Big Decorating Ideas For Small Spaces

Start embracing your small house with these tips!

Article taken off The Home Look



Big Decorating Ideas For Small Spaces

Tired of well-meaning guests who give you tips on how to maximise the space in your small house? This is not yet another article on how to make small spaces look big. No, here we are embracing everything small. Revel in the bijou, celebrate the lack of vastness! Less can definitely be more.

Often, the issue with making the most of your living space isn't really how much space you have. What tends to be more important is what you do with your square footage. Rather than fighting the lack of space, focus on the benefits of your smaller space. Small spaces are great for interior design concepts such as cosiness, security, intimacy, charm and functionality.

You may find that decorating a small room is probably more challenging than decorating a large one. It will be useful to draw up a plan previewing the potential uses of the room, the furniture requirements, storage needed and personal lifestyle interests before going on a buying trip for your place. That doesn't mean you have to set rigid rules, but having guidelines will go a long way in helping you create the ideal cosy interior design for your home.

A warm and cosy home provides a place for conversation and features overstuffed furniture that begs to be lounged in. Create an intimate living space layout by keeping larger pieces of furniture closer together, centered around a nice, compact coffee table. Using a good-sized area rug will help bring all the pieces together. If there are any vacant or dull areas, fill up the space with a nice-sized container plant to define and complete the look.

In terms of furniture and furnishings, choose those that will enhance the cosy factor. Place soft and fluffy pillows, cushions and throw blankets on your couches, chairs and beds for you to snuggle up with. Sleek furniture, even though they occupy less space, tend to make the room look quite formal. Try textured furniture but be wary of traditional wooden furniture as they can look too heavy for the room.

There is no need to stick to white because you think colour will make a small place appear darker and smaller. Consider using warm shades of brown, like mocha, taupe and khaki, as versatile neutrals, shades of orange and pale yellows as accent colours or even warmer sage colours.

Used cleverly and sparingly, texture and pattern will give your home an instant dose of cosiness. Go for plush fabrics and knits like cashmere, velvet, and chenille. Incorporate some patterned window treatments, upholstery and knick-knacks.

The key to cosy lighting is layering. Use a mixture of lighting types to create a captivating ambience. Try halogen lights - they can be dimmed and give off a softer, more flattering glow. Natural sunlight is also ideal for cosy homes that can accommodate a window seat or a skylight.

Last but not least, create a feeling of cosiness via nature and scent. Flowers and plants can add colour, brightness and a bit of the outdoors to your home. Rather than relying on chemical air freshener products, use potpourris and simmering spiced cider to give your homes a welcoming and lingering homey scent.

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Tropical Chic

Do you conjure images of Jane and Tarzan when you think of the word "tropical"? You don't have to replicate the jungle or it will look too kiddy. Here's a more subtle look.

Article taken off interiordec.about.com

Decorating In The Tropical Chic Style



Tropical chic is one of the most popular looks today. It includes comfort, warmth, and a touch of the exotic, using jungle themes, restful colors, and natural textural elements.

It's a style that has fresh appeal with touches of traditional. This is not the multi-colored jungle look you might choose for a child's room. Instead, it might be defined as "lush minimalism" since it mixes lots of texture and intricate pattern with simple details and a few large accessories.

Common motifs include stylized palm trees, large leafed banana plants, monkeys, animal prints, rattan, leather, and grasscloth.

This look is most often used in living rooms and family rooms, but can be adapted for master suites and bathrooms as well. Here are some of the underlying elements and themes of a tropical look room.... For best viewing, open browser window to maximum size

Comfortable upholstered furniture is a must in a tropical room.
Long horizontal lines underscore a casual look and add to a restful mood, while taller elements such as plants, screens, or artwork add a grand scale.
Neutral tones including ivory, beige, camel, tan, deep brown, soft gold, and pale yellows are the foundation of a tropical themed room. Greens are also a major element in shades that range from light sage to avocado and from yellow-greens to a green that is nearly black. Accents might be in dark brown, black, or even muted reds.
Furniture in a tropical room is often large in scale and selected for comfort and utility. Accent pieces in wicker, bamboo, iron, and rattan will also fit well with the look.

Fabrics should be soft and lush. Neutral solid chenilles are perfect for the major upholstered pieces. Pillows, ottomans, and chairs might be done in jungle prints and leaf designs.

Wood furniture pieces and wood flooring fit well into this look. Light woods can be used but add more weight to the room by mixing in some dark tables, lamps, or furniture feet.

The main motifs used would be the tropical jungle look and animal designs (monkeys, elephants, etc.) used in fabrics, accent items, and accessories.

Animal designs figure prominently in a tropical room. Consider using both animal hide designs such as leopard spots and zebra stripes as well as animal images such as monkeys, lions, and elephants.

Large plants, especially palm trees, are a perfect addition to a tropical themed room. Add them in corners and uplight from underneath using inexpensive can lights.
Because island prints, leaves, and animal prints are a feast for the eye, avoid overdoing the room's accessories. A few large plants, lamps, books, and some carefully selected large-scale accessories will usually be enough. Avoid lots of tiny little things and keep it simple and spare.

Windowcoverings should exhibit a natural quality. Bamboo or matchstick blinds, breezy linen panels, or plantation shutters are all choices that will fit into this look.
Grasscloth, baskets, rattan, and wicker in natural tones add another layer of texture to the room. Consider these materials for wallcoverings, cornice boards, folding screens, ottomans, and more.

Flooring might be hardwood, though tile or stone is another possibility. Accent the hard floor with area rugs of natural sisal.

Artwork will look best if it sticks to the color palette of the room -- pale golds, ivory, browns, and greens. Hang prints with stylized leaf designs, exotic looking palm trees, and jungle animals.

Light fixtures can add some whimsey with decorations in monkey, leaf, or jungle accents. Dark lamp shades will add more weight to the room.

Tableware looks might include natural colored stoneware, textured placemats, loosely woven fabric napkins, and sturdy glassware. Accessorize with wooden bowls, baskets, and bamboo.