I’m all for a smaller house with smaller rooms. It’s simply cozier. And to be honest, I like the idea of less to maintain and clean! I’m not alone. Statistics show that home owners today are buying smaller houses and condos, but decorating them exquisitely. It’s a ‘quality over quantity’ decision that’s especially attractive to successful singles, young couples and empty nesters. But of course, small spaces often come with big challenges. But we’re up for it. Here are my suggestions to ensure that your small rooms create big impact:

Reach High. Think tall. Start curtains at the ceiling. Choose tall, slim furniture, like floor to ceiling bookcases. Choose accessories like tall candlesticks. Paint the ceiling brightest white. You want to draw eyes upward.

Show the Floor. Showing more of the floor visually opens the area. Choose leggy furniture, even sofas and chairs should be elevated rather than skirted.

Show the Space. Become a master of illusion! A wall of mirrors doubles the apparent size of your space, or try a tall framed mirror that sits on the floor rather than hanging. Glass in general will ‘create’ space. Glass topped coffee tables, glass front bookcases, glass accessories; Lucite and plastics work well too and are very durable.

Combine Functionality. Make your furniture do double duty. A trunk as a coffee table and also for storage; an ottoman as a foot stool and coffee table; a sofa that pulls out into a bed; a large desk that serves as a dining area – and my favourite – the classic ‘Captain’s bed’ with storage drawers. These have come a long way since the 1970s!

Seek Storage. A small space must be an uncluttered space for it to work. Everything should be out of sight at all times. Built-ins, whether closets or bookcases, are perfect, but you’ll also find lots of ready-made furniture to tuck into a corner. Don’t overlook places like stair landings, under stairs, hallways, etc.

Make Furniture Mobile. I saw an article where fold-away chairs were mounted on a hall wall and taken down when needed. So clever and space saving. If you’re tight on space, especially for entertaining, choose furniture that you can easily bring forward and roll away – benches, chairs, etc.

Keep it Simple. Fussy pieces and trinkets are a no-no in small spaces. Keep your objets d’art few and larger in size.

Scale and Focal Pieces. No surprise that smaller furniture makes sense. There is a huge variety available designed specifically for condos, etc. Sofas, dresser, dining room sets and much more – with no skimping on style!

One Colour. Keep your main level all one soft, subtle colour to open it up. Soft blues, greens, mauves or taupes work well.

Your big decorating dreams can fit beautifully in a small space. Be creative!