Better Homes and Gardens BH&G Small-Space Decorating 2023

This is a saying that captured the attention of Nesting With Grace blogger Brooke Christen, whose home appears on our cover, below, and on pages 14–23. And it’s a sentiment I can personally testify to. I grew up in a cozy ranch house, where I shared a bedroom with my older sister. My parents built the house and took great pride in decorating it in 1980s style—think pink shag carpeting, a built-in sofa, oak cabinets, tile countertops, and those fuzzy toilet-seat covers. By today’s standards, the house would be considered small, but for our family of five it felt just right. We had room to explore, but we never felt overwhelmed by space. Fast-forward several years, and my parents decided that we needed more room. They bought a bigger house on…

“Small spaces provide the perfect opportunity to bring in pattern and color without busting the budget. Don’t be afraid to introduce personality and be bold. The reward is a room with depth that’s truly special.”—Kristin Laing INTERIOR DESIGNER“Break the rules of what you think you’re supposed to do to create rooms that really work for how you live. For example, why have a nightstand if a small shelf and sconce would work better?”—Courtney Warren INTERIOR DESIGNER“It always pays to incorporate pieces that can multitask. Furnishings that can serve you in a variety of ways will never be ‘taking up’ valuable square footage.”—Julia Marcum BLOGGER @ CHRIS LOVES JULIA For Resources, see page 93.…

PROBLEM There’s No Character QUICK FIXES ► HARDWARE Freshen bathroom and/or kitchen cabinets with modern knobs and pulls. (Save the originals for when you move out.) Check out ikea.com. ► LIGHT-SWITCH COVERS For a style boost, swap out old plastic light-switch covers for something different. Remove the covers when your lease is up or check with your landlord about leaving them for the next tenant to enjoy. Try Nostalgic Warehouse plates at wayfair.com. ► CEILING MEDALLIONS Add prominence to a pretty light fixture by hanging a lightweight plastic medallion on the ceiling above it. Look for two-piece split designs—which slip easily around an existing light fixture—at home center stores. PROBLEM Dated Backsplash QUICK FIX When your Dream Kitchen Pinterest Board ambitions are out of reach, stick-on tiles are a frugal shortcut to a pretty backsplash. Sheets of Tic Tac Tiles (shown above…

1,100 SQUARE FEET CHALLENGES: Finding places in an older house that has tiny closets (or in some rooms, no closets) for the gear an active family of five uses every day. BEST-LOVED FEATURES: A window seat and banquette, which provide extra seating and concealed storage. KEY SMALL-SPACE HACK: Using a few big pieces of furniture to make a statement rather than lots of smaller pieces. Love grows best in little houses. When Brooke Christen saw that statement on a decorative sign as she was shopping one day, she felt like the artist was speaking directly to her. At the time, she and her husband, Kevin, were figuring out life in a 1,100-square-foot home in Connecticut with two young children. They were far from family, and their new home was three times smaller than the house they left…

Begin any mudroom makeover by taking inventory of all the items you truly need to store by the door. Then build or designate a specific storage spot for each item. GET OUT THE DOOR ON TIME Ease the time-wasting bottleneck by the door with storage for on-the-go essentials. ► BE CONSISTENT Store everyday items like purses, coats, and keys near the door and in the same place each time you use them. When you come home, hang them from a specific hook so you won’t have to search for them in the morning. ► SIMPLIFY Fewer options can mean easier decisions, which means you can get out the door faster. To cut entryway clutter, find another home for out-of-season coats and accessories. Edit shoe storage to match daily habits. For Resources, see page 93.…

1,250 SQUARE FEET CHALLENGES: Heavily textured walls and dark shutters made this tiny cottage feel even smaller. An underused third bedroom squashed the layout. BEST-LOVED FEATURE: The just-for-fun wallpaper in the powder room. KEY SMALL-SPACE HACK: Painting walls white throughout. The home now bounces light and rooms flow smoothly from one to another, creating a more open feel. On the outside, this Orange, California, cottage looked cute and appealing. But inside, it was less than cozy. “The house was really dark and worn, and it had an unusual, heavy texture on the walls,” interior designer Tish Key says. Key and her design partner, Laurie Bauch, knew smoothing out the walls was a must-do—as was replacing a multicolor wall palette with a single hue of white. “Giving all of the walls the same finish gave the house a cohesive…