Small Space Secrets

Photo Source: Resource Furniture, www.resourcefurniture.com

Multipurpose Furniture

When you’re living in a small space, it might seem that you just don’t have enough room for everything you need. Au contraire, it’s time to get creative and find furniture that serves double or even triple duty. A bookcase that includes storage and hides a TV takes up half the wall space. A console table that folds out into a dining table can also be used as a desk if you pull up a chair, or better yet, an ottoman with storage.

Dare to Decorate

Just because a space is small doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be beautiful. In fact, using accent colours or wallpaper to define an area visually separates the walls and tricks the eye into thinking the space is bigger. Don’t be afraid to use colour and pattern, even dark colours. As long as you have good lighting, it won’t make the space feel smaller, but it will make the space feel cosy and inviting. Don’t forget to add a statement light fixture to really make the space pop, and use a mirror to bounce the light around the room.

Bigger is Sometimes Better

Just because your room is small, doesn’t mean all your furniture should look like it belongs in a doll-house. It’s better to use a few larger pieces than fill up the room with lots of small ones. Too much tiny furniture makes a room look cluttered and smaller than it actually is. The trick is to avoid heavy-looking furniture and keep the proportions balanced.

Paint Something Unexpected

Photo: Sherwin Williams, www.sherwin-williams.ca

Consider painting a stairway banister, wall trim, or a piece of furniture. By transforming a bedroom nightstand bright blue or a desk chair in an unexpected orange, everything else in the room will appear larger.

Experiment with colour combinations. Sherwin-Williams’ Colour Visualizer allows painters to upload a photo of a room and virtually paint the space using any colour. Test out an accent wall or coat the ceiling. The right colour combination can create a cohesive look.

“Grey is a sophisticated colour that lends itself perfectly to intimate spaces,” said Jackie Jordan, Director of Colour Marketing, Sherwin-Williams. “A shade of grey that lightens up a space would be Amazing Gray (SW 7044). It’s a medium tone with a touch of warmth.”