The old rules of dark and light paint are out the window — there are more innovative methods to help you use your space to its fullest potential and items that you can incorporate that will make your space feel spacious and open.

Scale
Scale is important in space planning. This is one of the most important things that I think people tend to forget when they are decorating their homes. In a small space remember that you can’t fit bulky furniture. The more streamlined your furniture and accents, the more visual space you create. Look for pieces that have see-through arms, smaller and simpler legs, sit lower to the ground and aren’t as deep.

For those that put comfort ahead of everything else and head for the bulky leather furniture, PLEASE stop! That type of furniture doesn’t work in any space, let alone a small one. If you’re looking at these types of stores and are wooed by the amazing deals, look away and head to something a little more modern. There are better options out there that will be kind to your behind and will add a more comfortable feel to your space.

Mirrors
Always a fabulous trick to making any space seem bigger, the addition of a mirror is guaranteed to add a little sparkle and glimmer. Whether it’s above a sofa in the living room, a large leaning mirror in a dining room, or a whole wall of mirrors, it is one of the easiest ways to create visual space in a room. The trick is make sure that what is reflecting in the mirror is also pleasing to the eye and not just of a huge television. Try placing mirrors across from a piece of artwork, windows or a feature wall.

There are some fantastic mirrors that you can purchase with gorgeous frames that will compliment any décor. Try to stay away from mirrors without frames, as they tend to look a little on the cheap side. Try over-scaled grand mirrors in small spaces to create the feeling of openness.

Paint
Paint is a quick and easy way to either create the feeling of space or to create an intimate setting. Now, just because you have a small space doesn’t mean you have to stick with a light colour palette. It is all in how you use the colours and make them work for you. If you want to paint your place a gorgeous, dark, rich colour then by all means, work it out. However, when you are thinking of furnishings and accessories to put with this colour, choose items that are lighter in colour, have reflective surfaces like chrome or glass, and use mirrors. The opposite is true if you yearn for a lighter colour on the walls; decorate with darker furnishings and accents to add contrast and balance. The old rule of painting smaller spaces lighter colours is for the unimaginative, if you love colour, use it!

You can also create some great paint treatments on your walls that will not only create visual interest but can also give the illusion of height or even space. Painting a vertical stripe feature on your walls will give the sense of loftiness in a space and horizontal stripes will give a sense of roominess. If you are going to be using a dark overall colour for your walls, try to pick contrasting colours to do your stripes in, this way you are adding great accent colours that you can pick up on your sofa and other accessories in your room. This is a more affordable solution to wallpaper and you can do it in a matter of hours.

Plan
Finally, and possibly most importantly, before you go out shopping be sure to measure your space and draw a simple diagram of your rooms. All the mirrors and contrasting colours in the world will do you no good if you only have one foot to get around your couch. Talk to the sales associates at the stores you go to and show them your diagrams, they can be a huge help. You can even get an interior designer’s/decorator’s help by hiring them for a consultation. They can do up a plan for you which states sizes of furniture to buy, color choices, etc. It will be a huge relief to know what you should be shopping for!
Happy decorating! NL

--

Alykhan Velji
Having a successful design career for the last five years, Alykhan Velji has definitely made a name for himself on the Alberta design scene. Coming in as one of the top three finalists for HGTV’s Designer Superstar Challenge in 2006 and then landing a role as a Stylist/Design Assistant on The Style Dept. also was a great boost to his career.
As well as having his own design business, Alykhan Velji Design, Alykhan has been featured in many local and national publications, offering his expertise on design and trends. Finding inspiration in his travels and keeping abreast with the design industry’s new and innovative trends ensures his design esthetic is always fresh, all the while remaining original and timeless. In its fourth year as a design firm, Alykhan Velji Design specializes in both residential and commercial projects.
www.alyveljidesigns.com