Big Ideas for Small Spaces

Bigger is not always better. It’s what you put into your place and how your arrange things that creates balance, harmony, even luxury into the smallest of homes. Many design ideas and inspiration for small spaces come from Europe where the average living space is a quarter of what we’re used to in North America.

Here are some big ideas for creating beautiful design in your smaller rooms:

Mirrors & reflective materials – add instant square footage by adding mirrors to your walls or art with reflective, metallic materials, like nickel, chrome, bronze and gold. Not only are they one of the hottest design trends (still going strong after many seasons), but they add a little luxury and depth to your space. Strategically placed across a lighting source or window, and watch your room explode.

Lighting – table lamps, floor lamps, overhead pot lights, pendant lights, wall sconces, chandeliers or plain natural sunlight from windows all help to create layers of lighting in a room, which in the end, helps achieve the feeling of greater space.

Consider colour – not only does paint colour create a mood for a room, it can also give the feeling of more space. Generally, the less intense shades of colours add space and airiness. Monochromatic colour schemes have the same effect. Keep brighter, contrasting colour schemes for rooms that have lots of natural light.

Scale & Placement – the size or arrangement of furniture and decorative items you place in your rooms also make a world of difference. A collection of small vases, knick knacks and frames covering your mantel or tiny console table only creates repetition and clutter for the eye. Whereas going with one larger scale vase or candleholder on that same surface, creates visual space or pause between larger items, naturally creating the illusion of a bigger room. Another neat trick is to place your furniture on angels in a room. This leads your eye along the diagonal of the room, which tends to be the longer distance (rather than along a shorter wall).