small and the style big
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