Maximize minimal space: A Guide to Decorating a Small Room
photo Åse Waern
Decorating a small room can feel like a daunting challenge. You want to be able to fit in all your favourite pieces without it looking too crammed and chaotic. While space might be limited, the potential and functionality doesn’t have to be.
Following are some practical tips to help you transform your living room into a cozy space that is both functional and inviting by maximizing your minimal space.
Embrace Vertical Lines.
Vertical lines draw the eye upward and creates a sense of height. Use tall bookshelves, vertical stripes in wallpaper, or tall furniture to make the room feel more spacious. Hanging your curtains all the way up to the ceiling is an easy way to change the feeling of a room without having to invest in new furniture.
photo: Åse Waern
2. Stick to a cohesive colour palette.
Lighter colours usually work better in a small space as they help to reflect the light and therefore make the space feel bigger. Soft hues such as whites, creams, and light grays are a perfect base to go for. You can always incorporate darker colours, if that’s your style, through textiles and other smaller details. Do as Interior designers do and try to stick to the 60-30-10 rule: with 60% being a light base colour, 30% an accent colour of your choosing and 10% a second accent colour.
3. Pick the right furniture.
Don’t feel like you have to use small furniture. Bigger, but fewer wellcurated pieces often make a room feel more spacious. Using all small furniture can make the room feel overly cluttered or out of proportion. Apply this to art and wall coverings as well, as lots of small artworks hung closely together definitely adds to the visual clutter. For extra function, invest in furniture that serves dual purposes. Consider a sofa bed for guests or an ottoman with hidden storage. Compact and foldable pieces can easily be tucked away when not in use and can help providing more flexibility.
photo: Åse Waern
4. Use mirrors.
Mirrors are a small space best friend. Place mirrors strategically to reflect light and create the illusion of depth. A large mirror can make the room appear more spacious and at the same time add a touch of luxury.
photo: Åse Waern
5. Built-in.
If you have a smaller kitchen or dining room a built-in bench might be the perfect solution to be able to move the table closer to the wall and thereby gain a bit of sought-after floorspace. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune and can be done with IKEA cabinets as a base for example. Embrace the vertical space again by installing shelves and wall-mounted storage units. This not only maximizes storage capacity but also keeps the floor free, creating a less cluttered appearance.
Decorating a small living room requires a thoughtful approach that combines functionality with style. By incorporating these tips, you can transform a limited space into a cozy room that maximizes every centimeter while maintaining an inviting atmosphere. Remember, it's not about the size of the space, but how you make the most of it.