If you already live in or are about to move into a small apartment / condo / house, you’ve probably already Googled “how to decorate small spaces”, or even “how to organize small spaces”.
I get it. It sucks to finally have your own place, but to deal with the fact you can’t fit all the things you want or need. Or that it feels too crowded because of all the furniture you actually need to have. You know, like a couch, a dining table, a bed, and so on.
Luckly, people have had this problem for hundreds of years, so someone was bound to find the solution, or solutions for it. Enter interior designers and architects (bless their heart)!
They are the experts on how to decorate small spaces, and they have been racking their brains to decorate and organize small rooms for such a long time. It’s honestly a gift. Again, luckily for us, they are willing to share their insights with us, online, on TV, in person, you name it.
Now, I’ve always been open to this type of information. Why? Well, over the years, I’ve learned my fair share of tips & tricks on how to decorate small spaces because, well, I’ve lived in SMALL spaces. I mean, 300-350 square feet small.
I had to decide what to not buy so I could have room to move around in my living room. I’ve had to make due with extremely small kitchens, so I learned where and how to properly organize my kitchen utensils. I’ve been through some interesting experiences, and they’ve all helped me so much.
That’s why I’m here to share my tips & tricks and help you learn how to decorate small spaces. Here my top 6 best ways to make a room feel bigger.
Choose bright colors
Did you know that when you paint the walls in dark shades or choose mahogany furniture, you actually make the space seem more crowded? That’s why interior designers will advise you to use bright colors for your walls, furniture, and even floors. It doesn’t have to be all white, but just make sure it’s lighter and that it reflects natural light.
That’s actually one of the first things I learned about how to decorate small spaces and I still use to this day, even if my house is bigger now. I always paint my walls a light color (mostly white) and I try to use white, beige or light grey furniture.
If you like matte finishes, I’ve heard great things about the Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint in Chiffon Cream, it would look great on cabinets, or maybe to refurbish old dining room chairs?
Use mirrors
Mirrors are a great trick if you want to know how to decorate small spaces, but make sure you don’t go overboard with them 🙂
Cool fact about mirrors is that they amplify the light, so they make the room seem lighter and bigger. That’s why I suggest getting one for places like the living room or the bedroom.
Try leaning an oversized mirror against the wall of your bedroom, it will automatically open the room, and it will also give it a relaxed feel to the space.
Choose wisely your furniture pieces
This is probably my favorite tip. When it comes to organizing small spaces, I recommend having closed closets (with doors). Like the IKEA Billy / Oxberg bookcase with doors. See below.
This way, the overall display will be more simple, therefore it will seem less crowded. The less you see, the better.
To add to that, try to have one built-in closet with multiple areas to deposit, so it can give the room a uniform look. Because having 3 cabinets of different sizes and heights will definitely crowd a space, so if you can avoid that, definitely try.
Effectively use all the nooks and crannies of your space
When you live in a small space, you have to make sure absolutely every square foot is properly and effectively used.
Another tip I have is to be on the lookout for furniture pieces with unexpected storage compartments, like tables or beds.
Let’s say that maybe you don’t have enough closet space. Then use the under the bed space to deposit shoe boxes or organization boxes with out of season clothes.
These Amazon under the bed boxes are great for this purpose, I love that they have a clear cover, so you can see what’s inside without opening it.
Modify the layout
This tip might include extra renovations, so that means more money to spend. But it could make all the difference in terms of how to decorate small spaces.
Try to rethink each area of your house, and think of different ways to use that particular space.
For example, you could close-up the balcony and turn it into an extended living room. Or break down the wall between the living room and the kitchen to have an open kitchen.
It’s about expanding and re-using the space you already have in innovative ways. If you can’t figure it out, try hiring help and working with an architect.
Go vertical
When it comes to how to decorate small spaces, the key thing to remember is: Go Vertical!
This is especially important in the kitchen and bathroom, where people tend to have the most items (like kitchen utensils, pantry, or bath products).
Similarly, in the living room, you could have built-in bookshelves that go all the way up. That would also make for an amazing accent wall.
So you should really invest in HIGH cabinets, cupboards, bookshelves, so you can have more space for storage and decorations. It might require a small mobile staircase, but it will be worth the investment.
So this is: these are my top 6 tips & tricks on how to decorate small spaces! What do you think? Which would you implement right now?
P.S. If you’re in a renovating mode, learn how to declutter your home!
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.
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