10 Big Mistakes in Decorating Small Spaces

Often, the lack of comfort and shortage of space in small apartments are caused by the homeowners themselves. How to rationally use every square centimeter of a small space and which mistakes to avoid – read in this article.

Mistake No. 1. Too Much Furniture

Small furniture looks great in small rooms, the key is not to overdo it with quantity. For example, one wardrobe with mirror doors can replace a dozen small dressers, shelves, and cabinets.

Mistake No. 2. Excessive Accessories

If there are too many accessories, the room looks cluttered and careless. Twenty-five figurines of different sizes mixed with porcelain rabbits placed on five dressing tables is far from the best solution. For a small room, just a few original accents are enough, and for a collection of furry figurines, you can designate a separate area.

Mistake No. 3. Lack of an "Office" Zone

Try to gather all notebooks, business cards, pens and other "work" accessories in one place. Especially if you work from home and use them frequently.

Mistake No. 4. Too Much White

Often, owners of small apartments fall into a trap called "everything must be white!" In a miniature space, any pastel shades look great — light green, light pink, apricot, or cream.

Mistake No. 5. Wrong Choice of Floor Color

The floor visually enlarges a small room only if you choose a light shade for it. If the floor in your space is dark, cover it with a light rug. In addition, you can expand the space using the longitudinal direction of the parquet or carpet pattern.

Mistake No. 6. Furniture in the Center of the Room

Place chairs, sofas, tables, and other bulky items not in the center of the room but along the walls. Even in a small space, there is room for experimentation, but in your case, organizing several mini-zones is a bad idea.

Mistake No. 7. Curtains Hanging Too Low

Window decoration is one of the most important elements of small room interior design. Create an illusion of high ceilings by placing the curtain rod as high as possible, not directly against the window frame.

Mistake No. 8. Unused Vertical Space

Do not underestimate the functionality of wall-mounted shelves. If you want to "expand" the space, install them across the full width of the wall; if you want to "stretch" it, place several small shelves from floor to ceiling.

Mistake No. 9. Insufficient Lighting

For small spaces, built-in light sources or local hidden lighting work best. If you don't want to use them in your interior, place a floor lamp – reflecting off the ceiling, its soft light will animate the entire room.

Mistake No. 10. Misplaced Accents

Don't place a bright item, for example, a tall vase or a lamp with a patterned shade, near the entrance. It's much more reasonable to place it as far from the door as possible. Our attention is structured in such a way that we mechanically look there, not noticing small details. Thus, the room will appear larger.