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Where you live often determines the size of your living space. Having lived in many different states I know that the size of the average home in California is very different from the size of the average home in Texas or Arizona. But you don’t have to feel trapped by your limited or excessive living space. With a few clever decorating tricks you can make a small space appear bigger or you can scale down a large space.
To begin, acquire pieces of furniture that appropriately reflect a room’s proportions. Furniture should either fill in dead space or echo the shape of the room.
SMALL LIVING SPACES
Small spaces don’t have to be confining; make them cozy instead. Here are a few decorating tips for small spaces:
1. Choose the Right Furniture - If your room is small but frequently needs to accommodate plenty of people, fill it with a few large pieces that offer ample seating. This will give the room a well-organized, uncluttered look that is also functional.
2. Use Lighter Hues - Cool colors like blue and green make smaller spaces feel larger.
3. Decorate Monochromatically - Soothing tone-on-tone paint techniques, fabrics, and patterns can open up a room. Creams and whites, icy blues, pale greens and butter yellows are just a few of the colors that will work.
4. Eliminate Obstructions - The farther you can see into and through a space, the larger and more open it will seem. Arrange furniture to open up areas of floor. Avoid blocking views to windows and doors by using low benches, ottomans and armless chairs.
5. Match Furniture to the Wall Color - Are your walls a pale golden yellow? If so, consider painting some of the wood furniture to match. Even large chests and armoires will begin to melt into the background when finished in a color that's close to the wall tone. Add tone-on-tone stencil details to doors for added interest.
6. Add More Light - Banish shadows by uncovering windows and adding light fixtures. Consider cove lighting, uplights, rope lights, bookshelf lights, and any other of the myriad of light fixtures available.
Soft upholstery, dramatic lighting and the proper use of color can turn a tiny nook into an intimate and wonderful corner.
LARGE LIVING SPACES
Bringing a sense of warmth to a large room is as much of a challenge as giving a small room the appearance of spaciousness, but there are ways to bring expansive spaces into friendly proportion. Here are a few decorating tips for large spaces:
1. Create Sub-sections - Establish individual areas for conversation, reading, games or just plain relaxing. Partitioning a room in a way that’s invisible or apparent will help you make the most of a large, luxurious space.
2. Angle the Furniture - Move sofas and chairs out from the walls and angle them into groups. This will facilitate conversation and give the room a more inviting feel.
3. Add Area Rugs - Break up large floor spaces, whether hardwood or wall-to-wall carpet, with an assortment of area rugs. This will add character and make the room cozier.
4. Use Larger Furniture Pieces - Do not be timid about using over-scaled furniture, such as tall armoires, deep sofas, and high-backed chairs. In proportion to the large space, they will fit right in.
5. Include Other Minimizing Objects - Visually divide up the room with decorative folding screens and tall plants. These will give the illusion of multiple small spaces within a large room.
WINDOW TREATMENTS
Window treatments are a critical part of any room whether large or small. Here are a few tips to keep in mind, depending on the size and shape of your windows:
1. Use Appropriate Window Coverings – When space is limited you want to maximize natural light, so choose pleated shades or a sheer silhouette. They take up less space when stacked than blinds. If a window is close to a corner and prevents you from stacking a drapery, consider a one-way draw to the side away from the corner.
2. Use Larger Draperies - Design and measure for draperies to hang above the window and to reach the floor. Also extend drapery panels horizontally beyond the sides of the window frame. This technique will increase the proportions of small windows and give the room a richer look.
3. Vary the Color Scheme - In a large room with multiple windows, blend and reverse colors on different windows. The contrast will break the monotony and create a more interesting look.
When in doubt about your interior décor, hire a professional interior decorator. Their experience enables them to take care of every aspect of the space and they will think of many details that you might miss. But whether you decide to hire a professional or to go it alone, I hope the techniques I’ve listed above will help you make the most of your living space. Your home is a very important place, so turn it into a cozy and comfortable space where you enjoy living!
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About the Author
Holly Linington is a designer and the owner of Planet Sofa. For over 15 years Planet Sofa has been providing customers with stylish, high quality furniture at affordable prices. They are committed to offering pieces that combine aesthetics and utility with ergonomics and comfort, and their products are available on the web.
Written by: Holly Linington
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