Decorating

Decorating Tricks for Various Sized Rooms

October 26, 2017

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 spaces don't have to be confining; make them cozy instead. Here are a few decorating tips for small spaces:

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.

Use Lighter Hues - Cool colors like blue and green make smaller spaces feel larger. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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: 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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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