Decorating
Don't Fight It: Embracing the Huge Potential of Small Rooms
Forget space-expanding strategies; these seven tips will help make your small spaces even cosier
Small rooms have a cosy and inviting atmosphere that cannot be matched by large open plan living spaces. Often we try to make them feel bigger and brighter than they are, but there’s no reason to feel limited by a small space. I prefer to embrace the snugness of a small room and make it even cosier by choosing lighting, soft furnishings, wall decor and tactile items that will work with the room, rather than fight it. Read on for ways to increase the cosy factor in your small room.
Those who prefer light coloured walls can still achieve a cosy space with clever styling choices. This living room looks soft, cosy and inviting with high reaching bookcases that draw you into the room. Soft, pale colours and a delicate mix of pattern and texture ramp up the cosy factor.
2. Use soft, warm lighting
Lighting is often an after thought when planning the decor for a room, but used in the right way it can make or break a space. Soft, warm lights will make a room feel more intimate and cosy.
This cosy bedroom makes great use of space by hanging the lighting from the ceiling. This creates more surface space on the bedside tables for books, flowers or other accessories.
Lighting is often an after thought when planning the decor for a room, but used in the right way it can make or break a space. Soft, warm lights will make a room feel more intimate and cosy.
This cosy bedroom makes great use of space by hanging the lighting from the ceiling. This creates more surface space on the bedside tables for books, flowers or other accessories.
Lighting can be used to draw you into a space and make you want to stay.
Remove the clutter from the floor so there aren’t too many obstacles to avoid when navigating the room. If possible, add lighting in the form of wall sconces instead of floor lamps to avoid tripping hazards and create sultry ambiance.
This room uses inviting soft down lights on one wall, rather than a traditional light hung in the centre of the ceiling. By highlighting the lounge in this room, you immediately feel drawn to this comfortable setting despite the small surrounds.
Remove the clutter from the floor so there aren’t too many obstacles to avoid when navigating the room. If possible, add lighting in the form of wall sconces instead of floor lamps to avoid tripping hazards and create sultry ambiance.
This room uses inviting soft down lights on one wall, rather than a traditional light hung in the centre of the ceiling. By highlighting the lounge in this room, you immediately feel drawn to this comfortable setting despite the small surrounds.
3. Go vertical
Make the most of the space you have by installing storage that takes advantage of the height of the walls. Bookcases that reach to the ceiling will further increase the cosiness of the room, while adding intelligent storage that is essential in small spaces.
Books by themselves are an invitation to snuggle in and read quietly, so an entire wall of books could induce hours of cosiness. A tufted round ottoman takes the place of the coffee table, making it a multipurpose piece of furniture.
Round cushions echo the ottoman, as does the clock in the centre of the bookcase. Curved armchairs further increase the invitation to sit, read and enjoy this cosy room.
Read more: Easy Update: Give Your Bookcase a Colourful Makeover
Make the most of the space you have by installing storage that takes advantage of the height of the walls. Bookcases that reach to the ceiling will further increase the cosiness of the room, while adding intelligent storage that is essential in small spaces.
Books by themselves are an invitation to snuggle in and read quietly, so an entire wall of books could induce hours of cosiness. A tufted round ottoman takes the place of the coffee table, making it a multipurpose piece of furniture.
Round cushions echo the ottoman, as does the clock in the centre of the bookcase. Curved armchairs further increase the invitation to sit, read and enjoy this cosy room.
Read more: Easy Update: Give Your Bookcase a Colourful Makeover
4. Be brave and bold
A small room bursting with personality is a sight to behold. Be brave when decorating a small space by adding quirky items that will intrigue and entertain visitors, and make them want to snuggle up on the lounge and let it all sink in.
A small room bursting with personality is a sight to behold. Be brave when decorating a small space by adding quirky items that will intrigue and entertain visitors, and make them want to snuggle up on the lounge and let it all sink in.
