| If you live in New York, you know the wisdom | | | | in. Instead opt for light color and |
| of making a smaller space feel bigger. Where | | | | wallpapers. Paint the trim a whiter shade |
| real estate properties are at a high premium | | | | than the walls to make the room appear |
| and apartments are the living space of | | | | bigger. Add touches of color with accents |
| choice, you have to figure out how to get the | | | | like throw pillows or artwork. |
| most for your dollar. The basic tricks to | | | | |
| expanding the feel of a small room are color | | | | Going Vertical |
| and lighting. Anything that brings natural | | | | |
| light in and connects the room to the great | | | | Think up and not down for a smaller room. |
| outdoors will make it feel airier. To give | | | | Anything that pulls the eye can help the room |
| that light room to roam and bounce around, | | | | appear much more spacious. Tall thin |
| choose accessories and furnishings that | | | | bookcases are a good option. Change out your |
| bounce light. Colors that are light and pale | | | | electronic equipment to the thinner taller |
| will keep the room from having a | | | | versions with flat screens and thin speakers. |
| claustrophobic feel to it. Think vertical | | | | Layer and stagger shelving on the walls to |
| instead of horizontal to bring the eye up to | | | | have more storage space while widening the |
| the ceiling instead of across to the lack of | | | | walls. Put down area carpets with diagonal |
| space. Remove clutter and keep things | | | | designs to widen the space visually. |
| organized while available. | | | | |
| | | | Organization |
| Lighting | | | | |
| | | | Try to get rid of any clutter in the rooms. |
| If you have a big picture window in the room, | | | | If you don't need an item, remove it |
| this will really add to the dimension of the | | | | completely. Less is more in small rooms. |
| room. Take full advantage of this by allowing | | | | Accessories should be kept to a minimum with |
| the light to come in with light color drapes. | | | | several but few good pieces. Your furniture |
| If you are trying to decorate a small | | | | should also be organized to keep a free flow |
| bathroom, you can add tube lighting or a | | | | of traffic within and around the room. If you |
| skylight. Let that light bounce around a bit | | | | can't do this without making the room look |
| with furnishings in light colors and tables | | | | tiny, push the furniture against the walls |
| with glass tops. Wicker furniture also gives | | | | and make the center space large. Speaking of |
| the light room to travel through its | | | | furniture, it should not be too large for the |
| crannies. Add a big mirror on one wall to | | | | room. Try to buy furniture that is sized for |
| bring the outdoors in and amplify the look of | | | | a smaller room to avoid making your entire |
| the room. | | | | design layout look cramped. Add storage boxes |
| | | | where needed or take off doors to closets and |
| Colors | | | | add decorative boxes as storage units. This |
| | | | can sometimes open a room considerably while |
| Don't set up heavy wallpapers or dark colors | | | | adding a touch of design flair. |
| in a very small room. These tend to box it | | | | |