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