It’s a tale as old as time 一 too many knick-knacks and not enough space. Perhaps you’ve recently moved into a smaller home, or maybe you’ve simply accumulated too many things over time. Nevertheless, the result is the same. If you’re faced with this problem, and you’re not sure how to decorate your small space, our useful tips and tricks are here to help!
Functional Furniture to the Rescue
When you have limited space, forgoing large furniture and opting for something more functional will make all the difference. So, how do we do that?
Seating
Obviously, every living room needs either a sofa or some armchairs where you can sit down to relax. But more often than not, these furniture items are quite large. Ultimately, they end up taking more space than they should, thanks to spacious armrests.
Instead, invest in a loveseat with low arms to create an illusion of more space. If that’s not your cup of tea, you can purchase a modular sectional sofa instead. These sofas allow you to place the sectional pieces any way you like. You can basically change the setup according to your needs.
Furthermore, fold-out chairs are also a great option. However, they may be better suited for your kitchen rather than your living room.
Tables
Most people tend to waste plenty of space with large coffee tables. While you do need a place where you can set down your drink, if you don’t have much space, a better option is to go for a fold-out table. That way, you can remove the table when you’re not using it.
The same goes for your kitchen. Since you don’t have a lot of space at your disposal, don’t waste room on large dining tables and clunky chairs. Instead, consider buying a drop-leaf table. These tables are incredibly useful as you can easily open and close the folds to accommodate your needs. If you live alone, installing a wall-mounted dining table is a far better option as it doesn’t take up much space even when it’s open.
Adding Light to Your Room
If you have a natural light source in your room, make sure to take full advantage of it. Instead of using drapes to block out all outside light, purchase some curtains. The difference between the two is that drapes are made of heavy material, while curtains are made of materials that won’t filter out all the light from the room. Furthermore, hanging some yellow, orange, or white curtains will create an airy vibe, and brighten up your room. You can also have a harmonious match with white curtains and red rugs or blue rugs.
On the other hand, if you don’t have a lot of natural light to work with, you can always add more artificial lighting to your space. Pendant lights and flush mounts are great, and they don’t take up much space.
Also, make sure to light up those dark corners in your room with some string or led lights. Doing so will add a bit of depth to your room.
Creating an Illusion of Space With Mirrors
A mirror is far more than just an accessory. It’s a tool you can use to create an illusion of more space. By adding mirrors to your small room, you will boost the lighting, and trick yourself and others into thinking there’s more space than there actually is.
If possible, consider hanging one or more large mirrors on your wall. If not, strategically placing smaller ones in random areas of your room will also do the trick. Another great idea is to attach some led strips to the mirrors, as this will boost the lighting, and create a cool ambiance.
Adding The Right Carpet or Rug
Contrary to what most people think, if you have limited room to work with, you should add a large carpet or rug rather than a small carpet. Especially mini rugs will make your room look small. Similar to mirrors, large furnishing creates an illusion of grandeur.
Ultimately, your carpet or rug should cover up most of the space on the floor so you can place your furniture on top of it. To add a bit more elegance, consider purchasing a hand-knotted vintage rug, as it is both durable and visually captivating.
Utilizing the Vertical Space
If you have a lot of decorative items you would like to display, adding some shelving units is a great idea. In fact, don’t hesitate to add as many as you can!
People often think that too many shelves will make a room look cluttered and messy, however, that’s far from true. Shelves are not only useful, but if you take the time to decorate them, there’s no doubt that they’ll look amazing.
And again, feel free to add some lighting under each shelf, as this will definitely help elevate the ambiance.
Storing Your Items Properly
Who says you have to store your items in ugly cardboard boxes? If you have too many items and not enough room to display them all, storing them will make your life a lot easier.
For example, ottoman storage benches are multifunctional, and they’re great for storing extra linens and blankets. Moreover, drawers are great space-savers. You can put quite a bit inside them, and also place a few choice items such as a lamp, or docking station on top.
Also, consider purchasing clear plastic boxes for small decorative items. You can place the boxes on top of one another, and store them in your closet. And since the boxes are clear, you will know what’s inside them at all times. These boxes are also great for storing winter/summer clothing and shoes.
The Conclusion
When your living room, bedroom, kitchen, or any space for that matter is cluttered and cramped, it’s safe to assume that you won’t want to spend much time in there. In fact, we could even go as far as to say that spending time in a disarranged mess is quite damaging for our mental health.
But by following our simple tips and tricks, you’ll be amazed at what you can do with any small space. What’s more, by incorporating the proper carpeting, lighting, and mirrors into your interior décor, you could even make the space appear far bigger than it is!