So this month we are going to talk about getting small. Yes, the Design Diva is going to get out of her grandeur comfort zone and share a few tips about how to make a cozy roost blissfully elegant.
Keep It Light
When covering walls and floors, stick to light colors. The current color of choice for walls is light gray, but if you prefer a warmer tone, go for a creamy vanilla. Match it with lighter wood tones, whether you go with natural wood floors or a laminate. Remove that outdated tub, and replace it with a light slate grey shower stall with coordinating glass mosaics to bring texture to your home and make a small cramped bathroom look larger and more inviting.
Floors and Walls Unite
Make a small home appear larger by using one type of flooring throughout. If you choose carpeting, find something that is easy care and stain resistant. A darker grey or brown will show less dirt. Coordinate with your walls. In bathrooms and other areas where there is significant moisture, use the same color tile, or preferably, the same type of tile on floors and on walls. Use the same countertop material in the kitchen and baths. This does not mean you can’t make each room have it’s own style, just keep the tiles consistent throughout the house.
No More Rathole
I’m referring to pack rats. Get rid of the junk. If you are a mini-hoarder, stop! Clutter makes even the largest house look small. I suggest reading a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It will change your view on keeping so much stuff hanging around. The more stuff you get rid of, the lighter you will feel, and the bigger your house will feel. As the great furniture designer William Morris once said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Color Code
Pick a color scheme to use throughout your house. You may choose to have a monochromatic home with small pops of color, or if you have a more eclectic style, make sure that a consistent color scheme runs throughout the house. I was a recent visitor to a home completely done in shades of grey with pops of peachy pink and teal. Another friend has a summer home full of BoHo Indian prints, but all of them are in shades of olive green, dusty rose, teal, and mustard. She also knows how to interplay solids and prints to keep things from getting too busy.
Remember the Five P’s
In a small home, apartment, or office, planning does prevent poor performance. Think about how you are going to use each room. What kind of storage you are going to need is usually the biggest question in a small space. One tip from Marie Kondo’s book that you can use here is keeping like items together and putting them in the space most convenient to their use. Items you use a lot require easy access. Items you use once a year can be a little harder to get to, but don’t hide them under junk, lest you forget about them.
While I prefer decorating homes of operatic proportion, these days small is becoming quite vogue. On TV and in magazines I have learned about people who are downsizing and moving into tiny homes. So if you are going to do it, I want to make sure you do it right!
Speaking of doing it right, don’t forget that my friends at City Tile can make sure you have the right flooring and tile when you downsize to that smaller space. Avoir une belle aventure!
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