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The Penny Crabtree Company,

1-866-765-1301,

Penny Crabtree; Instructor, Holistic Redesign Director, Award-winning Author

www.healthyhomedecorating.com

www.pennycrabtree.com

Making the most of Your Small Space

The size of the room defines scale not style.

“Savvy small-space dwellers have lots of trick s for maximizing their square footage.

1. Get focused

Creating focal points in your small space can mak e it seem more interesting and

spacious.

Paint one wall a darker color

create a pool of light with a low-hanging light fixture or

assemble artwork on one wall to create an uncluttered gallery effect.

2. Shimmer and shine

Furnishings that reflect mirrors , mirrored panels, furniture and metallic pieces add

more than just a satisfying shimmer. Strategically placed, they can enhance the feeling of

light and space. "

A mirror can reflect a great view out a window or a doorway to add light and dimension.

Consider all the different spaces that a mirror might work: in a foyer or hallway; at the

back of shelving; or in interesting configurations, like side by side or four or more

grouped together to create one large, reflective focal point. It reflects the smart you! It

proves that you have figured out the best way to make a small space seem more

spacious and grand

3. Define and divide your space

When you live in one room you have to get very creative. Apartment dwellers especially

create space by painting different areas of the same room different colors;

by installing louvered doors or screens; or by hanging curtains. All of these solutions

deliver a little much-needed privacy and divide the space.

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The Penny Crabtree Company,

1-866-765-1301,

Penny Crabtree; Instructor, Holistic Redesign Director, Award-winning Author

www.healthyhomedecorating.com

www.pennycrabtree.com

4. Kitchen

Small kitchens or galley k itchens it’s about the size of a small boat galley. To

maximize space and still have the necessary cooking implements, hang everything. Use

pot racks and shelving to stack and store.

5. It's OK to display

Like to collect, but don't like clutter? Stacks collections on floating shelves wh ere they

add color and style without creating a mess.

6. Creative storage

A side table created out of a stack of books.

An ottoman that pops open to hold extra blankets.

A wire cart in the kitchen. And shelves, shelves, shelves.

NEVER NEVER store anyt hing under your bed!

7. Roll with it

Multipurpose can take on a whole new meaning when you live in a small space. Pick out

pieces that do double duty, such as a kitchen table that also functions as a desk.

Consider pieces with wheels the more mobile the easier to rearrange your space for

comfort and space

8. Open up the space.

A small, cluttered space feels more claustrophobic. That's why less is more and keep

objects including furnishings at a minimum. Position furniture so there's comfortable

moving and living space between items. Your room will feel bigger and it makes it a

whole lot easier to get around them.

9. Add an element of surprise

To distract people from seeing a small space. Use tricks to fool the eye ..Like reversing

the colors such as Put white on the furniture and color on the walls. Or hang an

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The Penny Crabtree Company,

1-866-765-1301,

Penny Crabtree; Instructor, Holistic Redesign Director, Award-winning Author

www.healthyhomedecorating.com

www.pennycrabtree.com

unexpected outdoor lantern on the wall. The more personal your space, the more visitors

will focus on what it says about you, not on its size.

10. Play visual games

If you're luck y enough to have a long hallway, try accentuating it with horizontal stripes or

a row of frames to draw your eye down the hall. If you have a high ceiling, draw the eye

up with vertical stripes. Pay attention to that ceiling paint it a soft pink or hang sk y art like

kites or flags.

11. Be smart use color…

Using Color in Small Spaces

When it comes to coloring your apartment, it's definitely OK to go outside the

lines.

A myth all-white color palette will make a small space look larger. Not True False! This is

a common misconception of small-space design, along with the idea that less furniture

makes an apartment feel larger. Instead, carefully placed furnishings and carefully

chosen color can create an inviting space with style way beyond its diminutive size.

There is no perfect color for a small space .There are no rules really. It isn’t the color

you choose but how you use that will make all the difference.

