Living Large in Small Spaces
Real Life solutions - Big ideas for small rooms

(RDD) Here are some ideas for living large in any small space.

Small Space Attitude Adjustment - It's not a small space, it is a "cozy room". Take a step back and be thankful for your small little piece of space and forget about what you don't have. Taking the pressure off to make the minute haven "huge", will make the journey more enjoyable. Allow yourself to open up to new ideas that are "outside the box".

Focus not chaos - 
Consider the activities being done in the small space. Do you read, pay bills, watch TV?  Try combining tasks to get the most effective use of space by focusing them into one multipurpose piece of furniture. For example, a lidded ottoman can be a footstool, video or magazine storage and a coffee table. Achieving room focus and organization will calm the chaos and create a more uniform, space saving room.

 

Varying Heights - Large Art -  
Use optical illusions to give the feeling of more space!
Believe it or not, one large piece of art can add volumes to a small rooms appearance.  

The same goes for varying the height of your furniture. Adding tall, thin cabinets to your decor will draw the eye up towards the ceiling increasing perceptual space. A room will appear more expansive as the eye must take in the full scope of the room. Don't forget, it will also give you added storage space for books and photos. 

Size and Scale -
Don't be afraid to invest in scaled down furniture to fit your needs. If you need two chairs and a loveseat to accommodate the function of your living room, try searching for the pieces you need in a smaller more compact scale.

Less is More -
Nix the knick-knacks. When you look through decorating magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens or Martha Stewart, really notice the items that are being displayed in the pictures. Decorating elements are selected very carefully so not to distract  from the room as a whole, but to give you the feeling of its focus and theme.

When decorating a small space, every inch counts. Enough is as good as a feast. If you find you are overloaded with great finds you just can't give up, store away the extras and rotate them seasonally so you can have peace knowing they aren't gone for good. They will seem fresh and new each time you bring them out...and will save your space from over crowding.