Table of contents for Small Space Decorating in Small Space Decorating

Small is mighty. With the right decor tricks, you can make magic happen in a small space. See for yourself: We filled this entire issue with our tips, ideas, and solutions for the most challenging pint-size spaces. Have an area off your front door that turns into a shoe-coat-drop-zone nightmare? Fix it with our entry problem-solvers in “Make an Entrance,” page 20. Looking for a way to add depth to tiny rooms? Paint the ceilings dark colors! I know you’re thinking that’s crazy, but check the dramatic results in interior designer Kristin Jackson’s home in “Style Stretch,” page 50. Think a 250-square-foot studio is bound to feel as crowded as a dorm room? Not when you reach vertically to tuck in creative storage in every nook and cranny—while still keeping…

bench press Step inside and drop your stuff on a bench made from a set of deep drawers, this photo. Combine the bench with a set of partitions to create open lockers for each family member. catch the curve Capitalize on corner space by bending a set of lockers to fit, left. And don’t let square footage under a window go to waste—tuck a lidded bench under it. Top the bench with a cushion for a soft landing pad for pulling shoes on and off. Use the interior to store bulky seasonal gear or footwear. Ready-Made Combo to Try SHUTTER POLAR WHITE HALL TREE $499 (74×42×16.75 inches), The Home Depot; homedepot.com CORAL THROW PILLOW BY KTPARKINSON $30 (16×16 inches), Society6; society6.com MORAVIAN STAR CEILING LIGHT $239, Shades of Light; shadesoflight.com…

variety show Designer Emily Henderson recommends curating an array of art in differing sizes, shapes, and orientations, this photo. Position one oversize piece as the anchor. Then place an assortment of smaller horizontal, vertical, and square frames around it. mat matchup Tie together assorted works of art with crisp white mat board, right. Using coordinating mats helps make an eclectic display look customized, not chaotic. Mix in a few matless designs for contrast. Q: Where do you begin when creating a new gallery wall? A: You want to begin with the art. This may sound pretty obvious, but your gallery wall is only as good as the art it contains. Before you start haphazardly hanging up your pieces, make sure you have a good collection of art to play with. You…

PROBLEM Jumbles of cereal boxes and towers of canned goods make it nearly impossible to find or restock items in a pantry. SOLUTIONS A. Give a pantry door extra duties. Hang a whiteboard for lists, a corkboard for coupons, and a calendar that shows what’s ahead for the week. B. For a fresh start to pantry organization, pull everything out and pitch expired, stale, and unappetizing items. Then group what’s left into categories that make sense for your family. Start to reassemble your pantry, placing daily staples on eye-level shelves. Stack cans on stepped risers. Use turntables to host bottles so you can rotate items from back to front. Place boxes and bags in totes labeled by category. Transfer dry goods to clear, stackable canisters—they’ll save you space and keep…

square space Fashion a perch for crafting, bill paying, and email with a wall-hung desk built from medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and shelf brackets. Then plot out storage on the wall around the desk using wood boxes designed for shipping wine bottles (14×12×4-inch box; $15; woodthings.com). Adapt each box to fit your storage needs: Use the box’s slat dividers as shelves or remove the dividers to store tall items. Install a tension rod to hold washi tape or ribbons. For sliding door pulls, equip a drill with a 21/8 -inch hole saw and bore a hole in each lid’s corner. To hang the boxes, drill holes into the back corners of each box and screw through each hole and into the wall using drywall anchors. For Resources, see page 93. MAKE…

SLIM DOWN “Be mindful of visual weight when you have a small space. Try a pedestal table for a dining room instead of something with four bulky legs, or a sofa that has exposed legs versus a skirt.” —Camila Pavone, Effortless Style Interiors LOOK UP “Consider using color on the ceiling. I love to paint the ceiling plus the top 1 to 2 feet of the walls a color that’s a shade or two lighter than the lower wall color—this keeps the ceiling feeling light and bright (and tall!).” —Elyza Brillantes, Havenly UNIFY YOUR FLOORS “Stick with a consistent flooring material. If each room in a small space has a different type of floor material, it feels broken up and scattered. One material throughout feels more cohesive and makes the…

