Maximizing Small Spaces Round-Up

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Megan Morris

Over the years I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve shared tips and ideas on a wide range of topics. They cover dozens of pages of content. So I thought, why not go back and round up some of the best posts from popular topics?

If you are looking for ways to maximize a small space, I’ve got a treat for you. This week I’m highlighting five of my blog posts on maximizing small spaces. They cover some incredibly useful tips for making any small space work better for you and even suggest how to find extra space where you didn’t know it was.

Want more posts on maximizing space or need help on a particular decorating dilemma? Let me know in the comments!

Best of Maximizing Small Spaces

10 Tricks to Make a Small Space Look Bigger
Everyone says “bigger is better,” but sometimes your home’s square footage is at odds with that sentiment. The good news is that with some clever decorating and spatial planning, your space can feel bigger despite the limited square footage. Try these easy decorating tricks to make a small space look bigger.

Maximizing Space: Shelves Around Windows & Doors
One easy way to maximize space is to continue shelving around doors and windows. Not only does this give you more space for storage, books, or decor, but it also adds some character to your home. These ten examples of shelves around doors and windows show just how stylish and efficient this simple trick can be.

How to Arrange a Desk in the Living Room
While not every home has the extra space for an entire home office, there is an easy way to incorporate a desk into a space every home has: the living room. This is a very popular solution for homeowners. Here are some examples of how to arrange a desk in the living room.

Creative Uses for Space Under the Stairs
The space under the stairs is often a hugely overlooked or underused spot in a house. There are so many ways to take advantage of this space, some of which may be totally new ideas to you. Check out some of these creative uses for space under the stairs.

Decorating for Small-Space Dining Rooms
Small-space dining rooms can be big on style and functionality. I’ve seen even the smallest dining rooms serve their purpose well and look great while doing it. Instead of a space being seen as “small,” it will be acknowledged for its great design and even its functionality. Here are some tips and ideas for decorating small-space dining rooms successfully.

Make sure you subscribe to the blog on the right sidebar so you never miss a post. I share new tips and ideas every other day, so keep checking back!

Warm regards,
Megan

Decorating for Small-Space Dining Rooms

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Megan Morris

Small-space dining rooms can be big on style and functionality. I’ve seen even the smallest dining rooms serve their purpose well and look great while doing it. The right choices in furniture, color and lighting can make a huge difference. When these elements are chosen smartly, amazing things can happen. Instead of a space being seen as “small,” it will be acknowledged for its great design and even its functionality.

Here are some tips and ideas for decorating small-space dining rooms successfully. All of the following tips can be applied to staging a home for sale, too, to keep buyer’s attention on the space positive and desirable.

A white nook blends into the wall, creating seamless visual space, while the neutral chairs give it a light, airy accent.

This dining room space is limited between the kitchen and living room, but a narrow rug helps define the space. A round table with rounded chairs creates a nice visual flow with extra space to move around.

For a small space, light furniture can make a big difference. The white table and canvas paired with the thin wood structure of the chairs makes this dining area feel larger.

Tables with extra leaves can grow or shrink depending on necessity, making them a great alternative look for when the table isn’t in use. A narrow table with a defining rug fits well into a long, tight space.

This dining space is really narrow, but the beautiful mixture of finishes and textures keeps your eye feasting on the decor too long to notice the size. Floor-to-ceiling drapery in a cool, creamy tone make the space feel lighter and more elegant.

If there is a path directly intersecting with your dining room table, a round table with curved chairs can keep the traffic moving around it.

This chic banquette turns this small dining room into something special, making the most of the limited space. It even offers extra storage on the bottom!

Keeping the windows unobstructed lets plenty of light poor into this small space and makes it feel like it extends to the nature outside. The table’s shape takes up little visual space, while the chairs bring color and style.

With the tight corner space this dining room is delegated to, it made perfect sense to put a sofa to serve as seating. This simple choice made the awkward space make much more sense.

Lucite chairs take up very little visual space, making them a great choice for contemporary dining room seating.

Look at a small-space dining room as an opportunity to do big things with its style.

Warm regards,
Megan

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Powder Bathroom Decorating Ideas

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Megan Morris

Powder baths, also known as half-baths, are bathrooms without a tub or shower. They are usually located near the main living area for guests to use. These spaces are some of the most fun and easy to decorate because they can have their own identity. You can get very creative in a powder bath with color, texture, and style since it isn’t attached to a bedroom. They are also usually quite small, so elements that may be outside your budget in larger areas of the home can be affordable in a powder bathroom because of the limited square footage.

The possibilities are endless, so don’t miss the unique opportunity to have fun decorating your own. Here are 10 powder bathroom decorating ideas and tips to inspire you.

Grasscloth adds a warm, natural texture to this powder bath’s limited wall space. The extra molding gives it an upscale look that ties in with that great window.

A bold, graphic wallpaper looks great in such a small space, especially with the paneling accentuating the height of the ceiling.

Think outside the box when it comes to common bathroom elements, such as the mirror above the sink. A smaller mirror leaves more room for that beautiful wallpaper to be the focal point.

