If you've ever watched the TV show 'Tiny Homes,' you've seen how small spaces can be maximized and that, yes, it's totally possible to decorate a little room successfully and practically.
But What About Color in a Small Space?
You don't have to settle for bland colors because the room is small. You can make it funky and bright without shrinking its overall feel.
The Walls & Ceiling:
A good choice is a white-trimmed window to soften the darker wall. Also, having a light window on a darker background lets you introduce a pop of color using draperies.
Yes, you can paint a ceiling a dark color and make it work. However, a dark ceiling can be challenging when a room is small, and you're already putting darker colors on two walls.
The Wall Unit, Bed and Desk:
If the interior of a wall unit has dark shelves and a dark background, the room would feel and look more closed in.
By putting color only on the front of the cabinet and leaving the rest white, you get storage and color without overpowering the space.
The primary reason a storage cabinet reaches the ceiling is the feeling of height it gives to the space, and storage of course. It gives a sleek, streamlined appearance and lets you draw your eye upward, giving the illusion that the ceiling is high.
The Room's Accessories:
Other than the bedding, choose color.
With solid-colored walls, floors, and bedding, the rug is a perfect place to feature funkiness. In fact, if you can find the rug first, you can draw colors from the carpet to determine the room's overall palette.
Use color in the lights, pillows, drapes, bean bag chairs, photo frames, or a shelf or two as featured in the photo.
Texture - that's right, texture adds depth, even to a small room. Use texture in pillows, rugs, chair covers, and drapes. Without it, the room would feel stark. So go ahead and choose a bright textured rcarpet- you could even select a thicker shag rug.
Lastly, Your Color Palette:
That's easier than you think. If you're pulling colors from a rug, stay in the family of colors featured in that rug.
Another way to choose color is to select two colors, then allow the walls and floor to act as the neutral base, and always add a third and/or fourth color in the rest of the accessories. That helps to soften the feeling of the room. When you only select two primary colors, a space can feel more monochromatic and cold.
Don't let small spaces hold you back - let your funky side out.
Happy Decorating!
The Room's Accessories:
Other than the bedding, choose color.
With solid-colored walls, floors, and bedding, the rug is a perfect place to feature funkiness. In fact, if you can find the rug first, you can draw colors from the carpet to determine the room's overall palette.
Use color in the lights, pillows, drapes, bean bag chairs, photo frames, or a shelf or two as featured in the photo.
Texture - that's right, texture adds depth, even to a small room. Use texture in pillows, rugs, chair covers, and drapes. Without it, the room would feel stark. So go ahead and choose a bright textured rcarpet- you could even select a thicker shag rug.
Lastly, Your Color Palette:
That's easier than you think. If you're pulling colors from a rug, stay in the family of colors featured in that rug.
Another way to choose color is to select two colors, then allow the walls and floor to act as the neutral base, and always add a third and/or fourth color in the rest of the accessories. That helps to soften the feeling of the room. When you only select two primary colors, a space can feel more monochromatic and cold.
Don't let small spaces hold you back - let your funky side out.
Happy Decorating!
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I've been in two homes with long and narrow bedrooms like this one, Barbara, and see from your example and descriptions here just how color could have changed each of them. Thanks, as always, for your decorating ideas.
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara for this most useful home decor and painting tutorial. I will send this along to some friends who are in need of some decor help. Small spaces are really difficult and you have made it easy. The room looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could plan it out a little more thoughtfully... sometimes I end up with poor color choices. But when it has turned out right, it's great. I like using color in small spaces - I just fumble around with it. This is a great article with great suggestions on how to think about it.
ReplyDeleteI've never been good with putting colors together, so this is a very helpful article. Love this room!
ReplyDeleteReally great suggestions! I loved the idea of using the rug as the source of the overall room color scheme. That is a really cute room in the photo. I never would have thought to use the grey on the walls.
ReplyDelete