1. In a small space use full height doors for closets and rooms; anytime you can have an element go all the way up to the ceiling (bookcase, drapes, doors) it draws your focus up and visually creates the illusion of a larger room. This is also wonderful with closet doors as you’ll gain all that extra storage space that otherwise would be wasted.
2. Don’t “Biggie Size” it – Try to steer clear of oversized furniture, it crowds a small space and makes it seem even tinier. Look for smaller proportioned items that can create multiple conversation areas, use chairs and ottomans to provide extra seating.3. Don’t be afraid of bold paint colors, if you have a small space sometimes a darker color on a wall can make it recede – don’t think of it as a DARK color think of it as a RICH color!
4. Lights under cabinets (in the kitchen or otherwise) illuminate a workspace but also add another layer of light and make he room look larger.
5. Layer your bed linens to make your bedroom seem more spacious – choose bedspread/duvet, shams and throw pillows in a mixture of patterns and colors, this adds depth and looks airier than a solid overstuffed comforter.
5. Eliminate knick-knacks and clutter, it’s hard to do but absolutely necessary – be ruthless!
6. Use mirrors! Reflective surfaces extend space and make a room feel more open and you can magnify a mirror’s impact by putting it in a position where it can reflect a window or doorway, the space will feel larger and you’ll be adding natural light!
7. Stripes on a wall make a tall statement in a small space – they draw your eye upwards, giving the illusion of height that’s so valuable when the ceilings are low.
8. Stay away from big and bold patterns on sofas and chairs, it can be distracting and take up visual space.
9. Replace solid exterior doors with multipane glass doors to bring light into dark entries, in a matter of hours you’ll completely transform the feeling you get when you walk into your home.
10. If you are mixing patterns in a small room, be sure to work with limited color tones – keep them in the same family for a cohesive more open look.
11. Chairs and sofas without arms have slim lines; they can ease traffic flow in a small room and create a more spacious, open feel.
12. Furniture that has legs rather than a skirted bottom can make a space seem more open, it lets light through and feels less bulky.
13. Use glass tops on coffee tables, end tables and dining tables; being able to see through the glass creates an open, more airy feel and it doesn’t chop the room up visually like a solid surface could.
14. In a small space with adjoining rooms select harmonious tones and hues for paint colors, this will create a feeling of flow and continuity rather than looking chopped up and disjointed.
15. Be sure to use lots of light in a small space but don’t use overhead light unless It’s recessed and on dimmers. 4 or 5 lamps aren’t too much, be sure you are reaching the corners of your room. Since you have less space you want to avoid the chance of any of it getting lost in darkness, you want it to feel open, warm and inviting and lots of light is the best way to achieve that.
