Big Ideas for small
Spaces
By Lesley Harris Colvett Photography submitted by the interior designers
Interior design has no limits, and small spaces are no exception. These areas can still have big style and impact. Four interior designers offer their expert advice on how to make the most with a smaller space.
Warner Moore Interior Design 475 North Highland, #12 A Memphis, Tennessee 38122 901.848.9832 warnermoore@bellsouth.net
Anthony Shaw Style 2485 Parkway Place Memphis, TN 38112 901-454-6200 FB A.Shaw Style IG @a.shawstyle ashawstyle.com
Rachel Gray Interior Design & Consulting 496 South Main St. # 201 Memphis, Tennessee 38103 901.443.5454 rgrayinteriordesign.com
Cindy McCord Design 1289 South DuBray Place Collierville, TN 38017 901.610.3907 cindymccord.com
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WARNER MOORE
Always think vertically in a small space. Use tall furniture and built ins to draw the eye upward. If using curtains or shades, start them at the crown molding for maximum height. Vertically striped wallpaper and fabrics also create the illusion. When using drapery, extend the rod so curtains don’t partially cover the window. Windows are a small rooms best friend. They draw the eye outward to bring in the landscape. Wallpapering the ceiling also draws the eye up. Anything that moves your eye up makes the room look larger.
Small spaces can be a real challenge. One must decide the function and mood of the room. There are many things to consider. Let’s explore some of them. COLOR For a light and airy room pale, cool colors make the walls recede. Greens, blues, lavenders, and whites expand the space visually. A hard finish such as eggshell or pearl is light reflective, which helps to illuminate. Paint the same color on walls and trim for visual continuity. This unifies the space. Using different shades of the same color, walls, furniture and accessories create a coherence that makes the space feel more open. Opt for lighter on the floor as well as walls. This helps create an airy feeling.
LIGHTING Overhead lighting in a small space is the kiss of death. Always use lamps to spread light around the room. Small pools of light enhance and romanticize the space.
SCALE
USE OF SPACE
Scale is of utmost importance. Keep furniture small in scale. Use sofas and chairs that show legs not skirts. Don’t use overstuffed upholstery. This keeps the space from looking cumbersome. Place larger furniture on the wall opposite the entrance so it will not crowd the space. Make use of glass and lucite in your small space. Several coffee and end tables are offered in the medium as well as sofa tables. These pieces take up very little space visually. Using mirrors in a small room can achieve a sense of depth. Placing mirrors on opposite walls facing each other enhance depth immensely. They also add light and sparkle. Mirrors create the illusion. It’s all “smoke and mirrors” as they say.
Make use of hidden storage through multipurpose furnishings. Use ottomans for storage and extra seating. End tables with drawers and a trunk for a coffee table are excellent choices. Tall bookcases are also a great storage option and add visual interest. They could be painted the same color as the wall so they would visually recede. That goes for case pieces as well.
30 / September 2017
ACCESSORIES As I said, use small-scale furniture. Now I say use large scale accessories sparingly. A large painting anchors the space. Don’t do a montage of small pictures that clutter the walls. A few well-placed objects are much better than small collections that confuse the eye. One must avoid clutter at all costs. Remember this overall truth. Keep it Simple.