Home decorating tips - part I

Do you find yourself feeling helpless when you have a small space that needs to be put to full use? The key to effective and aesthetic decoration of any space is to consider what use you plan to put the area to. If it is a small alcove, an awkwardly located, unused closet, a corridor between rooms or even the space under the stairs or on the landing, there are many innovative ideas you could try. First of all, think of what you actually need space for and then, with a little bit of imagination you could find your niche. You may of course need professional help sometimes, if it means converting a closet and part of a corridor into a home office, or you may want to look for the perfect fittings and furnishings for your space. Another thing to keep in mind when you are cramped for space is that you can use the same area for different purposes at different times of the day. A small apartment or studio can be designed and furnished to serve as a bedroom, home office and living area at different times. In larger homes, an under-utilized formal dining room can be furnished with a settee that can open up into a bed for a guest. A mirror on the wall with a chest of drawers below can double as a dresser and voila you have a spare guest bedroom! Begin revamping your space by clearing out all the existing furniture. All too often our rooms hold possessions we no longer use and have even ceased to notice. A thorough clean up and a coat of paint will make all the difference. If the dimensions of the area are small, use a soft pastel shade of paint for the walls and hang sheer drapes for the window with a small pattern. It is a clever idea to hang a small round mirror to reflect the pattern of the curtains. It gives the room a more spacious look. Do not hang a very large painting or print which may dwarf a narrow wall; an arrangement of small pictures- not in a straight line but at different levels, is more attractive. If you have a wooden floor which can be polished and exposed, it may be a good idea to just have a small rug or even a floor seating arrangement with a few cushions and a throw. The furniture in a small room should be light weight. Use a smaller sized coffee table to allow for more leg room. If you like modern or contemporary styles you could go in for translucent acrylic furniture. White furniture also gives a feeling of space. Make the maximum use of the vertical space available by building shelves or a wall unit. A unit with closed cabinets for storage in the lower section and open shelves above will not make the room looked cramped. Space is an illusion which could be yours when you open your mind to new ideas!