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If you have a small home or apartment, don't feel that you're limited in what you can do to spruce it up. There are a number of ways you can furnish and decorate a small space and actually make it look bigger than it is. By following some of these suggestions from various home décor experts, you can make the most of your small, cozy apartment, condo or home and impress your friends and family with your eye for style.
- Choose furniture that "looks" lightweight as the actual size of furniture may be deceiving. Light color furniture and furniture with legs appear lighter than dark or loudly upholstered pieces; in a small living space, chairs with legs allow more light and give off an airy feel making the space look roomier. Glass coffee tables are perfect choices for small spaces because they consume very little visual space and give off a sense of openness.
- Neutral colors allow the eyes to look around the room freely. Especially in a living room, neutral colors work best in small spaces because they also give a light, airy feel.
- Vertical, floor-to-ceiling draperies that hang below the ceiling invite the eyes to move up and down, diverting attention away from how small the space is horizontally.
- Utilize light where possible by using pale colors (or white) to reflect light, and avoid blocking windows with heavy fabric. Leave window areas open unless you are using vertical draperies or blinds as suggested above.
- White makes any room look larger, so if you have a small living room or bedroom, white walls and white furniture will give the space a larger, more cohesive look and feel.
- Limit the number of knick knacks as a lot of accessories throughout the home will give off a cluttered appearance.
- Don't include too many pieces of furniture in a small space. Carefully select a limited number of great pieces that will really bring out the room's best features and make the room look larger than it is.
- Don't block the view into a room as this will give off a cramped feel. Move furniture and accessories out from entranceways, and keep in mind that you if you can see the entranceway and floor, the room will appear larger.
- Even though not everyone's a fan of mirrors as "accessories," reflective surfaces certainly do open up a room. A large framed mirror on a wall or against a wall will give the room a larger look and feel.
- Stick with plain upholstery designs instead of loud prints and bold stripes. Neutral tones always open up a room.
Modern Digs has the modern furniture and home décor accessories you need to open up a small space and make it appear and feel larger for your comfort and that of your guests.
posted on 2/8/2013
