Your home is your castle … though sometimes it can feel a little crammed. If your lodgings seem Lilliputian, there are ways to get the most out of the space you have. Paula Henry of Baltimore’s Simply Put Interiors tells you how to make less seem more.
I grew up in a small row house. To create the illusion of space, my Mom installed an oversized mirror against one wall. It did seem to make the space larger. What other tricks of the eye might you recommend?
Raise the rods on your window treatments to bring the eye up and make the ceilings feel higher. You can also extend the width of your windows by installing your hardware beyond the sides of the molding. When the window treatment is open, your entire window can be revealed, making it and the room both seem larger and much more light will come in.
I’ve read that you can make a room seem more spacious just by painting a wall a different color or through changes in lighting. How so?
Contrast will make a room seem smaller — white walls and dark furniture, for example. To “visually” expand the square footage, choose a harmonious color palette. Be careful with accent walls because they advance into the space and can make a room feel smaller.
Lighting is super important and can make or break a space. Don’t be afraid to combine lighting. For example, if you have task lighting overhead, add some table lamps for ambiance and mood. You want as much light coming from the floor as the ceiling.
Are there ways to store items in your home that add color and style without losing space?
I like to use an old travel trunk as a coffee table — it doubles as storage and adds wonderful texture and character to a room. In bedrooms, a great space saver is the captain’s bed because it performs double duty as a bed with drawers tucked underneath. I have also used galvanized trash cans as bedside tables; they serve as storage for seasonal clothing or bed linens. Just use a pre-cut wooden round you can get at the local big box store. Cover with a tablecloth and a glass topper and voila!
What about using outdoor space, like an underused patio?
Outdoor spaces are often underutilized, especially when we move into cooler weather. Leave the chairs out and replace the table with a fire pit. Instead of using your flower pots for summer annuals, add some nice evergreen shrubs or small trees for year-round color.
I’ve always liked an eat-in kitchen, but they do eat up space! Suggestions?
A trick to adding an “eat-in” kitchen without eating up too much space is to install a folding breakfast bar. When it is not in use, the bar folds down against the wall and chairs can be pushed against it.
