Your GTA realtyreport
Sizing It Right
Rooms that are shy on square footage can present a decorating challenge for homeowners, as can rooms that have square footage to spare. How do you make a small room look more spacious? How do you make a big room feel more cozy? Below are some suggestions to help you solve either décor dilemma.
For Small Rooms
- Choose furniture that's not only small in size, but open in design – think sofas and chairs with exposed legs and without arms, tables with glass tops and bookcases without backs. Don't place furniture where it will obstruct pathways or views: the further the eye can see into a room, the bigger it will seem to be.
- Flooring should unite spaces, not break them up, lending small spaces uninterrupted visual flow. Connect rooms with continuous hardwood floors or carpeting throughout your home, and, where rugs are desired or necessary, opt for one solid-print area rug instead of having several smaller, patterned ones scattered around.
- Be color-conscious. Light, soft hues – whites, creams, pale blues, greens and yellows – help lend small rooms a sense of airy spaciousness. Also opt for a monochromatic color scheme – when colors contrast, you lose some of that visual unity, mentioned above, that's key to tricking the eye into believing the space is bigger.
- Speaking of light, window coverings should be gauzy, so as to let in as much natural light as possible. Central overhead lighting has the effect of "pulling" walls in, so scatter light sources around the room – recessed lighting is ideal for small rooms. Take advantage of mirrors to reflect windows and artificial light sources.
For Large Rooms
- Unlike small rooms, where furniture should be positioned against the walls to avoid breaking up the space, in large rooms, furniture should be brought out from the walls, directing traffic around the room's perimeter, and placed in distinct groupings serving different purposes, like reading, talking and watching television.
- Go big and bold. Think large scale, in your furniture, in your artwork, in your plants, in your light fixtures, and in your patterns (do avoid vertical and horizontal stripes, though – they'll emphasize the room's height or width). Proportion is key. Opt for heavy, rich, textured fabrics for drapes and pillows, and thick, plush rugs.
- For your walls, pick a warm, dark hue. If you prefer wallpaper to paint, consider something textured or embossed (remember: large patterns). Paint your ceiling; if you have high ceilings, use a shade darker than your walls and consider installing moldings a few feet below – both tricks help "lower" the ceiling.
- Avoid stark lighting – halogen and fluorescent lights aren't exactly cozy. For an intimate atmosphere, you want soft, warm, ambient light (in addition to any task lighting needed for whatever activities you use the room for). Think low-wattage incandescent light, lots of table and floor lamps, and wall sconces.
