Snug, compact rooms are cosy but definitely, the most challenging to decorate and organise. They force us to get creative and think of smart solutions that give the illusion of a larger space while at the same time fitting everything in. In my home renos, I learned a few tricks that help do just that. Read my tips below:
Let the natural light in
Windows are your friends in a small room. Regardless of what you are working with, be that a large window in a spare room or a wee one in the eaves room, make sure to dress it in bright, lightweight fabrics such as cotton, voile, linen or chiffon to let in as much natural light as possible as this creates the illusion of a bigger and more welcoming room. Whenever possible, choose leggy furniture to let the light flow undisturbed around the room. I love having the Pimlico Bamboo Side Table in our bathroom or the Piolo Bamboo Chair in the girls’ bedroom.
Bright colours for the walls
I’m a big fan of warm and cosy shades for the walls - I think my favourite are the terracotta and taupe we picked for our living room and snug - but it’s the brighter colours that will make your space feel bigger. You can never go wrong with ecru, cream or white but if you’d like to add character to a small room, go for a pastel paint colour. In our bedroom, we used a really lovely sagey green by Farrow & Ball which helped to brighten up the space.
Wallpaper? Yes, please!
In our old house, we had a small, cosy room in the eaves that needed some character as well as some small touches that made it feel more spacious. You know I love wallpaper so, I went to town with Bengali by Pierre Frey and wallpapered the entire room, from wall to ceiling - have a look! You’d think that having patterns in a compact space would be overwhelming, but small, ditsy patterns actually have the opposite effect.
Welcome any architectural quirks
Ended up with a radiator by the window taking up precious space in your small home office room? Invest in a chic radiator cover, add a cushion upholstered with that bold fabric you had your eyes on and create a cosy window nook to read and relax in. Sharp corner? Craft a custom shelf for it and make space for your knick-knacks. Every home has some architectural quirks - we sure had a couple in our home - and I’ve grown to appreciate them over time. As they tell the story of the house, why not take advantage of them whenever possible?
Small room = think vertically
Use all the vertical space available - in my dressing room, we built a wardrobe that literally hits the ceiling! Opt for fitted furniture and hanging shelves. After a lot of sourcing online and in antique markets, I found a gorgeous Victorian wooden hanging shelf on eBay and now it holds all my bathroom essentials - have a look.
Do the same when it comes to lighting. Forget floor lamps that take up valuable floor space and go for sconces instead. If you have a pendant light, shorten the wire, this will instantly make your room feel taller.
Space-saving decor
Incorporating space-saving, multi-functional furniture is a neat trick to maximise the space in your small room. Go for a sofa bed or a wall bed in your home office/guest bedroom, a bed with built-in storage in your bedroom and a storage ottoman for your living room. My office space is quite compact and discreet thanks to an antique bureau desk I bought when we were still living in LA. The desktop folds away and the attached bookcase is tall and roomy.
Mirrors vs artwork
If you have an empty wall, favour a mirror over artwork. It's the oldest trick in the book but the most effective for giving the illusion of a wider space. I have one in almost every room of the house. Our entrance hallway is quite narrow so I hung our Column Mirror right above my console table and I love it- it’s also quite handy for a quick makeup check before going out.
Dressing room image shot by Astrid Templier for The English Home - Home images shot for Milieu Magazine.
