15 Small Space Decorating Mistakes to Avoid

It’s not just a decorating myth: mirrors really do make a room feel larger, so why wouldn’t you use the oldest design trick in the book to help amplify your space? Think wall mirrors, full-length floor mirrors and even mirrored furniture – but not all together in the same room, unless you’re going for a miniature Versailles kind of look.

Want more ways to make a small space feel larger? Here are Sarah Baeumler’s hacks.

We all dream of those massive, Restoration Hardware-type sofas that comfortably seat 26 people and all their dogs, but few of us actually have the space for them (never mind the budget, which is a whole other story). Be realistic about your square footage and find furniture that fits the room without overwhelming it.

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On the flip side of the decorating coin, you don’t want to fill your small space with a ton of teensy furniture, either; you’ll feel as though you’re living inside a dollhouse. Be the Goldilocks of the decorating world and go for a few key pieces that are just right for your space.

We love a good knick knack as much as the next person, but in a small room, less truly is more. Avoid crowding every possible surface with books, vases and decorative objects in order to create a sense of space and openness. If you’re a dedicated collector, consider rotating your favourite objects every season and keeping some items in storage.

Closets and armoires and dressers are great, but have you ever tried storing things on your walls? You’d be surprised at how much extra space you’ll suddenly gain when you start thinking vertically. Anything – hats, jewellery, bikes – is fair game.

Most houses, particularly older ones, are filled with bizarre little pockets of seemingly unusable space that are simply begging to be made useful. Whether you add built-in shelves under the stairs or turn an alcove into a mini office, it’s all about making the most of every nook and cranny.

“White walls will make a small room feel bigger.” We’ve all heard this and it may even be true, but here’s the thing: White walls aren’t for everyone. And they can be [whispers furtively] kind of boring. Want to make your small space seem deliciously cozy? Paint the walls a dark colour. Need an everyday mood boost? Paint ’em pink. The colour wheel is your oyster.

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No colour, no patterns, no whimsical touches – are you decorating a small space or the set of a movie that takes place in an old-fashioned asylum? Don’t avoid patterns if you love them; inject them into even the tiniest of rooms by way of throw pillows, wallpaper, rugs or window treatments. Just remember, a little goes a long way.

If your cozy room is blessed with large windows that let in tons of natural light, is it even a small space? Make the most of that brightness and let it all in with sheer window coverings, light-coloured walls and furniture that doesn’t take up much visual space (think glass, mirrored or clear acrylic pieces).

Living in a small space means working hard to make the most of every square foot – and that goes for your furniture, too. Every piece needs to work double duty, whether it’s an ottoman with hidden storage, a bed with pull-out drawers underneath or bookshelves that can house large catch-all baskets (and triple as a room divider, if need be).

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If your home feels more like a series of nooks and crannies rather than distinct, full-sized rooms, it needs all the help it can get in terms of visual flow. Try painting the walls of each room in similar, complementary shades, and stick to one unified decorating style throughout the entire space.

In an effort to keep things as minimal as possible, some people advise against hanging drapes in small spaces. What do they know, anyway? Drapes are a fantastic way to add colour, pattern and texture to a room while taking up virtually no floor space. They also draw the eye upwards, which can actually make a space feel larger. So there.

Here’s the thing about filling a small room with equally small rugs: they’ll start to look more like bath mats than stylish floor coverings. Choose one statement rug instead of multiple smaller ones, and make sure it fills the space; a larger rug will make the whole room feel bigger.

So you’ve mastered vertical storage and double-duty furniture, but you forgot to add one thing: personality! A bland, blank decor scheme will make a tiny room feel more like a hospital suite than a home, so be sure to add some personal touches. Small spaces may lack square footage, but that’s no reason to scrimp on style.

Remember what we just said about bland spaces? Over-the-top, maximalist rooms are on the other end of the decorating spectrum, and they’re also not ideal for smaller spaces. Aim for a happy medium – some colour and pattern and knick knacks, not ALL of the colours and patterns and knick knacks at once – and you’ll be A-OK.