Decorating Small Rooms

by Giorgina Devereaux

The most important thing in decorating small rooms is to define the function of the room with every space.  This is especially necessary in a small space that consists of a living room and dining room combination. 

Since both rooms are combined, it is easy to put things that belong in the living room inside the dining room, and vice versa.  Before you know it, it is one big cluttered mess with both rooms losing their purpose. 

I will provide you with practical ideas for decorating small rooms that will help you open up those small spaces and make them feel comfortable and inviting, and less confining.

Defining the Function of Each Room

Living Room/Family Room:  The living room and family room are areas that bring to mind a place where people gather and enjoy interesting conversations. 

Therefore, it’s important to make this space as inviting and cozy as possible. 

Dining Room:  A dining room is a great place to spend time enjoying a wonderful meal after a long day at work. 

It is also where family discussions take place and many meals are shared.  Since it is an intimate space, a dining room should not only reflect elegance, but should be welcoming and comfortable.  

Kitchen/Breakfast Nook Area:  No matter how small a kitchen and breakfast nook area is, it seems that family and guests tend to congregate there because of all the aromatic smells.  Regardless of the kitchen size, you can still create a space that is cozy and inviting by decorating small rooms. 

Bedroom:  The bedroom is where we look forward to retiring at the end of a long day and merits making it into a special retreat that is cozy and relaxing.  We'll show you how to decorate a small bedroom.

Bathroom:  Even the smallest bathroom can be made to feel larger and deserves a splash of beauty.  It is a place where you spend time bathing and getting ready, and because of this, it should feel soothing and relaxing.  We'll share with you some small bathroom decorating ideas.

Office:  The office is a space where concentration is needed and creative ideas take place.  Therefore, making it into a room that looks professional while promoting concentration and relaxation is necessary.  Aside from that, it deserves to be a place that feels inviting and relaxing when decorating small rooms, especially since this is where you will tackle work related activities.

Putting it All Together

What do all of these rooms have in common? 

Even though each room has a specific purpose, they are all areas that should feel welcoming, inviting, and relaxing.  The goal is to make each room its own special haven that will make family and guests feel welcome. 

In order to achieve that through decorating small rooms, the right combination of elements must be present, such as color, lighting, rugs, accessories, particular pieces of furniture, and proper furniture arrangement. 
 

The First Order of Business is to Clear the Clutter:  Clearing clutter will make the small space feel less cramped and enable you to become organized.  This will help open up the space while giving you the opportunity to incorporate other elements into the room. 
 

Choosing Color:  One of the best ways to open up a small room and give it the feeling that it is larger is by using a monochromatic color scheme. 

A monochromatic color scheme utilizes a single color on every room surface. 

This type of scheme includes various darker shades, grayer tones, and paler tints of the main color as part of its palette. 

Also, the main color is usually paired with a white color or another neutral color. 

For instance, a monochromatic room could use a single shade of a soft blue color paired with white. This is one example of the best color combination that can make decorating small rooms appear bigger and brighter. 

Light colored walls are reflective, which makes a space feel more open while brightening the room.  On the other hand, dark colors absorb light and make the room appear smaller and boxed in.  Therefore, stick with cool colors, such as soft shades of blues and greens, which not only give the illusion of more space, but the feeling of serenity. 
 

If you have crown moldings or are considering installing them, keep in mind that they are a fabulous way to draw attention toward the ceiling.

When decorating small rooms, consider painting this trim in a lighter color because a dark color will define the ceiling line sharply.  To give the appearance that the wall is taller, try painting the trim the same color as the wall or one or two shades darker than the wall. 

To give the illusion of a raised ceiling, you can paint the molding around the edge of the ceiling.

Another idea when decorating small rooms is to use a combination of a lighter color and white and then faux paint clouds, the moon, and stars.  With low ceilings, you may want to consider painting the walls with vertical stripes to give the impression that the room is taller.
 

Wallpaper:  If you prefer to hang wallpaper while decorating small rooms, you may want to use wallpaper that has a white or light background.  Wallpaper with a white or light background gives the impression of more open space. You can select wallpaper that has white, yellow, or neutral colors.
 

Let the Light In:  Allowing light in is an important element in decorating small rooms to make the space appear larger and more open. 

If your space lacks natural light, you can incorporate artificial lighting features, such as floor lamps, table lamps, track lighting, or recessed lighting. 

You can also install wall sconces or pendant lights, which add warmth and beauty to the room. 
 

Take advantage of any large windows you may have and allow light in by pulling those drapes back. 

You can also cover the windows in light fabrics, such as sheer panels, which will definitely invite light whether open or closed.  Try to stick with simple panels because dark and heavy drapes give a sense that the room is smaller.  

For the kitchen, you can opt for a valance type window treatment.  It is ideal for windows above the sink since you don’t have to worry about getting it wet while doing the dishes and it’s virtually maintenance free.

The right amount of lighting will effectively illuminate all of the rooms regardless of the time of day giving the space the same bright feeling during all hours. 

Furniture Ideas/Arrangement:  In decorating small rooms, consider using a few large pieces of furniture instead of smaller pieces.  Small pieces make the room appear cluttered and by using larger pieces, you will create an open space that appears unified and comfortable. 
 

Types of Furniture:  Try to stick with furniture that serves multiple purposes, such as an ottoman with a storage compartment that can be used for sitting or as a cocktail table, a sofa bed, side chest, and beds that have drawers. 
 