5. Fill the walls
While it isn’t practical to fill the floor in a small room, I like to make a deliberate effort to fill the walls with prints or objects. Gallery walls look brilliant in small spaces as they are a distraction from the physical limits of the room and make the space feel interesting and full.
This dark and moody room features a collection of intriguing wall decor. The ornate dark frames work in harmony will the walls making a sophisticated and cosy room.
Read more: 10 Artful Gallery Ideas That’ll Wake Up Your Walls
While it isn’t practical to fill the floor in a small room, I like to make a deliberate effort to fill the walls with prints or objects. Gallery walls look brilliant in small spaces as they are a distraction from the physical limits of the room and make the space feel interesting and full.
This dark and moody room features a collection of intriguing wall decor. The ornate dark frames work in harmony will the walls making a sophisticated and cosy room.
Read more: 10 Artful Gallery Ideas That’ll Wake Up Your Walls
6. Erase corners
Where possible, erase the corners from the room. An oval coffee table or curved lounge will soften the appearance of the room and increase cosiness. Include a circular mirror or artwork to help smooth the edges off.
By including round furniture and objects, a small room will feel softer and more inviting.
There is also less chance of injuries induced by sharp edges when trying to navigate a tiny room. Curves are so much kinder.
Where possible, erase the corners from the room. An oval coffee table or curved lounge will soften the appearance of the room and increase cosiness. Include a circular mirror or artwork to help smooth the edges off.
By including round furniture and objects, a small room will feel softer and more inviting.
There is also less chance of injuries induced by sharp edges when trying to navigate a tiny room. Curves are so much kinder.
7. Add tufting and texture
Add objects to the room that make you want to reach out and touch them. A soft blanket, a cuddly cushion or velvet lounge will be inviting to anyone that enters the room.
This tiny office is more cosy than cramped thanks to a selective mix of tactile pieces. The smooth lines of the desk, the wooden window trim and a long haired fur on the chair all mix together beautifully to deliver an intimate area set for work or play.
Read more: Texture-Rich Tricks You Can Reach Out and Touch
Add objects to the room that make you want to reach out and touch them. A soft blanket, a cuddly cushion or velvet lounge will be inviting to anyone that enters the room.
This tiny office is more cosy than cramped thanks to a selective mix of tactile pieces. The smooth lines of the desk, the wooden window trim and a long haired fur on the chair all mix together beautifully to deliver an intimate area set for work or play.
Read more: Texture-Rich Tricks You Can Reach Out and Touch
Is there anything more inviting than cosy cushions on a rich velvet lounge? This room ticks all of the boxes when it comes to cosiness – dark walls, built in bookcases and tempting tactile items make this room a snuggly retreat.
Don’t be put off by the physical restrictions of your small room! Embrace it and make it a gorgeous cosy retreat where you can escape to for some intimate relaxation.
TELL US
How have you embraced your tiny space at home? Share your photos in the Comments section.
MORE IDEAS FOR SMALL SPACES
Mental Tricks to Help You Outsmart Your Small Space
Small-Scale Living Tips and Tricks for Every Teeny Home
Living Big in a Small House: 25 Tricks to Expand Your Space
TELL US
How have you embraced your tiny space at home? Share your photos in the Comments section.
MORE IDEAS FOR SMALL SPACES
Mental Tricks to Help You Outsmart Your Small Space
Small-Scale Living Tips and Tricks for Every Teeny Home
Living Big in a Small House: 25 Tricks to Expand Your Space
I adore dark walls, particularly in small spaces. Forget about trying to make the room feel larger with white walls and light furniture. A small room is a small room no matter what colour you paint the walls.
Embrace the room’s cosiness by painting the walls dark – navy blue and dark teal work beautifully in small spaces. If you’re brave enough, paint the ceilings and skirting boards the same colour, too. By painting the entire room in the same colour, it will erase the visual boundaries created by cornices and skirting boards, making the room feel like a cosy cocoon.