Fast and Easy Tips to Enlarge That Small Room

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when decorating a small room? Paint it white!  Its funny how some completely incorrect statements just seem to hang on for decades – and this is one of those decorating falsehoods that’s been around for ages.

White can open up the feel of a room, but can also make it appear very cold and “untouchable”. How many of you know someone who painted their rooms white, put down white carpeting and filled the room with white furniture? Did you ever feel completely at ease in that house? Were you worried that you might spill something, track dirt on the carpeting, or forget yourself and put your feet up on that pristine white footstool?

White can be strikingly beautiful for a magazine cover or a movie set, but its not a practical color to live with and its certainly not very child or pet friendly.  Clear your mind of the “white” myth right now and follow these easy tips to make your small rooms appear larger without going white.

1. Paint:  If you like deep shades, take one wall that you want to be your focal point and paint it in that shade. Then paint the other walls and the ceiling in a lighter hue of that same color. This way you have made one wall your focal point and have made the room appear larger by continuing the lighter color up on to the ceiling. When you break up the flow of the color to paint the ceiling white, it creates a visual line around the room, making it appear smaller.  If you feel you want to do the whole room in the darker color, throw caution to the wind and go for it. I am sitting here writing this article in my tiny 8’ by 10’ office which is painted deep purple and guess what---it still holds all the same furniture it would if it was painted white, and everyone who comes in here just loves the cozy feel of it. So if dark colors are your thing, try it. Paint is the cheapest decorating item you can buy and if you decide you don’t like the color, you can always re-paint.
2. Angles:  Get that furniture away from the walls! Nothing makes a room look less inviting than having all the walls lined with furniture. People tend to do this thinking that it will leave more floor space in the center of the room, making it appear larger. In fact, it only emphasizes the smaller size of the room. Try placing your furniture at angles with the walls. Put your sofa diagonally across a corner of the room and place a table behind it with a lamp. Or, you can put a tall plant or folding screen behind the sofa and place an up light to highlight and throw light into the corner.
3. Furniture: This should go without saying, but needs repeating. Buy smaller scale furniture. If you have big, clunky furniture that you are tripping over, I don’t care how comfortable it is, get rid of it. Buy smaller pieces. They can be comfortable too. Try two loveseats facing each other in place of one, over-bearing sofa.  Use a more delicate coffee table, or two small tables side by side. Go with darker colors on your upholstered furniture and stay away from large patterns.
4. Glass: A real friend to the small room is glass. Tables made of glass visually take up less space in a room.  Glass coffee, end and dining tables are a beautiful alternative to chunky wood tables. Also, think of glass when choosing accessories. Something as simple as colored bottles or vases on a windowsill can be beautiful when the sun shines through them, and they certainly won’t take up any room.
5. Lighting: Once again, think small. We have all seen the hand-me-down table lamps that are so bulbous and large that they leave no room on the end table to place anything else. Today you have many options for lighting. Think about putting wall sconces above the end tables. They will be a work of art on your walls, and deliver the light without taking up any table space.  You can also try a floor lamp positioned to shine light where you need it.
6. Mirrors: Just like glass, mirrors are the friends of small rooms, but there is a secret to getting the most out of the placement of your mirror. Mirrors do best when they reflect a pleasing image. Be sure to place a mirror where it reflects a window that will bring in light. This will work for you in two ways. The added light is always a plus and the view out the window visually extends the room when reflected in the mirror. A mirror that reflects the sunrise or sunset brings an entirely new dimension of color into your room.
7. Artwork: Always group your artwork together when possible. Nothing is more distracting than one picture per wall evenly spaced around a room. Create visual excitement with a grouping of photos and prints. The frames don’t have to match, but do try to develop a theme with the prints.  Try a grouping of all landscapes, or all floral prints, just be sure to arrange them in an eye-pleasing manor on a wall you want to highlight.
8. Double-Duty: Always think double-duty in a small home. Sofa beds, TV armoires that also have space for your mini office and laptop, footstools with storage inside, a rolling kitchen island that can double as a bar or tea cart. Just use your imagination and you’ll be surprised what you can find.

These fast, easy and low cost tricks will make a world of difference in opening up your smaller rooms.

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