Small Space, Smart Space

Trying to sell your small space? Or have you just invested in petite digs and are overwhelmed (or is that underwhelmed?) by the proximity of one wall to another?

Never fear: House Beautiful is here. A slough of decorators share their mini-manse “decorating no-nos” with those (me included) who are sometimes stumped by their lack of stretch-room.

First on the list? “Playing it safe,” according to decorator Victoria Neale. Drama can be great for a small space, she says; and while “you might get tired of a bold print in the main living area,” using a wallpaper or fabric that pops “can make a smaller, less-used room an exciting space to spend time.” For those looking to stage homes for resale, papering a bathroom with neon Chinoiserie or even a busy toile could mean a pass for many buyers, but hanging something in a subdued hue that boasts a bolder pattern (say, a fine, line-drawn geometric on taupe or a light grey) could pique the interest — and, potentially, the pocketbook — of a potential buyer.

Certainly, the House Beautiful list includes the classic “don’t cram the space with stuff” and “consider the room’s use(s) before buying and/or placing furniture.” These two tenets of staging shouldn’t be overlooked when you’re bringing in trails of people who may be your home’s next inhabitants. Of course, if you’re the new title-holder, you’ve got ownership (and a built-in excuse for experimentation) on your side. While you probably don’t want to shove so much stuff into your sweet new home that there’s barely room for you to move around, you can definitely play around with the space. Tall ceilings? Take advantage of height with skyscraping curios filled with collections. Large, uninterrupted wall space? Thinking about curating a gallery of family photos, secondhand art, or even a set of fabric samples.

Click through to the article for the rest of the designers’ advice on how to make a small space work. Or, if you’re in the market to shrink your living space, take a look at this pair of little, totally livable places under 1,000 square feet.

2421 E. Marion
Price: $369,000
Specs: 3 bd/1 bath
Size: 760 square feet

919 26th Ave.
Price: $429,000
Specs: 2 bd/1 bath
Size: 960 square feet