Have you heard? The new trend in the housing market is no longer buying Mcmansions. Pocket sized homes are the hottest, big-thing to hit the housing market. As our economy struggles to get back on it’s feet, one lousy foot at a time, homeowners no longer have big house envy. Nope. People are scrambling to buy pocket sized homes, smaller than 800 square feet. Some even as small as 400 square feet. Gone are the days of being house poor. Homeowners want to live within their means, and live the bigger dream: being debt free! So how on earth do you decorate and luxuriate 400 square feet of space? Here are my top tips to show you how!
1) Mirrors
Mirrors
Your biggest weapon to make the space appear larger than it is! Also adds character and charm.
2) Use tone-on-tone colors
Soft tone on tone room
Through out the space, use tone-on-tone paints and fabrics in light colors. Keep base, walls, crown and ceiling paint in the same color, and vary the finishes. Matte for walls, satin for trim. The softer the palette the easier the room is to read, and the easier it is on the eyes. When working with a small space, it is important!
3) Laquer your floors.
Shiny floor
Lacquered floors
Whether they are wood, concrete or acrylic, paint or coat your floors in a high gloss sheen. It is reflective, and makes the space feel expansive.
4) Add skylights
Skylights
You just can’t go wrong with natural light….
5) Go big with less
go big in small spaces
Homeowners always assume that in a small space, their decorations should be small. Not true! Opt for larger pieces and less of them. Larger pieces, decorated in a simple, easy to read fashion, makes your space appear larger, and less cluttered. Always choose larger scaled items. You know my motto: GO BIG, OR GO HOME!
What are some of your favorite tricks?
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Harley decorations
I find that decorating with Harley’s is the perfect solution for decorating in small spaces, like live sculpture. So avant garde, and stuff. Puur-oew!
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images: tumblr, twenty two avenue, #mce_temp_url#, creamy life, apartment therapy, jordinII
Great pictures, Amanda! We are looking to downsize from our home, but I’m looking for more along the lines of 1700 sq ft. {from 3600}. I am probably going to go with the tone on tone scheme when we do. Plus, I think that will work better since everything seems to be so open now. My current house is not open so I had different colors in each room. I like to use mirrors, also, and will probably continue that tip.
Hmmm, the publicist broke a lot of those rules. But it works for her in her rainbow colored yurt
I love all of your suggestions….and why do I get the giggles when I see Harley? xoxo
How did you paint your floors? We are having wooden floors put in (not sure yet what material, maybe oak, maybe bamboo), but would like a glossy white paint to get the effect you were after. (We wanted white tile, but it was too expensive.) How would I prime it? What brand and what color paint, and what specifically did you do? Many thanks 🙂 Danielle
Danielle hire a professional. Show them what you want, and choose the color. You’ll be much happier with the results and it will last longer.
xx
Amanda
Thanks, Amanda … I will (not too brave myself).
Danielle
I recently painted our daughter’s room blanched coral and love it but can’t seem to find curtains to match. I love the ones in ur master bedroom pic with the blanched coral walls. What color are they and where could I find them? I just love the way it looks together. Please let me know , thanks!
Jenna
Great question! Those are custom. But depending on where you are located, many cities have a curtain exchange, or a silk trading company. Start there!
xx
Amanda