Interior Design Tips

Narrow space is a common complaint of city homeowners, but it turns out that its limitations can inspire creativity. Many of the solutions used to make small spaces appear larger require innovative details that make the space more interesting and unique. If you are smart with your furniture and color choices, you can make a small room as stylish and attractive as any other room.

Here are some of the most tried and true decorating tips for your small space.

How to decorate your walls to make a small space look bigger

Painting walls a pale color is one of the most obvious tips for visually enlarging a small space, but that doesn't make it any less valid. Any soft pastel color will bring out the light, but according to the color experts at Elle Decoration, light grays and light teals, as well as pure whites, are usually the most effective. White provides the sharpest finish and any coldness can be removed by adding a warmer tone to the artwork or other features. As an alternative wall decoration, renowned London interior designer Catherine Pooley suggests "pearl plaster on the walls or light silk or textured wallpaper" because it "helps to expand the space".

There is also a narrow palette of dark tones that are especially effective in small spaces. This is because they give the walls a less defined look and blur the boundaries of the room. However, use a simple, clean color like dark blue or almost black. Benjamin Moore's Hale Navy and Black Bean Soup are two popular colors to make small spaces seem bigger.

In addition, many interior designers are now questioning the traditional look of white plaster and baseboards. "By painting the walls and trimming the same color, your ceiling will look higher because the upholstery won't crack," explains Charlotte Lucas of Charlotte Lucas Interior Design. This continuity theory can also be applied to the decoration of neighboring rooms, as it helps to see many rooms as a whole.

How to dress up your windows to make a small room look bigger

Not all rooms have large windows, so make the most of what you have by letting as much light as possible into the frame. One solution is to make sure your curtains don't cover any of the windows. Kimberly Winthrop, interior designer at Laurel & Wolf, advises, “Hanging the curtain rods as close to the ceiling as possible and extending the rods 6 to 12 inches on either side not only makes your room appear larger, but your windows appear bigger too. ." The style of the curtains is also important. Choose a transparent or colored fabric close to the wall as this creates a connection with the wall itself.

How to use floors and rugs to make your small room look bigger

When considering hardwood floors, a very dark or very pale color will accent the room. Your choice should be influenced by the amount of light in the room, the color of the walls, and the mood you want to create. For hardwood floors, choose a long, wide plank that runs parallel to the longest wall of the room. (Try Floor Seasons for a beautiful oak floor.) If you're laying tiles, choose a large size too. Simplicity is the key. Using the same floor throughout the house is worth considering as it helps open up space.

Vintage Carpets are the perfect way to define individual areas in a room without creating obstacles. At Velvet Bazaar, we recommend placing rugs directly under the front legs of furniture to create a connection between two objects. Alternatively, treat the rug similar to a rug and choose a large size that almost reaches the wall. This draws the eye to the edge of the room and makes it appear larger. When it comes to style, avoid heavy, shaggy textures, or crowded styles. A pale neutral rug with a subtle abstract design may be the perfect companion for a small room.

Replacing your carpet is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make a small space feel bigger. Learn more about choosing rugs to complement your space with one of our helpful guides, or browse through our collection of beautiful, contemporary hand knitted rugs.