MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR SMALL SPACE
These storage and design ideas can help
Darker days and colder nights mean fall is on its way, and that means we will be spending more time inside. As I look around my house, I'm wondering how my place became so “small”; it seemed much larger when I purchased it 17 years ago. Then I look a little closer and see the clutter and everything else that's making my place feel smaller than it actually is.
But a new season brings change, so I'm on a mission to lighten, brighten and clear the clutter so that my house can breathe again. These tips for finding more storage and decorating for a lighter look will make your space, especially if it really is on the small side, look and feel larger.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
One of the easiest ways to make
a small space feel spacious is to use mirrors to visually expand the room by bouncing light around. If you have a window at one end of your room, add a large mirror at a 90-degree angle to the window to reflect natural light deeper into the room.
Bonus: reflecting a window creates the effect of having two windows instead of one.
Heavy draperies are a wonderful look that softens a room but can also conceal the edges of a window, reducing the view to outside and the light coming in. Simply push back the panels past the edge of the window (or use tie-backs to keep drapes to the sides); it's an easy fix that will amplify the light coming in.
Glossy paint finishes, countertops and mirrored furniture happen to be on-trend for interior decorating and their reflective surfaces can move light around, so don't overlook surfaces for subtle ways to increase the sense of spaciousness.
LIMIT THIS EMERGING TREND
Light colours are always the safest bet in order to make a space
feel larger and airier. Although the colour trends are moving away from cooler (grey and blues) colours — which bounce light and make a space appear larger — it's the warmer colours like clay and brown that are emerging. These warm tones reduce your sense of space and make a room feel smaller, so use them judiciously. Accents like planter pots, pillows and throws are a great way to incorporate this trend without overwhelming a room.
Wood floor fashions change every 10 to 15 years. For a while now, light, cool grey stain colours have influenced choices for hardwood and laminate wood flooring. But stain colours are warming up, while staying lighter in tone. Look for stain colours similar to nutmeg or pale walnut to help warm up our homes, but opt for light-toned versions.
MAKING MORE SPACE
I'm a believer that when everything (including newspapers, clothing, knapsacks, towels) is picked up off the floor, you are halfway to an organized house that feels bigger. Clutter (I like to refer to it as collections) can reduce the functionality of a space, making it function as a much smaller space than it is. Fall is the perfect time of year to reduce items on floors, shelves, tabletops and countertops. With holidays just around the corner, now's the time to clear the deck … because before you know it you'll be decking the halls with holiday decor.
Need extra storage? Look inside the upper and lower interior walls in a closet. Fitting an extra shelf above the floor and another below the ceiling will double the closet shelf space.
Now is also a great time to go through clothing and footwear from last fall and winter. See anything you don't remember wearing last year? Free up closet space by donating (especially outdoor gear) to a charity before the cold weather comes.
Do you have a decor dilemma or want to give feedback? You can contact Karl on Instagram at Karl Lohnes.
Karl has worked as a home decor expert and product designer for 25 years.