If you live in a condo or an older home with the original floor plan, chances are your home is space challenged. If you’re lucky and have the time to renovate then space can be created with money and a good contractor. But if rooms can’t expand and the budget is tight, how can we create the feeling of additional space in the same-sized room? Here are a few creative tricks that may not change the square footage, but will open things up visually.
Less Means More
First step, get rid of the clutter! If you are a passionate viewer of HGTV and watch carefully most of the WOW at the end of the show is that all the “stuff” that was in the “before” space has magically disappeared. Donate to a charity, have a garage sale or take it to the dump, one way or the other de-clutter! All possessions should have a permanent home, a place where they belong and can disappear when you need to create space.
Focus Your Colour Story
This long, narrow room houses a living area, office and entertainment centre in no more than 120 square feet! The light, bright neutral palette goes a long way to creating the illusion of space. Light wood tones combined with layers of cream keep the space almost seamless. When there is less definition it gives the feeling of endless space. Furniture with built-in storage and cabinetry in the same colour as the wall will hide all functional clutter.
Don’t be Afraid of White
When selecting your colour focus, depending on your lifestyle, white can be a great option. White, when applied in layers from the wall colour to the upholstery, will free up the feel of your room. Select a natural wood floor with lots of grain character to soften the sterile nature of white. The result is soft, relaxing and never feels cramped. Busy households with children and pets may have to opt for a different strategy.
Go Wide and Long
In addition to a monochromatic colour story space will open up when you install larger flooring planks. In addition, you will achieve an elongated feel to the room if the planks are installed following the longest room dimension. Gone are the days when hardwood was typically available in 2 ¼” widths and 48” lengths. Today, engineered hardwood planks can be found in excess of 5” in width and lengths over 70”. In the image above, we’ve included two great samples from TORLYS.
Focus on Height and a Touch of Drama
A small room will expand when you draw the eye up and away from the width and length restriction of the room. Vertical tricks using tall accessories, floor-length mirrors, and dramatic ceiling fixtures go a long way to creating the feeling of space. Your eye will take in the entire room right to the ceiling, well above the furniture where there is all kinds of open air and less clutter.
If you are considering a kitchen renovation, keep in mind that the design focus in the room will be the kitchen cabinets and the single largest surface to cover is the floor. If these two elements are not in harmony, your kitchen design could be in trouble. Here are a few things to consider when selecting your kitchen design and finishes:
Decide on the overall design story before you start shopping for materials. Not all finishes work in every interior design scheme. Gather lots of your favourite kitchen images off of the internet and from magazines, and when you’re ready, narrow them down to your favourite overall theme. Don’t get caught selecting a material or colour just yet: keep your search high-level.
Select the design that suits your lifestyle. No matter how beautiful an all-white modern kitchen looks if your schedule is crazy and your cooking style is flamboyant, stay away from a kitchen that demands perfection and zero clutter. On the other hand, if you hate clutter and all materials must match, you would be wise to avoid a casual country or industrial kitchen design. The “stuff” needed to create the feel of relaxation could drive you crazy. Select a kitchen design that makes your life easy, yet still delivers the design features you love.
Once you have inspirational images and decided on a design story, start gathering material options and samples. Start with those elements that have the least colour or finish options. There are hundreds of paint and fabric colours to choose from, but wood finishes may be limited to just 8 or 10. Select the kitchen cabinets and flooring first. Make sure the colour and the characteristics of the materials compliment each other and work with your overall design scheme. Here are a few examples that may help:
Glam It Up
The drama of high contrast will also create a feeling of glamour in a traditional kitchen. If the kitchen cabinets are a rich creamy finish and ornately detailed with lots of sparkling glass, try a contrasting hardwood floor and stone countertop in deep charcoal or chocolate.
