We often see images of sprawling interiors and spacious rooms when talking of luxury homes, but often that’s not our reality, especially with a city-centre home that comes with a hefty price tag.
Small and luxurious can certainly go hand in hand, but it’s good to know what can be done when it comes to decorating your interiors. Decorating a small space can feel like navigating a minefield. While you want to create an inviting, comfortable atmosphere, you need to be mindful of the items you choose and how they come together without it feeling overcrowded in your home.
With the right tips and tricks, even the most cramped quarters can feel like home sweet home. Here, we discuss the home decorating do’s and don’ts for small spaces so you can turn your cosy place into an enviable showpiece.
Do: Incorporate lighting at different levels
When decorating a smaller space, lighting can be the key to making it feel more open and inviting. Rather than relying on a single central ceiling light, breaking up your lighting into layers can give the room an illusion of depth and drama.
Try incorporating table and floor lamps at different heights for added interest. This will create a pleasing visual and provide strategic illumination to take full advantage of the space. You’ll find that splitting up your lighting sources will really send your décor to the next level – check out some affordable light fixtures from Litecraft that you can easily adapt to fit the scale of your space.
Choose from a variety of table and desk lamps, wall lights, and floor lights for a subtle accent. Or, if you’d prefer something more intense, check out one of their many LED or spotlight fixtures that’ll help you turn your space into a work of art. Play with different combinations, and get creative with your lighting solutions.
Don’t: Overstuff your space
When decorating your small home, less is certainly more. The key is to maximize the usable space, and be careful not to overcrowd the area with too much stuff. Look for ways to declutter by removing unnecessary items like stacks of magazines or piles of clothes and organising other necessary items into tasteful storage.
Leave enough open room around your furniture so you have plenty of walkable space between pieces. If you display too many bulky items, your space will quickly feel cluttered and uncomfortable.
Do: Use mirrors
Any room of the home can feel larger with a carefully placed mirror, effectively doubling the appearance of the space. It’s a trick that is used often, and it really works. If it’s your bedroom or dressing room that needs a decorative touch, consider hanging large dressing mirrors. Hollywood dressing room mirrors are a great option if you’re looking to light up your room or make it appear more elegant. You’ll have options ranging from bright LED mirror lighting to illuminated dressing table mirrors, available in different sizes and shapes.
A hallway or landing is another great place to add an oversized mirror to create more space in this otherwise small area.
Do: Choose multi-purpose furniture
Look for pieces that do double duty when selecting furniture for a petite space. For example, an ottoman with storage inside is ideal for a living room or bedroom because it provides extra seating and storage space at the same time.
It would also be a great idea to go for smaller-scale or slimline furniture. Oversized sofas may look great, but they take up too much valuable floor space, while dining tables with fold-down flaps will be a welcome addition when hosting dinner parties, but won’t take up as much room when folded down.
Don’t: Leave cords and cables exposed
Decorating a small space can be tricky – you’ll want to take advantage of every inch but won’t want the end result to look cramped or overwhelming.
One key factor in ensuring your room looks polished is properly managing cables and cords. It’s all too easy for a seemingly insignificant tangle of wires and plugs to turn a delightful space into an eyesore, so put a little time into keeping these pesky items out of sight.
Investing in multi-plug adapters and cord covers will help you create a consistent aesthetic where each corner looks as crisp and clean as the last. Whether you go for discreet devices that blend in with the wall or colourful pieces with stylistic flair, anything is better than exposed cords creating an untidy look.
Do: Stick to a neutral colour palette
Choose colours carefully when decorating a small home. Bold colours can make an already tight space appear even smaller, while dark colours may make it feel cramped or gloomy. Instead, stick with neutral colours like whites, off-whites, beiges, and greys, which create an airy atmosphere while allowing you to add pops of colour with accessories like pillows or artwork on the walls.
If you want an eye-catching paint job but want to keep your space feeling light and airy, consider colour matching. This method combines two or more colours to achieve a unique hue that’s neither too bright nor dull.
For those of us who are not expert painters, Decorating Centre Online can be a great resource – all you have to do is input what you’re looking to paint (e.g. walls or woodwork) and select the colours you like, and they’ll deliver the paint right to your door.
Don’t: Use too many patterns
Although you will want to fill your space with personality, it’s wise to use simple patterns and designs such as solid colours, stripes, or geometric shapes in more compact spaces. The result? A room that looks chic and spacious without feeling cramped.
Patterns and busy designs can easily overpower a small room if not executed carefully, so a good rule of thumb is to select one statement piece with a bold pattern and focus on building around that with more neutral pieces and simpler designs. This is an effective way to create an inviting atmosphere while ensuring the area seems visually spacious.
Do: Hang curtains high
Hanging curtains from the ceiling, rather than just above the windows, can give your little home a sense of grandeur. The curtains will draw the eye upwards and make ceilings appear higher than they actually are. Plus, curtains hanging high above the window can make rooms look bigger by adding more wall space.
Choosing the right curtains is also key. Opt for lightweight materials in bright colours to create a spacious atmosphere that’s both comfortable and on-trend.
