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Whether the place you call home is an apartment or a house, one of the best parts of having your own place is being able to entertain family and friends for the holidays and other special occasions. But while some homes lend themselves beautifully to a large gathering, others may be cozy but have limited space for guests. Is there anything you can do to make a smaller space seem larger and more expansive? The answer is yes!
While we can’t promise a magical transformation, we’ll do the next best thing: show you how to make the most of your existing space. Don’t panic — none of this will involve knocking down a wall or undertaking other expensive remodeling projects. All that’s needed is creativity and vision — and some chic, stylish furniture.
Here are seven tips and tricks to help make your small home appear larger and expansive.
1. Understand that Colors are Key
While darker colors can absorb light and make a room seem smaller, lighter colors and brighter walls that are more reflective will make the room feel more open and airier. In other words, they help maximize the effect of natural light. So, if you don’t like white walls, you can also use off-white and softer shades of blue and green to make the space truly yours. Indeed, painting is a relatively inexpensive way to transform an entire room.
2. Create an Illusion with Mirrors
If your living room is on the small side, and especially if there aren’t many windows, adding a mirror can create an attractive focal point, boost the amount of light in the room, and provide a feeling of depth. Indeed, adding a mirror to a smaller space will make it seem larger than it really is. And if you can position the mirror so that it reflects an outside view, whether it’s a driveway or a garden, all the better, as it will seem like you have another window.
3. Ditch the Clutter
Seek out ideas for additional, novel storage space throughout your home by adding uniquely-styled shelves, cabinets and tables that can fold down to create a space that won’t feel cluttered. Look for nooks and crannies in your abode that can fit narrow shelving or a cabinet. This way, you can efficiently use otherwise unusable spaces to create the storage you need without having bulky storage cabinets take up valuable living space.
4. Practice Creative Furnishing
Compact yet elegant furniture works magic for small apartments and cozy homes. Instead of trying to stuff a mammoth couch into a smaller living room or family room, opt for a loveseat, settee or compact sofa, along with some accompanying chairs in the corners of these spaces to enjoy conversations. One exception to the large couch rule is the L-shaped sectional, which can work very nicely in a corner, providing a lot of seating in a small space. Note that contemporary furniture with clean lines works better in a small room than an overstuffed Victorian style sofa.
5. Look Up
You may not have a lot of floor space, but what about wall space? Take full advantage of any vertical space, especially in an unused alcove or corner. While that won’t help you with additional seating, it will free up space by replacing bulky cabinets with more creative storage. Go vertical with easy, inexpensive DIY solutions, such as stacking shelves and baskets inside cabinets to better utilize space and adding open shelves in an alcove or bathroom.
6. Don’t Forget the Kitchen
As much effort as you’ve put in to making your living room feel larger, you’ll find that family and friends will often gather in the kitchen. Of course, that’s where the food and drinks are located, but kitchens often become the center of activity. Organize the kitchen table, chairs and storage areas to make the best use of space.
Clever storage ideas for a kitchen include mugs on hooks, pans on a pot rack and shelf risers or pan dividers for crowded cabinets. Instead of a bulky table and chairs in a small space, consider a stylish pub table with stools in the center of the kitchen, which people can also stand around with food and drinks. A charming bistro table fits nicely into a corner, freeing up precious floor space.
7. Add Colorful, Seasonal Decorations for Added Warmth
Splashes of color, especially natural décor like plants and flowers, will add depth as well as visual interest. Nature inspires and creates a more expansive feeling, even in a small space, while at the same time creating a warm, cozy atmosphere. There are many nature-inspired holiday décor ideas that are easy and inexpensive to create. These include sprigs of evergreens in glass vessels, lanterns decorated with greenery, bright red winterberry branches and bowls of pinecones, dried pomegranates, rose hips and other seasonal offerings.
The Creative Approach to Creating More Living Space
With these tips and tricks and some creativity and vision, you can make the most out of a smaller home and have a larger living area for yourself and holiday guests. Enjoy your warm, cozy (and now more expansive) environment. Happy decorating!
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