Create the illusion of more space in your rooms with these easy tips from a top designer.
By: Aimée Morgan
Does the thought of combining living quarters with your fiancé leave you feeling spatially challenged? Here, noted interior designer Stephanie Cohen shows you how to think big.
1. Downplay size by drawing attention to the room’s strongest qualities. Does the window have a stunning view? Draw the eye to it by using lightweight drapery that frames the outdoor scene. If a rug is hiding a beautiful hardwood floor, pull it up and show off the floor’s natural beauty.
2. Lighten up! Soft shades reflect light better and expand the space from wall to wall; dark colors tend to shrink it. For optimal results, use no more than three paint colors in a room and stick to the same palette. To make your ceiling appear higher, paint the molding white to draw the eye upward. And, yes, white counts as one color!
3. Place a mirror either above the fireplace, to add the illusion of depth, or across from a window, to bring the outdoors in. Choose the style of mirror based on the theme of the room; for example, an unframed mirror would fit nicely into a modern setting.
4. Furniture with clean, simple lines works best in a small space. Place items on the wall farthest from the door, leaving the center of the room open, and position your sofa at a slight angle to the wall to create a sense of depth behind it.
5. Choose furniture that is multifunctional: A Murphy bed folds back into the wall; a trunk can serve as a cocktail table and storage. An armoire will store your television, music system and DVD collection.
6. Never obstruct a window with furniture or heavy drapery. Instead, frame it with soft treatments, in cotton or silk perhaps, in the same color palette as the walls. The fabric should be long enough to extend above the windows so they seem larger. For privacy, mount shades that can be rolled down when needed.
7. Learn to unclutter! Unnecessary pieces take up valuable space, so if you don’t love it, toss or donate it to a local charity. It may be hard at first, but you won’t regret it later.
Hot Tip: If you love a certain color, go for it—but choose the lightest shade in that palette. This makes the walls appear farther away.
Photography: Courtesy of Stephanie Cohen.
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