How to Make the Most of Small Spaces while Decorating

It can seem like decorating small spaces is an impossible task. You want all your needed furniture in the room but ypu don't want the room feeling cramped. You want it to be stylish and personal but not chaotic. Here are some tips that have been put together on decorating small spaces to achieve the needed effect.

1. Let the Floor be Free
You need space for the essentials, but even the most perfectly decorated small room doesn’t work if you can’t walk in it. Try floating pieces, such as shelves and nightstands, to keep the ground clear of obstacles and create space for extra storage beneath if needed. Floor to ceiling shelving with doors and a mix of open and closed storage also work. Instead of floor lamps, try sconces and wall lights.

2. Go for Folding Pieces
Consider installing furnishings that can fold up when not in use. You’ll free up floor space and avoid the stacks of stuff that inevitably pile up on these surfaces. Introduce a daybed that can be used daily for lounging but will also double as a guest bed. "For example, a console provides ample storage space with interior shelving and drawers so you can keep everything in one place and without sacrificing aesthetic or appeal. When it’s closed, it looks like solid piece of furniture." —Melissa Benham, co-founder of Studio Gild

3. Light it up
Small spaces usually feel dark due to small or nonexistent windows. To make up for the lack of natural light, add plenty of light sources in every room, from the kitchen to the bedroom. Using light and bright walls throughout a space makes it feel open and airy since lighter walls are more reflective; dark colors on the other hand, tend to absorb light making a room look smaller

4. Mirrors...
If you’re not blessed with an abundance of natural light, mirrors that are strategically placed can help you make the most of what you do have by reflecting it around the room and making the space seem larger and brighter.

5. Tone your colours
Having a small space doesn’t mean it has to be a white box. You can still go bold with color and embrace the size of your apartment. Have a clear color vision. Picking a monochrome palette of any shade will help focus your look and help minimize visual clutter. Be mindful when planning this because incorporating a polished palette of mixed neutrals with layers of color can create a space that feels more open while offering lots of visual interest.
There are only so many things to look at in a small space, so make sure they all fit.

6. All things must be useful
Make the most of your space by finding furnishings that also boast storage. Opt for a bed with built-in drawers or benches. In a small space, every piece needs to pull its weight.

7. Play with scale
There’s no need to use pint-size furniture and decor in a small space. The key is choosing a few statement pieces that will really draw the eye. You can use regular-size furniture and large-scale art; you’ll just need to use fewer pieces in the room overall. Using large rugs where most of the furniture can be placed on the rug is a great way to make a small space feel more open. Ensure you don't stack the furniture against the wall, pull furnishings away from the wall if you can and make sure there’s space between pieces.

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