How to Make the Most of Small Spaces
Making the Most of Small Spaces
Times are tough, and these days it seems like everybody is downsizing. If you’ve recently moved into a smaller home, or just have a small room that you’re not sure what to do with, don’t worry! You don’t need to embark on a construction project to open up a small room. A little creativity can save you big time when it comes to decorating a small room. Check out these easy tips on making the most of a small space.
The most important consideration when decorating a small room is color. The best choice for a small room is a light color. White, pastels and soft neutrals are the best choices because light colors reflect like and make the room look larger. On the flip side, dark colors absorb light and make a room feel smaller. Also use caution when using a bright or bold color because it can sometimes look overwhelming in a small space. If you’re a color-lover, use soft or neutral colors and accessorize with brighter colors. Artwork, throw pillows, curtains, picture frames or decorative elements are all vehicles for bolder colors.
Just as important as color, is light. Opening up the windows to let the sunshine in can do wonders for a small space. Let the light shine through instead of covering up the windows with heavy curtains. Sheer window treatments let in a lot of light while still giving you some degree of privacy. A good tip is to hang the sheers from ceiling to floor instead of just above the window. Window treatments high on the wall will draw the eye upwards and make the room feel taller. If you don’t have a lot of natural light to work with, that’s ok! Overhead lighting or tract lighting is best for small spaces because it doesn’t take up space like a lamp would.
One of the hardest things to do when working in a small space is reducing clutter. Visual clutter makes a room look 10 times smaller than it actually is. Try to get rid of anything you don’t use or don’t need. These things are just taking up the limited space you have. A good way to combat the issue of clutter is by getting sufficient storage! Keeping things neat and organized is so important in a small room. Once you’ve taken care of some of the clutter, put the things you don’t use but can’t part with into storage. Next, clear off all of the horizontal surfaces in the room. Things should be looking more open already! Replace important items and then put out only a few light decorative items. If you have too much stuff still, consider installing floating shelves that will give you more surfaces without adding bulk.
Finally, scale your furniture to the size of the room. If you have a small room, don’t put fill it with big, bulky furniture. Smaller spaces, smaller furniture. Makes sense right? Sell a large couch or entertainment center in favor of something more delicate and streamlined. Also, if you pull your furniture away from the walls, it will give the room depth. I know, it may seem like you would maximize space by pushing everything against the wall, but it really works!
Simple, inexpensive changes can make all the difference and can make or break your space. Just remember, keep things light, open, and proportional and your room will be looking larger in no time!
This article was written by Erie Construction. Follow Erie Construction on Twitter for more ideas on home improvement.