Natural Warmth
If you’re a purist about wood and love to see natural grain and imperfections, then look for kitchen cabinets in pine, hickory, red oak or rustic maple. These species have lots of character and lend themselves to a casual or country kitchen. Your decorating challenge will be calming down the red and orange overtones that come with the species. The right selection of flooring can help. Unless you want a log cabin effect, avoid matching the flooring to the cabinets. Going with a lighter shade of wood may wash out the overall décor. Try a deeper wood stain in the brown family it will highlight the cabinets and tone down the red.
Country Casual
Whitewashed oak, maple or pine are perfect kitchen cabinet choices if you are trying to create a French country kitchen. A white transparent stain over natural wood creates a vintage quality making grey and antique white a perfect colour scheme. Grey stained wood floors are the latest trend and there are lots to choose from.
Bright White
White kitchen cabinets are perfect if you want a décor that is fresh, clean and spirited. A white colour scheme makes small kitchens appear bigger and dark kitchens brighter. In this case, the cabinet style has a relaxed country feel with lots of vintage details. In keeping with this theme its best to introduce a natural wood floor with lots of natural grain character. A white floor could wash out the space and a dark floor is too dramatic for the charm you are trying to create.
Classic Contemporary
If you want a modern kitchen and want to avoid going too starkly minimal play with texture. In this case, the shaker cabinets are simple but the subway tile and brick backsplash add warmth and character as does the addition of polished chrome, acrylic, and glass. The right floor will also warm things up. This space is very neutral the right floor will add character without disturbing the classic modern feel.
Whether you’ve just moved into your new home or you’re renting a temporary space, it’s important to add some personalization and make it yours. Instead of spending hours pouring over mountains of magazines to determine what you want your space to be, follow the latest “anti-design” trend and personalize your space.
In the 1960s it was called bohemian style, in the 1990s it was called “eclectic living”, and today we call it “curating your space”. If you search either term, the same design styles will appear because although the names are different, the rules are the same: create a space that expresses your personality and lifestyle.
This means personalizing your space to make it about what you like and putting your lifestyle first. So if you’re a bookworm, you might have a jumbled space with walls covered in bookshelves. And if you’re someone who loves the opera, you might have framed posters and memorabilia around your home. Either way, express who you are.
How to Personalize Your Space
Getting the eclectic look can seem confusing because it doesn’t follow a set list of rules. Follow these simple tips when designing your curated space while keeping your needs and passions in mind and your personalized space will come together perfectly.
Make your space all about you
Mix different textures (ie. leather, wool, cotton, silk)
Don’t buy matching furniture sets
Use pieces from different eras
Practice balance — eclectic style doesn’t mean anything goes
Don’t worry too much about symmetry
Find Your Focus
Don’t be shy or conservative with your choices. It is fun to add a significant or dramatic accessory that is your statement piece and that represents your lifestyle.
If you love the outdoors and cycling, hang your bike vertically on the entry hall wall. If music is your first love, cover the walls in sheet music, album covers, and vintage instruments.
How to Pick Patterns and Textures
Once you know what you’d like your space to focus on, it’s time to decide on a colour family (brights, neutrals, pastels, etc.) and a pattern and texture preference. If you never tire of colour and graphic patterns, keep your colour theme saturated and bold.
Start looking for textiles, artwork, and accessories that compliment that theme. Remember, your space is about function, so the comfort level of the textures you choose is key to your room. Stay soft and tactile.
How to Arrange Your Furniture
The shopping, collecting, and rearranging never ends with a personalized space. Just as we change our minds, we change our interior décor. As you are pulling your space together, stop frequently and assess your progress. The space should make you feel 100% at home, happy and totally comfortable. The only rule you shouldn’t break is to be true to what you like.
Examples of Personalized Spaces
1. Personalizing Your Space for Life, Work, and Play
The formula to personalizing your space is simple. The arrangement of the décor should suit how you have always wanted to live, work and play. If reading is your passion, then book-lined walls, floor lamps and big comfy chairs should be the focus; not a formal sofa or china cabinet.
