10 Tips for making a SMALL space BIGGER

10 Tips for Making a Small Space Bigger
OR AS THEY SAY IN FRANCE, "LE TIPS FOR MAKING ZE SMALL SPACE BIGGER."


1. Paint With Delicate Hues: Dark colors may seem design-friendly, but they make rooms look smaller. Adam Janovic, former president of New York's Janovic Paints, explains that "the lighter the color, the more open the space appears. White will maximize the space -- a dark color will close it in."
2. Use Shades of the Same Color: One way to introduce variety without shrinking the room's apparent size is to paint the walls, trim, and detailing in different shades of one color, such as white, off-white, and beige. Or try a white that's tinted with green or yellow so you can use the darker shade of the color on the trim and detailing. "By using a monochromatic scheme," says Janovic, "you'll make the room look more open."
3. Give Your Ceiling Texture: While Janovic and many other paint experts say a white ceiling will open up a space, Vera Vandenbosch, director of marketing at Donghia Furniture disagrees. "White is a noncolor -- it just disappears," she says. "But if you give your ceiling texture, it will do something to your room that's a lot more interesting. Metallic textures are much more interesting than white." One of Donghia's specialties is metallic gold "teapaper," applied as wallpaper to the ceiling. "It gives your room a lot more height," says Vandenbosch. Bonus: It also creates a flattering reflection on your face. Donghia's "Looks Like Teapaper" is available to the trade for a suggested retail price of $57 per yard (800-DONGHIA; www.donghia.com). But if this is out of your price range, check out a Chinatown next time you're in a big city -- many Chinese stores carry similar metallic paper.
4. Reflect Your Space: Wall-to-wall mirrors may seem like a '70s design leftover, but using mirrors well can open up your home. New ones are pricey, so cruise flea markets and garage sales for bargains. Even mirrors with surface imperfections can give your room a great atmosphere.
Once you've gathered a collection, display the mirrors together on one wall. (Leave some space between them -- you're going for a "collection" look, not a wall-to-wall-mirror-bachelor-pad nightmare.) The room will seem larger, and the mirrors will act as wall decor.
[Nest Note] This works best if the mirrors are placed on a wall opposite the windows to increase light. Doing this will also reflect the scenery outside, bringing the outdoors in.
5. Get Perspective: Hanging pictures of expansive landscapes with vanishing perspective will trick your eyes into thinking your pad's got depth.
6. Think Big: It's easy to assume you should decorate to scale -- small furniture pieces for your small space -- but Vandenbosch advises otherwise. "It's better to have one well-designed prominent piece that makes a statement than to have smaller pieces of furniture cluttered with tchotchkes and knickknacks," she cautions. "Even one oversize piece of furniture can add character to a room. A well-designed armchair with a nice curve to it will give your room personality."
7. Space Things Out
"People think they're saving space by shoving everything against the wall," says Vandenbosch, "but a piece of furniture sometimes looks better when it's placed at an angle or surrounded by space. Sometimes it makes sense to let a piece breathe more." A creative furniture arrangement will make your place seem more visually dynamic.
8. Make It Clear
If your room is very small, use glass-topped tables. The glass makes you think you're seeing more space and less clutter. "This goes for coffee tables as well as dining tables or work desks," says Vandenbosch. "It's a simple visual trick, but it works really well."
9. Add Multifunctional Pieces
Investing in furniture that serves multiple functions is a great way to save space. A headboard doing double duty as a bookshelf lets you maximize wall space. An ottoman with built-in storage space lets you store magazines (and that TV Guide) and gives you a place to rest your weary feet.
10. Fold It Up
Dining tables that can be made smaller or larger (e.g., drop-leaf or draw-leaf, or with removable leaves) let you make the most out of a combined living-dining area. And a futon bed makes sense in a small bedroom -- especially if you take the time to fold it up during the day.