1 PROBLEM My children share a bedroom. How can I create a cohesive room theyÕll both enjoy? SOLUTION Twin beds to the rescue! “A pair of twin beds is a classic for a reason,” says Megan Pflug, an interior designer and fine artist based in Brooklyn, who prefers the timeless duo over often-clunky bunk beds. “Place one on each side of a large nightstand with a pair of matching lamps, and then let the kids have fun with bedding and artwork.” Yes, it’s OK for those pillowcases to not perfectly match. When it comes to a color palette, interior designer Andrew Howard of Jacksonville, Florida, is quick to remind how far we’ve come. “Nowadays color is much more gender-neutral—don’t feel like you have to stick to ‘traditional’ shades. Blue can…

point of entry Anna Forkum fashioned an on-the-wall drop zone near her front door, opposite, by spraypainting a piece of tree bark gold and outfitting it with teacup hooks to hold keys. A message board and mail holder round out the grouping, which unabashedly incorporates the light switch. 250 SQUARE FEET CHALLENGES: Creating separate spaces within the open garage to give it the feeling of a home. Getting plumbing into the space in the most cost-efficient way, which dictated where the kitchen and bath could be placed. BEST-LOVED FEATURE: An alcove that creates a cozy sleeping space. KEY SMALL-SPACE HACK: Using mirrors to reflect windows and bounce light. bright moves Anna wanted the elements in her apartment to be whimsical. She set the stage in the living area, this photo,…

black skies Twin mirrors visually expand Kristin Jackson’s small living room, opposite. The black ceiling was a gamble that paid off. “It feels like it’s lifting away, not encroaching,” she says. 1,000 SQUARE FEET CHALLENGE: One bath, two bedrooms, and a 1960s pedigree with zero character. BEST-LOVED FEATURE: A kitchen renovation that includes an angled corner cabinet and increased counter space. KEY SMALL-SPACE HACK: Lucite furniture. It has no visual weight but plenty of functionality. design on a dime Kristin, right, spent five years designing for hotels all over the world before she made the shift to stay-at-home mom. To fuel her creativity—and prove her ethos that high-end design can be achievable and affordable—she launched a blog, Hunted Interior, where she shares her DIY adventures. Calling on some DIY and…

PROBLEM This powder room was plain and boring—and in desperate need of a personality lift. SOLUTIONS A. A powder room is perfect for daring style choices because it’s small (less surface to cover) and there’s no shower (limited humidity worries). To launch this bath, designer Tharon Anderson chose a graphic wallpaper as invigorating as a day in the sun, then layered on funky accents. B. An industrial-look concrete sink with a tall matching backsplash accommodates a wall-mount faucet. The result: The vanity takes up less floor space while stylishly protecting the wallpaper. C. Small spaces aren’t limited to a single statement piece. But bold elements should contrast rather than compete. This organic mirror stands out against the contemporary wall pattern. D. Style points are layered on the floor with ceramic…

On the Cover INTERIOR DESIGN: Rachel Pereira, Shades of Blue Interiors, Ellisville, Missouri; shadesofblueinteriors.com. Chair—T.J.Maxx; tjmaxx.com. Window treatment, flower pillow, throw blanket, brass table—HomeGoods; homegoods.com. Blue pillow—Walmart; walmart.com. Yellow striped pillow—Target; target.com. Floor lamp—IKEA; ikea.com. Rug Tuscan Terali Trellis Rug in Ivory—RugsUSA.com, Inc.; rugsusa.com. Bench cushion—Shades of Blue Interiors; shadesofblueinteriors.com. Visual Tricks pages 6–11 PROFESSIONALS QUOTED IN STORY (listed in alphabetical order): INTERIOR DESIGNER: Eileen Kathryn Boyd, Eileen Kathryn Boyd Interiors, 251 Main St., Huntington, NY 11743; 631/427-6400; ekbinteriors.com. INTERIOR DESIGNER: Elyza Brillantes, Havenly, Denver; 888/978-3152; havenly.com. INTERIOR DESIGNER: Alena Capra, Alena Capra Designs, 2717 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 204, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306; 305/772-6782; alenacapradesigns.com. INTERIOR DESIGNERS: Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason, AphroChic, Brooklyn; 347/460-1162; aphrochic.com. INTERIOR DESIGNER: Taylor Jacobson, Taylor Jacobson Interior Design, Los Angeles; taylorjacobsondesign.com. INTERIOR…