Decorating Small Spaces: Tips For Rooms That Live Large

Do you have tiny rooms or small spaces in your home? Today, we’ll explore some clever tricks to make these spaces look larger and more livable. Get ready to transform your small-ish areas into stylish and functional parts of your home!

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Is there a room in your home with less space than you would like? Would you love it to be bigger? Well, you may not be able to knock down a wall, but you can make your small spaces seem larger! Yes, you can! Today, I’m sharing valuable tips to make those small rooms seem more spacious!

Decorating Small Spaces

Just to be clear, we are talking about decorating small spaces. If you want to appear larger, live that way, too. We are not talking about those gloriously tiny “jewel box” rooms that revel in being small and different.

So, let’s get started with my favorite tips for making a small room look larger and using the space wisely.

Control The Clutter

Decluttering is crucial in a small room. Clutter consumes physical space and adds visual weight, making a tiny room feel even more cramped.

Keep clutter at bay by picking up everything that does not belong in a room, often! Clutter is a magnet for more clutter, so it will multiply if you do not keep on top of it! Even belongings that we use in a small room, like books and magazines, can look messy and very noticeable. I like to stash these types of things in my favorite storage, baskets!

To combat clutter:

• Regularly clear out items that don’t belong.
• Use stylish storage solutions like baskets—they’re decorative and functional!
• Conduct frequent tidy-ups to maintain a serene space.

Here are more clutter-busting tips for small spaces:

• Use baskets and bins to corral items.
• Assign a specific home for every item and stick to it.
• Periodically check your rooms to ensure that they remain tidy.
• Before leaving a room, take a moment to straighten up.

With these common-sense reminders, your small room can look and feel much larger.

Light Colored Walls

Light colors on walls can do wonders for making a room feel larger. The best tip I can give you is to opt for shades like soft whites and lighter neutrals to reflect more light and give the illusion of more space. If you can extend the same color palette into connected spaces, you’ll add a seamless flow that will enhance the overall feel of your home.

Stick to a Cohesive Color Scheme When Decorating Small Spaces

Keeping to a limited color palette helps maintain a unified look, making your space feel tidy and well-coordinated. Design experts often recommend the 60-30-10 rule: 60% (or 70-20-10) of your room should be the dominant color, 30% a secondary color, and 10% an accent color. This is a perfect balance, so the colors in a small space are cohesive without feeling chaotic.

It’s best to avoid clutter in small spaces, including visual clutter created by too many competing colors. Think about a minimalist approach to your color scheme. Choose soft, muted hues for most of the space and add interest with carefully chosen accents in bolder colors. This keeps the area feeling spacious while still injecting personality.

By thoughtfully selecting and applying a tight color palette, you can significantly increase the perception of space in your home’s smaller rooms.

Add Depth With Darker Accent

While light colors make spaces feel larger, adding dark accents can introduce much-needed depth and dimension without overwhelming the area. Consider using darker tones for an accent wall or select pieces of furniture. This creates an interesting, contrasted look that enhances the overall design without sacrificing the sense of openness.

Reflective Surfaces And Lacquer

Using lacquered furniture or decor can add a fun element to small rooms. Similar to mirrors, shiny surfaces reflect light, helping the space feel bigger. If you’re not ready to go full gloss, try incorporating elements like lacquered trays or decorative boxes that catch the light and add a touch of glamour.

Texture Adds Interest To A Small Room

Incorporating texture is a vital decorating tip for any space, but it’s particularly effective in small areas with a tight color scheme. A neutral palette benefits immensely from adding various textures, as they bring life and interest without adding visual weight.

Our sense of sight is keenly attuned to textures. Texture creates a visual richness that our eyes can almost “feel.” This sensory experience makes a room visually appealing but also engaging and inviting. Who doesn’t want their space to be described as interesting and becoming?

Consider how items like a nubby basket, a ribbed pitcher, or burlap-trimmed pillows and books contribute to a room’s character. These elements introduce texture in subtle but impactful ways, adding to a small room’s depth and complexity. Remember, texture equals interest, and incorporating varied tactile surfaces can transform how small rooms are perceived and enjoyed.

To learn more about texture, read How to Add Texture to Create Beauty in Your Home.

Choose Perfectly Proportioned Furnishings

Choosing the right furniture is important when decorating small spaces. It can truly make or break how your space looks and feels!

Getting it Just Right: The biggest mistake in furnishing small spaces is going too big or too small. Delicate, petite furniture can underscore a room’s cramped feel, making it seem even smaller. Conversely, oversized, bulky furniture can overwhelm the room, making it feel stuffy and unwelcoming.

Remember the story of Goldilocks? Just as she found items that were “just right” for her, your small space needs furnishings that fit just perfectly. They should complement the room’s scale without dominating it.

You might want to read Scale and Proportion: The Key to Better and Easier Decorating.

Don’t Over Decorate

In the world of small space decorating, simplicity is your best friend. Cluttering a compact area with too many decorations can quickly make it feel cramped rather than bigger. Instead, choose a few meaningful pieces that really speak to you and your style. Opt for functional and beautiful furnishings, allowing each item to have a purpose. This makes your room feel more open, inviting, and personal. Remember, in a small room, every decor choice should make a big impact, so make each one count!

Mirror Magic In A Small Room

Adding a mirror to your small room can do wonders for opening up the space. Mirrors extend the visual depth and increase the natural light in any room, making it appear larger and more inviting.

Place a mirror opposite a window to maximize the effect of natural sunlight, or use one as a statement piece on a main wall for both style and function. It’s a simple trick that enhances the room’s aesthetic and ambiance.

Make Room For Negative Space

One of the common pitfalls in decorating small spaces is the temptation to fill every inch. Remember, when square footage is limited, it’s important to edit, edit, edit!

This principle applies to everything in the room—from your furnishings to art and accessories. Keeping some areas empty, or what designers call ‘negative space,’ actually makes the room feel larger and more open. It’s all about creating balance that allows the room to breathe and feel more spacious, making it easier to move around the space.

Accent Decor When Decorating A Small Room

When it comes to decorating a small room, a little can go a long way! Well-chosen accent decor, such as a bold mirror, an elegant lamp, or a simple yet striking arrangement, really makes a difference.

My decorating philosophy is simple: “Less is more, and bigger is better!” This approach works wonders in small spaces. By incorporating a few larger, yet tasteful items, you create charming focal points that draw the eye without overwhelming the space. This strategy makes each piece stand out, making a room feel personal and inviting.

I hope these tips inspire you to see the potential in every corner of your small space. Remember, a little creativity and strategic planning can turn even the tiniest room into a stylish, functional, and welcoming part of your home. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors, textures, and furniture arrangements that reflect your style and make the most of your space. After all, the best spaces are those that you love living in, no matter their size. Happy decorating!

More Posts To Enjoy

How to Decorate a Small Room: This post offers practical advice on picking the right color palette and arranging furniture to make small rooms appear larger and more inviting.

The Digest #5: 60 Small Room Decorating Ideas – This post provides a variety of quick tips for decorating small spaces, from furniture selection to storage solutions.

Decorating A Small End Table: 5 Challenges And Solutions – It offers space-saving tips for decorating small end tables, which can be particularly challenging in tight spaces.

Best Tips for Decorating A Small Dining Room – This post shares ideas on how to make the most of a small dining area, ensuring it’s both functional and stylish.

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