Not sure how to decorate a small room?

It’s a sad fact that UK homes are only getting smaller, apart from the price tag that is. Developers are shamelessly cramming us into tiny shoeboxes and expect us to be happy to part with our life savings (and probably your dead gran’s life savings as well) for the privilege. I was shocked to read recently that our new homes are now smaller than they were ninety years ago. And if you are buying a new build right now then chances are you wont get more living space than both decks of a London bus. Shocking. But at the rate the population are increasing it’s no surprise really. So if homes are going to carry on getting smaller then we need to get smarter at using the space.

Small can be totally beautiful and with the right layout can be practical too. Whether it’s your hallway, bathroom or bedroom there are some regular tips that you can apply to most spaces.

The most fabulous small space by reviving_no37

Here’s what you need to know.

1. DO ONE THING REALLY WELL

Like with most things in life it’s better to do one thing brilliantly than lots of things badly, and this applies to your small rooms. So think about the main function and purpose of that one room and do it really really well. So if it’s a small bedroom give your bed the priority, make it large and luxurious and forgo the bedside tables. You don’t sleep on your bedside tables and whilst they are great for storing all sorts of accumulated crap, they aren’t an absolute necessity. But your bed is. And if it’s a living room for watching telly go all out on the sofa, don’t compromise and get a small sofa with a narrow seat just so you can squeeze in an armchair too. Get a really deep, comfy sofa because you can only sit in one place at a time.

2. USE PATTERN ALL OVER

If you want to use pattern in your small room (which by the way is a great idea) then really go for it and commit to the pattern. If it’s wallpaper go all round on every wall. The feature wall is not only really dated (sorry but it is) it also actually makes your room look smaller, and we definitely don’t want that. Using a patterned wallpaper all around the room will blur the edges and make your space feel bigger and it will really make an impact.

3. USE YOUR WALLS

If you don’t have a lot of floor space then use your walls. They go right up to the ceiling so actually provide a huge surface area to play with which can be perfect for storage. So get your stuff off the floor and onto the walls with some built in floor to ceiling shelves. Get them bespoke if your budget allows so you can make use of every inch, and paint them the same colour as your remaining three walls so they blend in and disappear making the space feel bigger.

The other thing to use is wall hung furniture, this is such an easy trick. The more floor your eye can see the bigger it will think the room is so it’s really easy to trick the eye with some cute and practical wall hung storage.

4. NARROW LEGS

Furniture with narrow, tall legs will work really well to make your space feel bigger. Tapered legs are elegant and allow you to see more floor which we spoke about above. No one wants short fat legs so save your chunky furniture for your bigger rooms.

Also keep your furniture light in colour and feel. Glass is a great option as you can literally see through it creating the illusions of more space. And go for pale or painted finishes. What we want to avoid is a mahogany coffee table in the middle of your teeny living room. It will suck up all the light.

5. REFLECT THE LIGHT

Bouncing light around the space is really going to help with the illusion of creating a bigger space. So we want glass, metal and mirrors. Apply these materials to your accessory choices. The great thing about accessories is that you can often dot them all over the room so you can keep bouncing the light around. Using these kind of materials will also aesthetically tie them all together creating a cohesive look that will help with making the space feel bigger. They can really make a huge difference, for example a poster on a wall in a glass frame will bounce the light around much more than a canvas of the same design which will absorb the light.

6. PAINT YOUR TRIMS

By trims I mean your architrave, window frames, skirting, picture rails etc. Rather than painting them the default (and uninspiring) pure brilliant white, paint them the same colour as your walls. Why? Because it blends them in and makes them disappear, your walls will magically look taller and wider. Rather than creating edges and lines that stand out you are suddenly creating a space where the boundaries are blurred and seamless. Not only will your space feel bigger it will also create a really calming and soothing look, perfect for a small space.

7. GO BESPOKE

If you live in a property with alcoves and nooks then use these wasted spaces for bespoke storage that will make use of every centimetre. You’ll get far more storage from a bookshelf built into an alcove than a shop bought one. And a window seat could create the extra seating you need for guests, meaning you can get a lovely big sofa for you and the dog to cuddle up on.

8. AVOID SMALL FURNITURE

This may sound a bit counter intuitive but smaller furniture can often make a space feel a bit cluttered (and uncomfortable) so it’s best to get the biggest furniture you can. If you have a small dining space don’t use lots of small chairs, get a couple of really good sized chairs and then a bench to accommodate the occasional guests, this will look a lot more roomy.

9. MULTI-TASK

If space is really tight then you can look for pieces of furniture that can perform multiple functions. So use a chest of drawers as a bedside table or get a sofa bed to sleep your dinner party guests who are crashing for the night. But not at the expense of comfort. If it’s your main sofa then forget it. Your guests can sleep on an airbed on the floor (or get a hotel). But if it’s in your spare room then multifunctional furniture can work really well.

10. DO YOU HAVE A VIEW?

Assuming your window doesn’t look out onto your neighbour’s white van that always parks outside your house, then make the most of the view. Drawing attention to the view outside your window will actually make your small room appear bigger because you are making the view part of the room. So how to do this? Paint your window frame a spectacular colour that draws attention and frames the beautiful view beyond.

So embrace your small space and make it beautiful and useful! if you live in Southampton or Hampshire and would like some interior design advice for your own home please get in touch. I’m here to help : )