Function over Design
The space is not large so the décor is set up to maximize personal comfort. The bed is positioned to take advantage of the view; lighting and wall shelves reflect an avid reader; and the colour story is classic and timeless. The small settee creates an ideal spot for reading if it is not quite time for bed. Image from Rize Studos.
Design to Entertain
This space is an ideal set up for entertaining guests. There are lots of seating options; no one sits outside the circle (including the family pup); and everyone has a spot for cocktails and munchies. The interior design reflects a boho feel with lots of mismatched colour and print. You can imagine the fun, expressive personality of the owner. Image from Aleteia.
2. Design by the Decades
Choosing an era or decade can be helpful for personalizing your space. If you have always liked the 1960’s then shopping garage sales for mid-century modern furniture and accessories is the answer. Research the era and start collecting iconic pieces that speak to the decade.
Personalize Vintage:
Every item within this room is rooted in traditional design and, if set up in perfect symmetry, the decor would feel old and stuffy. However, because the items are large in scale and positioned asymmetrically (off line), the room has a contemporary, over stuffed feeling of comfort.
Mid-Century Statement:
If the 50’s is an era you love, this space is perfect. The bold use of colour and pattern showcase the vintage furniture. The sparse use of artwork and accents reflect an “anti-design” attitude. The contrasting cement wall finish and distressed floor provide the perfect contrast. Definitely a one-of-a-kind living room. Image from Anthropology Home.
3. Picking Patterns and Textures
Once you have a focus, then decide on a colour family (brights, neutrals, pastels etc) and a pattern and texture preference. Start scouting textiles, artwork, accessories that compliment that theme. Texture is important. If comfort is key to the room, then textiles should be soft and tactile. If retro modern is the direction, then high gloss finishes and geometric shapes are key.
The shopping, collecting, and rearranging never ends with a personalized space. Just as we change our minds, so does our interior décor. As you are pulling your space together, stop frequently and assess your progress. The space should make you feel 100% at home. It should make you feel happy and totally comfortable. The only rule you shouldn’t break is to be true to what you like.
Don’t be shy or conservative with your choices! It is fun to add a significant or dramatic accessory that is your statement piece. If you love the outdoors and love to cycle, then hang your bike vertically on the entry hall wall. If music is your first love, cover the walls in sheet music, album covers, and vintage instruments.
Love of Colour and Print:
If you never tire of colour and love graphic patterns this space is a perfect personal reflection. The colours are saturated and bold without being too loud. The prints do not match, but they flatter each other and create a creative energy in the space.
Mix and Match (above left):
Personalize your brunch buffet or a seasonal table display by breaking the rules and mixing and stacking different shapes of serve ware. Scattered fruit, cheese, and nuts for mingling guests to munch on prior to the main meal. The mix of stemware with lower profile plates creates a better landscape. Add candles and flowers for a special occasion.
Bold Decisions (above right):
The giant “E” on the mantel could reflect a name or represent what they were going for like – “enjoy” or “everything (I love) ” There is no rhyme or reason to the décor except the scale, texture, and colour scheme are bold. It’s all vintage, but the era’s are 100’s of years apart. You could define the personality of the owner as confident and “one of a kind”. Images From Anthropology Home.
Personalizing Your Space
The names are different but the rules are the same: personalizing your space is all about what you like and putting your lifestyle first. Find your local TORLYS dealer to create the perfect backdrop for your personal style!
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The drama of high contrast will also create a feeling of glamour in a traditional kitchen. If the kitchen cabinets are a rich creamy finish and ornately detailed with lots of sparkling glass, try a contrasting hardwood floor and stone countertop in deep charcoal or chocolate.
Whitewashed oak, maple or pine are perfect kitchen cabinet choices if you are trying to create a French country kitchen. A white transparent stain over natural wood creates a vintage quality making grey and antique white a perfect colour scheme. Grey stained wood floors are the latest trend and there are lots to choose from.
