Last year I wrote about the Tiny House Movement and how it is gaining in popularity. Well, a year later and the movement is just picking up steam.

I recently finished an article for a friend of mine who started and published Welcome Magazine here in Atlanta years ago. She has since moved to New York and is in the process of re-establishing the magazine there. She asked me to write an article for it with tips for decorating small spaces and I thought I’d share a few of those tips with you here in the blog.

Decorating small spaces can be challenging. The layout of a room, the style of furniture, the paint color and how to keep the space organized are just a few of the design elements you have to consider. The tips I’m sharing will help you do all of that without sacrificing style and personality.

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11 TIPS FOR DECORATING SMALL SPACES

Tip #1: Consider a soft, light color on the walls instead of something bold. Soft colors throughout a house fade away and allow the focus to be on what’s in the room instead of the size of the space. And a neutral foundation will allow you the most flexibility to change accessories and color themes when you want to.

via MyDomaine photo via Robert McKinley

Tip #2: Don’t shy away from wallpaper in areas like bedrooms and bathrooms. An all over pattern will draw the eye up and around the room, adding visual interest and movement, making the room feel larger.

Tip #3: Use mirrors to create the illusion of more space and enhance the natural light that comes into a room. Mirrors will also add depth and dimension, two design elements that create an impression of openness. Leaning mirrors placed behind furniture will expand the visual impact both high and low within a room.

via Domaine Home

Tip #4: Don’t decorate solely with furniture that has exposed legs. Every room needs to feel grounded and mixing in a few pieces of furniture with hidden or solid bases will do just that. A skirted sofa or chair or a chest of drawers is all it takes to visual ground the decor within a room.

Tip #5: Decorate with furniture that is versatile and can function in more than one way. Use a low bookcase as a console to hold the TV while also providing storage for books, baskets and accessories. A large table can also work as a desk with storage near by for office supplies and fold-away furniture can make tight spaces super functional.

Hemnet via Brit & Co.

Tip #6: Don’t think a small room can only hold small-scale furniture. Too many small-scale furniture pieces can actually make the room look and feel smaller. Instead, opt for a few full-size pieces which will give the room a feel grandeur.

Tip #7: Go vertical with your design. I see people in both large and small homes that don’t take advantage of the vertical space in a room. Built-in cabinets or free-standing units will allow you to maximize your storage while creating a grand focal point for the space. Artwork hung from floor to ceiling will also create the visual impression of a larger space.

via decorpad

Tip #8: A patterned area rug can make a small space look busy. The best way to add a patterned rug to a small room is by layering it over a larger solid rug which will help ground it.

Tip #9: Accessorize with pieces that provide a sense of openness like glass coffee tables, lucite end tables and even mesh storage baskets.

via Lonny

Tip #10: Don’t leave your windows bare. A bare window does not make a space feel bigger, in contrast, curtains hung close to the ceiling will make the windows and the room feel larger.

Tip #11: The most important decorating tip I can offer is to control the clutter. Clutter disrupts the flow of a room and can create a sense of uneasiness in your life.

via Stylecaster

All of these small space decorating tips are things you can do even if you live in a larger home. The true beauty of a home is how it functions for you and how it makes you feel.

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