MOST people covet grand rooms with endless floor space and soaring ceilings. Spaces like this give us a sense we're living in opulence and grandeur. Back in the real world, however, most people are dwelling in more realistic, average spaces.
In these typical dwellings we make the best of the space we've got, utilizing clever storage techniques and decorating the spaces to a visually pleasing outcome. In the realm of decorating a smaller space there are techniques that can be used to make a diminutive room appear open and airy.
While our feature photograph is of a fairly large bathroom, the perception of the size of the room has been cleverly enhanced through some effective decorating techniques. Many, if not all of the clever ideas used in this room can be applied to your home to make any space feel larger.
In our feature room the semi-monochromatic colour scheme lends itself to an open feeling. The floors and walls are all covered in the same colour and pattern. In a room without strong visual contrast, the eye wanders about the space effortlessly which gives one a feeling of continuous space. The use of a warm, neutral tile in our feature room furthers the feeling of a larger room.
Features like dark trim, baseboards and door frames, for instance, break up the visual space and make a room feel smaller. Many older homes, like mine, that have enhanced decorative trim, do tend to feel more compact. Painting wood trim has been a divisive decision amongst homeowners that continues to this day, but by painting out dark features such as this you can create a more open and airy space.
Horizontal lines add width
THE choice to place the wall tiles in our feature bathroom in a horizontal pattern makes the room feel wider. Even though the pattern in the tiles is subtle, it still makes a huge difference in the way they were installed. Keep this in mind when planning similar installations.
Horizontal lines can be infused into a room through paint techniques, choice of striped linens (like a shower curtain) and even some accessories. The idea is you want the eye to travel effortlessly and continuously around the room. Whatever you can do to reduce visual contrast will be helpful in your quest for a more spacious feeling room.
Another visually parallel option in our feature bathroom was to use a clear glass shower door instead of a curtain. If you have the option to do so, glass partitions of any kind will help make a space feel less enclosed. If not, a shower curtain in similar tones and horizontal design as the wall tile, in this particular example, would be a good choice.
The open shelving in the Kohler bathroom has been painted in the soft white colour found in the wall tiles. This helps the shelving to blend in but still remain a subtle feature. I had mentioned the "semi-monochromatic" colour scheme earlier on because there actually is a secondary accent colour. The soft pink towels in the open shelving add a bit of visual interest without too much contrast. The hue of the pink is similar to the hue of the beige in the wall tiles, which makes them a perfect fit for this space.
In other rooms, things such as strong pattern or colours in an area rug break off the visual floor space, which can make a space feel smaller. Use tones similar to the flooring around the area rug for less contrast and choose a subtle pattern (if any at all) to further support your efforts.
Wall art
PICTURES, paintings or any item displayed on the walls of a room have the potential to break up the visual flow. While it's not necessary to forgo any wall art, in a smaller space it's important to make note of the colours and contrast of the artwork and framing when choosing your pieces.
How you choose to display these items can help make a difference as well. Hanging sets of three or five prints in a gallery style will provide the desired horizontal line while allowing you to display interesting artwork.
Straight lines
CHOOSING contemporary or modern furniture will keep that linear feel to a small space. Similarly, window coverings that are simple and sleek further support the cause. Ruffles and floral patterns are better suited for a larger space.
Other items that can help enhance your efforts are mirrors, neutral linens (to cover a dark dining table for instance) clear or mirrored furniture (Urban Barn has items along these lines) symmetrical versus asymmetrical placement and good old inexpensive paint, which can be used to correct a myriad of problems.
De-clutter
TABLES overflowing with magazines and piles of toys on the floor can quickly negate your efforts. De-clutter your small space as much as possible.
Connieoliver@shaw.ca
