 |
Although small spaces foster “cozy relations and better communication,” says the feng shui master; sometimes you just might want to spread out - even if the square footage says otherwise. If you want to make your space appears larger than life, try some of these super-sizing tips:
1. De-clutter - Clutter falls into the “too many things to look at” category and must go - especially items that appear to have no home - as in, stuff that sits on the floor. Collections are usually working against you in a room like this, but if you can cluster them so the eye views it as “one thing” as opposed to 10,000 little items, it can work. For example, if you have a bunch of objects on a group of shelves hanging on the wall, try painting a big “frame” on the wall around the whole group of shelves, so they appear to be one three-dimensional item. Electronics can be bunched together with this same idea if they can’t be totally hidden in cabinets, etc.
2. Arrange art and furnishings so that you are drawn into the room with your eyes. This can be a large piece of art (yes, large items go quite well in small spaces as long as there is no clutter around them) or a brilliantly colored piece of furniture. Stick to larger solids or bold patterns rather then smaller patterns and multiple colors. Your overall goal is to dazzle the eyes on one or two dramatic items in the space rather than giving too many choices to check out. Believe it or not, fewer larger pieces of art and furnishings work better than many small pieces.
3. Double the space with a mirror. If it is a hanging mirror, locate it so it reflects from your chest to about 6-8inches above your head. For more drama and space if you have a very narrow room- opt for a door-sized mirror to “poke a hole” in the wall and make it feel like the space flows into another room.
4. Add reflective surfaces - a clear shower door or curtain will open up a bathroom. Plexiglas, glass block, chrome, glass and other reflective or translucent materials can give the illusion of more space. Glass tabletops work great for this (although I would not recommend a glass top for dining - it’s a feng shui thing.)
5. Try keeping as much floor space visible as possible. Mix in “see-through” furniture such as a mesh chairs or furniture on legs rather than skirted or other solid-to-the-ground upholstery.
6. Simplify color choices. Two or three contrasting and bold colors are all that a small space can display without seeming fractured. Make wall colors light or pale, or go with something that matches the furnishings.
 | ||||||
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
||||
| ||||||
