Decorating Tips for Small Rooms

When you're decorating a small room or area, there are a few ways that you can make the space usable without making it seem cramped. Use these tips to create an area that you'll love to look at and to use.

1) Color is important. Light color combinations give the illusion of space. Neutrals and light blues seem to maximize light and make the walls seem further away. You can make a small area look bigger in contrast to a larger area by painting it a lighter color than the adjoining rooms. Darker colors absorb light and help to close in empty areas. If you have a large room without much on the walls, consider using your darker shades here. A closet painted lighter than the room that it's in will help the closet to look larger. Furniture that matches the walls will also make a room seem more open.

2) Furniture choices can have an effect on how big your room seems. Tall or bulky furniture makes even a large room seem smaller. You may like this effect in a big living room or bedroom that you want to feel cozier, but smaller rooms can be swallowed up by big furniture. Furniture that has a lower height will make the ceiling seem further away, opening up the space. You can also select furniture that has doors to hide clutter, which will also make the space seem larger. Moving couches and beds away from the corners in the room will make the room seem more spacious as well. Hanging pictures that are smaller on a larger wall will give the illusion that the wall is larger.

3) Rooms with clutter seem to be smaller because the clutter gives you the feeling of being cramped or swamped by things that need to be done. Getting rid of things that you don't need will help your home to seem more spacious. Try not to feel like you need to fill shelves with decorations. Less is definitely more when you are creating the illusion of space.

4) Being very organized makes spaces seem larger and also help your space to stay cleaner. If you have a special place to put things, then you're more likely to put them there. Seeing organization paired with minimalist decoration when you enter a room makes you feel like there is space in the room, no matter what size it is. Having a space for everything will help you to concentrate on budgeting your space. You're not likely to keep things that could be thrown away if they don't fit in the designated area.

5) If you have a small closet, consider an organization system that will help you to organize the things inside. Too often we waste usable space in closets. There is usually space near the ceiling, the back, on the doors, and on the front corners of the closet. Use these spaces to organize things that you need to store. Use clothes hangers that help you to save space for your clothes. Cedar hangers should be used for storing coats and suits to avoid damage, but other items can be stored on slimmer hangers or hangers that cascade clothing to better use the space. High quality metal hangers are strong and fit flat together. Utilizing the right kind of hangers and organizational systems in your closets will help you to reduce clutter and create space all over your house.