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Even if you have limited space, you can still decorate any room and maximize the space without sacrificing style. When faced with space constraints, comfort and practicality are always important. In a living room, pull the furnishings away from the wall to create a cozy conversation area around the center of the room. Never place heavy furniture at just one side of the room. Instead, place it at opposite ends to create a balanced look.

When arranging a room, convenience is a key consideration. Lamps and tables should be placed close to the sitting area for added comfort. Smaller places should be furnished with lighter furniture to create comfort and ease of movement around the room. In order to maximize the existing floor space, traffic should be directed towards the center of the room. Allow 18″ to 24″ of space between furniture pieces and 14″ to 18″ between the center table and the sofa. Never crowd the furniture arrangements. Armless chairs are a good way to define traffic flow and save space as well. By balancing the shapes and sizes of all room furnishings and accessories, you will be able to keep the room to its appropriate scale.

If you are re-decorating your office, consider putting built-in shelves. It will provide enough storage without taking up so much floor space. Applying light paints will soften the lines of the room while visually enlarging the space. It will also reflect the natural light from the window to make the room brighter. If you need extra storage for your office supplies and stationery, try using decorative boxes. It will be both functional and attractive. Try stacking different sizes for added interest and place them beside a chair or on a shelf.

For a small dining area, consider using a drop-leaf table. You can raise the leaves when entertaining a group of people and drop them when dinner is through or if only few people are dining. Use small continuous patterns on the wallpaper as much as possible to add flair to any décor without crowding the room with complicated motifs. A wallpaper border placed at the top of the walls draws the eye upward adding vertical dimension to the room and making it appear taller. Use a monochromatic color scheme. It will help increase the size of the room visually. Avoid ornate style furniture because it will only overcrowd a small space. Finally, sparingly use accessories and background color to add highlights without making the room appear smaller. Accessorizing the room with mirrors will give an added illusion of space while using glass topped tables will provide surface area without blocking the visual openness of a small room.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Interior Design