Decorating Small Spaces
photo: @_homedreaming
by Azucena Melchor
As an NYC college student, one thing I definitely don’t have a lot of is room. So, in honor of moving season, I’m sharing my tried and true rules of thumb for making little spaces fit everything you need and feel like home at the same time.
The absolute-number-one-most-important thing to consider is light. South facing windows are a huge plus, but there are tons of ways to make things work without them, so you don’t feel like you’re living in a cave. Sheer, light colored curtains disperse sunlight softly and evenly through the room and abundant lighting options allow you to create any mood at any time of day, but what will change your space the most drastically are mirrors! The illusion of more space and more light is exactly what you need to open up a small room.
While we’re on light, let’s talk about color. Lighter, warmer colors make a space feel like a fresh breath of air while darker ones absorb sunlight and contribute to claustrophobia-causing conditions. Unless being in a small, dark space gives you comfort, consider decorating with light woods and bright hues instead of darker alternatives
photo: @studioniico
Now, let’s talk about furniture.
You’ve moved into a fresh, new (small) place and the last thing you want is for your furnishings and decorations to clutter things up and make your rooms seem even smaller than they were before.
My solution? Keep things low. It’s easy to forget that space exists vertically, not just horizontally. While I’m a huge advocate of forgoing the bed frame and putting my mattress directly on the floor, I realize that not everyone wants to stoop to my level (hah). If you prefer to be elevated when you sleep, even trying a slightly lower bed frame will maximize your space. For non-sleeping furniture, look for drawers that are shorter and wider rather than tall and skinny, and try adding some seating with floor cushions or comfy low chairs.
photo: @oneroom.make
As for storage, my personal favorite space-creating item is my clothing rack, which opens some of my closet space up for less attractive bins and shelves that I might not want to see all the time. Not only does it store tons of clothes, but the space under it is fantastic for shoes, bags and miscellaneous items that don’t really have a place anywhere else.
As someone who has a lot of things and can’t seem to get rid of them, it’s been a wild ride trying to figure out how to make my spaces the best that they can be, but with these tips in mind, I’ve managed to find order among chaos.
PS. I’ve found that the best way to find furniture that matches your style is to thrift it. Happy decorating!
