Small rooms present a particular challenge while offering advantages — less expensive to furnish, easier to heat and cool, and often more intimate and welcoming.
Scale Is Everything
The most common mistake in small rooms is furniture that is too large. If a furniture piece will not allow at least 36 inches of clear circulation path around it, it is too large. Consider dual-purpose furniture — an ottoman that opens for storage, a sofa bed.
Visual Tricks That Work
Light colors reflect light and make rooms feel more spacious. The ceiling should be the lightest surface. A large mirror over a sofa or console, positioned to reflect something pleasant, is the single most effective visual expansion tool in small-room design.