Living Room/Family Room:  Good choices include selecting a sofa and chairs that are armless and have exposed legs, along with a glass table.  In doing so, this will allow light to filter under the furniture, which makes the room appear brighter.  Other options to consider are smaller recliners and club chairs.  You may even get away with incorporating a L-shaped couch that can hug the walls, which takes advantage of the maximal space available when decorating small rooms. 
 

With upholstery, opt for plain colors instead of bold plaids, stripes, or prints. Try to use texture for interest, and if possible, select neutral tones.

For coffee tables, choose ones that have shelves below for that much needed storage space.  It’s perfect for storing books, magazines and other items.
 

Another idea when decorating small roooms is to incorporate nesting tables as part of your living room/family room furnishings.  These can be tucked away when not in use and provide additional room at a moment’s notice.
 

If your living room/family room has a low ceiling, then consider mounting a flat-screen TV on a wall to open up the room.  This is also a great way to save space and money since you won’t need to worry about investing in a media cabinet.
 

Dining Room:  Tables to consider for the dining room are those that are round or square shaped.  These takes up less space, and by incorporating plushy chairs, you give the room added elegance. 
 

If you are going for a more casual feel in the dining room, you may want to consider a table that has bench style seating or a banquette.  This is a great way to provide additional seating while giving the room a relaxing feel. 
 

Kitchen/Breakfast Nook Area:  To save on space in your kitchen nook area, you may want to consider a bistro table with two chairs, along with low-back or backless stools used at a kitchen counter.  Some kitchen tables have a shelf underneath the table top, which you can use to store kitchen items that needed to be readily accessed. 
 

Another fabulous space saver is a breakfast nook table.  This fits perfectly in a corner and has bench style seating.  Some of these are available with a storage compartment in the bench ideal for storing linens and serving ware. 
 

Bedroom:  If you are able to fit a large four-poster bed in a small bedroom, it will actually make the room look bigger. 

Try to make sure you will have room for a nightstand in order to have a place to put your alarm clock and other essential items. 
 

Bigger items likes armoires and chests also help give the room the appearance that it is wider.  

Office:  For the office, you may want to consider a corner desk in order to save on space.  Also, tall book shelves give the room the appearance that it is bigger. 

Furniture Arrangement:  After finding the furniture pieces that you are comfortable with when decorating small rooms, the next step is to properly arrange the pieces in order to make the room feel expansive.
 

When arranging furniture, try to avoid blocking pathways.  In doing so, you will prevent the room from feeling cramped while opening up the space.  Also, too much furniture will make the room look smaller.  If more of the floor is exposed, the room will appear larger.

If you place your furniture at an angle, it leads the eye along the longer distance instead of the shorter wall since the longest straight line in any space follows a diagonal pattern.   As a result of arranging your furniture in this manner, you gain extra storage space behind the furniture piece in the corner. 

Rugs/Flooring Ideas:  Rugs are a great way to help define the space while giving the room a cozy and inviting feel.  The beauty about rugs is that they are easy to maintain, come in so many styles, and can be rearranged as desired. Consider using an area rug if you are interested in transforming your room quickly and economically. 

To give your room the appearance that it is larger, consider a light colored rug that is spacious in size.

If you prefer to install flooring, you may want to run linear flooring, such as, hard wood planks or ceramic tile in a diagonal pattern.  Again, this creates the longest straight line in the room and the eye will focus on that.  To unify the space and make it feel larger, use the same flooring material in adjoining spaces. 

Also, choose ceramic tile in a light color that is large, even in small bathrooms.  This will help provide the illusion of larger space.
 

Accessories
 

Mirrors:  One of the best ways to make a space appear larger when decorating small rooms is to incorporate mirrors.  Wall mirrors serve multiple purposes for home decor and are excellent for widening and heightening space.  

In addition to adding dimension, mirrors intensify light and emit a certain kind of radiance that complements home interiors while helping to mask wall defects.  

Since a mirror reflects light, it gives the impression that the room is brighter while serving as a decorative element because of, for instance, its lovely ornate frame. 
 

When displayed in a room, wall mirrors attract attention and add drama because the reflection creates the illusion of bigger space and enhances the surrounding furnishings. 

If you are unsure as to whether you should select a vertical mirror, bear in mind that this works well with homes that have low ceiling heights while horizontal mirrors help emphasize the horizontal space of a room.

For a room enlarging effect, you can use a large framed mirror to hang on a wall or an over-sized framed floor mirror that can be propped against the wall. This is a stylish way to open up the space while welcoming in light.

Other ideas include hanging a larger sized mirror over the bathroom sink to welcome more light and give the space a feeling that it is larger.  The mirror will also pick up the color and pattern. 

You can also top a coffee table or side table with a piece of beveled mirror or install a custom mirrored top over a dresser or chest of drawers.  

Another great way to use mirrors to open up space when decorating small rooms is by displaying an assorted collection of mirrors, such as, antique, new, vintage, French, and Italian.  Begin with one large mirror in the center and arrange a group on one wall. 

To visually double a room, consider taking the opposite wall from the source of light whether it is a window or a door and mirror the area in three vertical sections.  The mirror corresponding to the middle section should comprise 50% of the wall while the two side panels should be 25% each.  This provides an elegant look while visually enhancing the dimension of the room.
 

Art/Wall Accessories:  To prevent a cluttered look while decorating small rooms, avoid covering your walls with multiple pieces of art and pictures. 

Instead, display one large painting because this will create a focal point in the room while detracting from the small size of the space.
 

Another fabulous idea is to hang a framed trompe l'oeil of, for instance, a picture of a window that peeks out into a magical garden or a beautiful horizon. This will give a sense of a larger space.

Also, displaying a faux window or a stained glass panel increases the perceived size of a room while adding interest.