Smaller spaces are pretty difficult to furnish, there are so many rules and precautions that you have to keep in mind when decorating a more compact home. However, just because your home is smaller, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on having the beautiful space that you’ve always dreamed of. You can still put together the act room that you had in mind, it’s all about working with the scale that you have in front of you, and not the one that you wish you did! Here’s how you can still decorate your smaller space with plush, large furniture…
Take careful measurements
First things first, you’ll need to make some careful measurements. Understanding the dimensions of your space is one of the most important parts of decorating successfully, and you absolutely have to do it first. This way, you’ll be able to stay away from what you can and can’t house in your space. If you already have your sights set on a plush sofa or large centrepiece, measure your room before you even think about adding it to your cart.
Figure out your floor plan
Now that you’ve got your dimensions sorted, it’s time to play around with your floor plan. Taking the time to work out the best floor plan possible will save you so much time, energy and potential frustrations down the line, promise! You can do this to scale with a nifty floor plan app or just with a good old fashioned pencil and paper. Place your larger pieces of furniture in your plan first to see how they fit in the space. You can then have a better idea of how to integrate your other items and accessories. Good floor plans take into account walkways and natural light, so try out a few options before you settle on what you feel is best.
Keep it light and airy
Light is your best friend in smaller spaces, so allow your furniture to help you out with increasing the bright, airy atmosphere by selecting pale neutral tones. Shades of cream, white, grey and soft blues, yellows or pinks will all encourage the light to reflect around the room, tricking you into thinking the space is bigger than it actually is. Large, clunky, dark items are not going to do your small space any favours, so they’re best avoided at all cost.
Use your common sense
When you’re shopping for your large pieces of furniture, try and use your common sense every step of the way. Perhaps you’re furnishing an industrial style home? Avoid picking large grey leather items and instead opt for glass, pale tan leather and timber items to achieve the look that you’re going for. Don’t place larger items directly in front of windows, don’t cram everything into one corner, don’t buy a rug that fully covers the whole of your floor – it’s all common sense!
Look upwards
Feeling cramped and not sure where to dot your favourite accessories? Look upwards! Your walls have so much potential for storage, you have no idea! Install a few floating shelves, add a large reflective mirror and hang your plants instead of placing them on the floor. These will all help to open up the space and keep the personality, without making it feel overcrowded.
Pull away from the wall
Finally, make sure that your furniture is pulled a few inches away from the wall. This creates the illusion of more space and makes the entire room feel that little more comfortable. A real trick of the trade!