Choose Sharp Colors

One of the best ways to expand a space is with very clear colors, Choose a palette of

sharper colors as opposed to duller ones. Sharp as in bright chintzes mixed with colorful

plaids or really hot reds and electric blues, yellows and greens (with plenty of space

between the pieces). Color combinations with space in between will enhance the space's

clarit y and openness.

Color Unexpected Accents

Bring splashes of color to a radiator, the inside of a book shelf or a windowsill to bring

excitement and depth to a room. If you're luck y enough to have a foyer or hall, paint that

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The Penny Crabtree Company,

1-866-765-1301,

Penny Crabtree; Instructor, Holistic Redesign Director, Award-winning Author

www.healthyhomedecorating.com

www.pennycrabtree.com

a dark color and ease into a lighter shades in the living room, which will make it feel more

spacious by comparison.

Create a Focal Wall

While it is not a good idea to paint one wall a different or deeper color in a regular space

it can work wonders in a small space. Don’t be afraid of bold colors, or sometimes a

darker color on one wall can make it recede, making the space look larger.

Connect Spaces With Shades of Color

Just as different wall colors can divide your small space into different work areas,

different shades of the same color can unite all the rooms, as can a pattern that's

repeated. "In a small space, in particular, these little touches the pillow that matches

the lampshade fabric, the style of the mirror that echoes a side table can all add up to

a cohesive space.

Get Spicy in the Kitchen

Small kitchens are a great place to use color. "Hang up the china you never use it

saves space, adds color and glams up the kitchen. "Or be very bold and paint the walls

a trendy color

Go Bold in the Bathroom

Sure, something pastel in the peachy-pink palette will look great in the bathroom

especially when you look in the mirror and see your rosy complexion. But for major

affect, increase the bodacious scale. Think chocolate brown or charcoal gray.

Vamp It Up

Beautiful faux finishes and specialty techniques can add a lot of character to a small

space. "Painting the ceiling a dark er color and extending the same color down the wall

about 14 inches, or us ing metallic stripes in that same space with a chair rail and lighter

color below look s terrific

and

expands the appearance of the space.

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The Penny Crabtree Company,

1-866-765-1301,

Penny Crabtree; Instructor, Holistic Redesign Director, Award-winning Author

www.healthyhomedecorating.com

www.pennycrabtree.com

Add Color That Travels

The wonderful thing about color is that it's a really cheap way to decorate, and it can be

added in non-paint ways. Apartment dwellers can get color on their walls by painting big

canvases, hanging fabric or using wall decals. You can take your color with you and go.

Stretch It With Stripes

Draw the eye up with a wall of colorful stripes, says Langdon. Or paint the ceiling a

lighter color than the walls to make it seem airier.

Experiment With Color

Before you start slapping paint all over the blank canvas that is your walls, consider

these baby-step options.

Experiment with 2-ounce samples. Many paint companies, including California Paints

and Benjamin Moore offer them. That's enough paint to cover a 1’ by 2’ area, which

should give you a good idea of what your chosen hue really looks like. Make sure to

view it in natural and artificial light.

Buy a quart of paint or less to try the color first.

You can check out various color combos via interactive color guides at

varies paint companies on the internet.

Tip of the trade:

Don't Forget Black

Whatever colors you choose for your small space, add one

object that is black. "The black item — say, in a large thro pillow or a frame —

will help ground the space and clarify the other colors.

Don’t rely on overhead lighting. If all the light comes from above it can cast unflattering

shadows. Use table, up and floor lights.

To make ceilings appear taller hang curtains all the way to the ceiling.

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The Penny Crabtree Company,

1-866-765-1301,

Penny Crabtree; Instructor, Holistic Redesign Director, Award-winning Author

www.healthyhomedecorating.com

www.pennycrabtree.com

Quote of the week:

Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live

with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility

into flames of achievement.”

olda Meir