A vital rule in small
space decorating is that dark colors make things appear smaller
and
light colors make things appear bigger. If you’re tired
of your white walls, a taupe or sand color is a great substitute.
These aren’t gleaming, but they also are not dark enough
to close a room in, making it look smaller then it is.
You can accent—that is, add a little color— with
candles, pictures, paintings or pillows, or brighten things
up with curtains. If you have a lot of windows to dress, stick
to
a neutral color because a dark color can have the same effect
as painting your walls dark.
A cheap and easy way to make curtains is to buy a simple curtain
hanger or rod that mounts easily on your wall and adjusts to
fit the space. Measure your window and buy fabric from a fabric
store. This gives you the option to pick from many colors,
patterns, and fabrics. Remember to buy a little extra fabric
so it will
bunch up, ensuring it will cover your entire window. Purchase
shower curtain hangers that clip on to the curtain rod. Put
the curtain hangers around the rod and clamp them to the fabric.
Voila! Easy, affordable, one-of-a-kind curtains.
If you live in a studio apartment, divider screens are a good
way to separate your bedroom from your living area. City Mill,
a home hardware store, sells them starting at $56.99. Do-it-yourself
dividers can be made by hinging old closet doors together or
hanging curtains from the ceiling.
Multifunction pieces of furniture are a great idea for small
spaces. Loft beds are similar to bunk beds, exept there is
no bed underneath. Having your bed up high opens up floor space
for other purposes. A couch or a desk can fit underneath it.
If you don’t have enough space for a bed, or you don’t
like sleeping in high places, a futon or a pullout couch can
act as a couch by day and your bed by night.
Need storage space? A storage chest can double as a coffee
table. Hanging shoe racks are a way to create more space in
the closet.
And if bathroom shelving is minimal, use a hanging rack similar
to the shoe rack for the back of your door. Toiletries can
hang, creating more counter space for other bathroom supplies.
A few big pieces of furniture can actually make a place look
bigger. Small pieces can make a small space look cluttered.
Figure out what is a necessity and what is not. Do some spring
cleaning
and pitch the clutter.
To create the illusion of a bigger space, try hanging a large
mirror reflecting a window across the room. It instantly makes
the space look bigger.
If you have a lanai, close it in with bamboo shades and make
it an additional living space.
A great way to organize a small space is to separate everything
into stations for sleeping, study, or lounging. It is important
not to make your sleeping
and study area the same, according to about.com. It’s too easy to be
distracted or even fall asleep. The Web site also suggests making your study
space comfortable
and enticing, so that you are encouraged to study. Your study area should have
no distractions and proper light, so there is no shadow on your books and papers.
Before you move in, measure the space and determine where you would like your
stations to be. If you already own furniture, save time and cut down on sore
muscles by using tape, before you move in, to experiment with where the furniture
will go. Tape will help you see where it fits best without all that lugging
around of heavy items.
All this can all be done on a tight budget. Garage sales and
thrift stores are a great place to get furniture, and stores
such as Ross and Price Busters
have
reasonable prices and a wide variety of home furnishings that range from plates
and coffee makers to bed linen and candles.
City Mill offers cheap, assemble-yourself furniture such as
shelving units and coffee tables, and all three stores offer
affordable plants that can bring
life
to a room.
Finally, its important to find the style you like. Whether
it be modern,Victorian or classic, the style should reflect
your personality. After all, you’re
the one who is going to be living there. Don’t be shy about expressing
what you’re all about. |