An upscale finish such as this metallic wall may cost a lot in a larger space and overwhelm it, but in this tiny powder bath it is the perfect statement piece.

Dark walls look rich and luxurious in this narrow space, allowing the marble sink to shine.

Powder baths usually don’t require storage space, so a unique space-saving sink can fit in nicely leaving more room for decorative features.

The antique cabinet makes a wonderful conversation piece for this bathroom full of historical charm and character.

A wall of glass tile has an upscale, spa-like feel to it that creates the perfect accent to a bathroom your guests will love.

This powder bathroom is serene in its simple grey palette, letting the molding and finishes speak for themselves.

If there is a wall finish you have been dying to try but couldn’t find the right spot in your house for, then try it in the powder bath. This peacock motif might be overwhelming any place else but it has a definite “wow” factor in this bathroom.

Think outside the box when designing your powder bath and it just might become one of your favorite spaces in the house.

Warm regards,
Megan

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How to Make the Most of a Small Kitchen

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Megan Morris

In today’s age of design, there are so many ways to make the most of a small kitchen that they don’t even need to be considered a “downside” to a home anymore. In fact, small kitchens can be very functional and high on style. If you have ever lived in a condo or a small, historic home then you are probably familiar with what it means to have a small kitchen. Some can feel cramped or dreary without enough storage or work space. The good news it that with some simple improvements you can make the most of a small kitchen and take it from an annoyance to a gem.

Here are some tips and ideas on how to make the most of a small kitchen, using the space in clever ways and bringing style to it that will make you forget all about its limited square footage.

A small extension on the counter tops in the form of a bar not only expand prep space, but also provides a spot for eat-in dining.

Open shelving gives this small kitchen more visual space to make it appear larger while still providing extra storage.

Here is another example of a variety of open shelving making the most of each function it serves without making the space feel tight with bulky upper cabinets.

Small spaces can be big on style, as seen in this cozy kitchen. Wood and brass finishes along with some charming bead board get you so caught up in the beauty, you forget all about the size.

To really expand your opportunities for storage, take your cabinets all the way to the ceiling. Don’t waste an inch of wall space.

These homeowners made the most of their small kitchen, turning it into a charming accent by paining the walls around it in a pretty blue.

Why not let your kitchen utensils serve as decor, as well? These charming pots and pans look great hanging above a charming illustration, while other pots, knives, and wine bottles complete the theme throughout the space.

A long rug adds a great punch of color and character in this small space, assuring that your eye moves through it rather than getting stuck on its narrow size.

This tiny kitchen is big on style with a focal wall in chalkboard paint for note-taking, recipes, and other fun. A stylish illustration of a spoon and a glamorous chandelier add an extra dose of style.

Great design elements like a blue range make a space feel special, while the bar and double-sided glass cabinet opens the kitchen up to the living area to make it feel larger.

With stylish elements and smart design, a small kitchen can become an asset to a home.

Warm regards,
Megan

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8 Great Uses For A Loft Space

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Megan Morris

If you have ever had a loft space, you may have been plagued with the question, “What do I do with this?” Loft spaces can sometimes be small and awkwardly designed, making them unfit for a bedroom. They aren’t their own dedicated room with a door, usually placed between the stairs and a hallway leading to the upstairs bedrooms, so turning them into valuable space can be tricky. Fortunately, there are actually several uses for a loft space. If you are selling your home, it is especially important you don’t leave a loft space empty and leave buyers with that same burning question. I have compiled 8 ideas for turning that awkward loft into a space that will be useful and make you glad to have it.

A HOME OFFICE is a great use of a loft space if you have a quiet household or if you are staging the home for sale. It makes good use of the space and it is easy to fit in a desk and any necessary storage and equipment. IKEA sells office furniture that is perfect for small spaces like lofts.

A KIDS STUDY AREA works well in a loft space because kids won’t feel confined to their bedroom and parents can keep an eye on what they’re doing in that open space.

A MEDITATION SPACE only needs a little bit of floor room so it fits nicely in a loft. If the space sits adjacent to a window with a sunrise, even better.

If meditation isn’t your thing, how about a WORKOUT ROOM? You have enough space for a couple of pieces of equipment or a TV with floor space in front of it to do an exercise video. (Love that “Motivation” quote on the wall, by the way.)

A loft can be the perfect little hiding spot for a READING NOOK. Install some bookshelves to hold all your treasures and put out a nice comfy armchair with an ottoman to complete your getaway.

If you don’t have a formal living room, creating a SITTING AREA in your loft is perfect for those days when you’re entertaining and the men take over the living room for a sports game.

A KIDS PLAYROOM makes good use of a loft, especially if it’s right off of the master bedroom or home office so parents can keep an eye on the kids. Just make sure you have plenty of storage so everything can be put away after playtime since the space won’t have a door.

If your kids are a bit older, a loft is a great spot for a TEEN HANGOUT SPACE. Fashion it with some cool seating and bright colors and they’re all set.

Are you inspired to tackle that awkward loft space now? Every space can be useful space, so think of your family’s needs that the space can fill or if you’re selling, how you can easily identify that space to appeal to buyers.

Warm regards,
Megan

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