5 Interior Floor and Decor Tips that Will Transform Any Small Space
When you have a small space, it can be hard to focus on anything but functionality with your interior design. Considering your floor and decor as areas for transformation is a great way to get the most out of your space. Here are five interior floor and decor tips that will transform any small space.
Tip 1: Look at the Floor
It’s easy to get caught up in big decor pieces like accent furniture or paintings, but actually, some of the most transformative elements of your design are the structural elements of your space. The one we overlook the most? The floor! Choosing a durable and beautiful option like bamboo flooring is a great way to introduce style at the floor level. This can really open up your space, making it feel intimate and cozy instead of small and cramped. A light flooring color with tasteful darker tones interspersed through the design style really makes the white decor pop. The white corner picture below would not look as effective decor-wise without the complementary floor choice.
Tip 2: Consider Complementary Colors and Styles
Flooring isn’t the only place to consider color and style when it comes to interior design for your small space. Colors and design styles that complement or tastefully contrast can tie together smaller spaces, transforming them into a continuous flow of rooms or areas.
Take a look at the example below. This is a small kitchen and dining area, but there’s great continuity with the bowl of bright yellow lemons on the dining room table and the bright yellow decor piece on the kitchen counter, beautifully tying the spaces together into one continuous whole. Instead of feeling like two separate spaces, now the kitchen and dining areas work together, opening up the perception of the space. The bright color scheme really transforms the small space, and all it took was a few small decor pieces that kept color in mind.
Tip 3: Incorporate Personalized Elements
You don't care how small your space is if it feels like your own, and the best way to do that is to customize your space to you. Incorporate personalized elements like sentimental displays of photographs, meaningful decor pieces or displaying any item that brings back happy memories.
You’ll want to choose carefully, of course, so that these decor pieces don’t become overwhelming clutter. A little customization goes a long way.
Tip 4: Focus on Lighting
Besides for flooring, nothing sets the mood more for your space than its lighting. You can transform a small space into a cozy oasis with the right ambient lighting. For example, tasteful placement of lamps or sconces can illuminate the darker areas of your room. Brightening up the space will have a powerfully transformative effect to make it seem larger and more inviting.
Plus, this aspect of your interior design is also a great way to introduce sustainability into your design scheme. Lighting can make all the difference, both for decor and for the environment.
Tip 5: Don’t Be Afraid to Change it Up
One of the worst things you can have for a small space is for it to feel stale. You want to keep your design fresh, and that means you’re going to need to switch up your decor regularly. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a ton of new decorations all the time, or even right now. But consider what elements of the room are permanent or mostly permanent (flooring, large furniture items) and what could be swapped out to create a fresh look (accent pillows, pictures). Small decor pieces can really add up in terms of how a room feels. You’ll be surprised at how much of an effect a few minor switches can have on the look and feel of your space.
Carolyn Mitchell is a freelance writer and content strategist with a passion for home décor. She can often be found re-painting and updating the furnishings in her home, and she is also a dedicated cat mom to two adorable kitties.
