Basic Rules of Small Room Decorating

People live in small homes for a variety of reasons. It may be that they can't afford a larger home or perhaps they just want to live a less complicated lifestyle. Whatever the reason, there are certain rules that should be followed in decorating small rooms. Here is a list of the most important ones:

1. Plan, plan, plan. Go through your home and note down how you actually use the space that you have. Then, look at it with an eye toward how you can better utilize that space. You'll need areas for cooking, entertaining, relaxing, sleeping and possibly a home office. Write it down and then decide on the best places to fit those uses. Don't need a formal dining room? Make it an office instead. A room doesn't always have to be used the way the architect intended.

2. Get rid of the clutter. When you have a lot of "stuff" and very little space, the clutter-filled space that you do have can look a lot smaller than it actually is. So the first task is to clean out what you don't really need. Have a garage sale, give to a charity and throw the worn out items into the dumpster.

3. Use color to visually enlarge the space. Choose lighter colors to give the room a more open look. Also, try to go monochromatic. Choosing tones that are in the same color family fools the eye to make spaces seem larger. Your furniture colors should blend in with your wall and carpet colors so that they don't break up the visual flow.

4. Paint the ceiling a lighter color than the walls. Avoid using a heavy patterned wall covering in a tiny room.

5. Select furniture carefully. Choose styles that are multipurpose. Furniture like ottomans that have removable tops and tables that have drawers for storage are ideal for a small room. Trundle or bunk beds or even loft beds are just the ticket for kids rooms or a den. Taller end tables with curved, narrow legs draw the eye under the piece, thus making the space feel larger. Dining and coffee tables that are made of glass provide a place for accessories without blocking the room's view.

6. Use lighting to make a room look larger. Add lighting such as track or recessed lights. Also, eliminate heavy draperies. Use light sheers that will allow the sunlight to show through, or use no window coverings at all if privacy isn't an issue. With the right kind of lighting, you can use darker colors in paint and furnishings. In fact, the result can be quite dramatic with the correct lighting effects.

7. Use a mirror to visually enlarge the space of a room. Not only will its reflection make the room feel twice as large, but it will reflect light around the room further increasing the visual space.

Visualizing the ways your rooms should work for you is a good first step to take when decorating a small space. Small rooms do not have to feel cramped and unusable. They can be beautiful and cozy with a little planning and creativity.