Decorating a Small Space on a Budget

Save by Planning

A lot of the money spent on decorating a small space on a budget is wasted if a plan is not developed in the beginning of the project. Start by setting a budget. Be realistic in what you want to do and what you can afford to spend. Décor magazines and online resources are great sources for estimating your decorating projects.

Make a list of everything you want to do and purchase. Then, prioritize each item based on its impact on the overall look of the room. You may find that one really special item may be more expensive than purchasing three or four smaller items, but that one expensive item may also provide significantly more impact in the room. Keep whittling down your list and making design tradeoffs until your "wish list" is priced equal to your established budget.

Use Color

Wall color and accessory colors can set the stage and create excitement in a room. Instead of white walls, choose a color that can perform a function:

• Paint one wall a bright color to set it aside as the focal point in the room.
• Paint a small entry way a deep tone with the adjoining living room in light shades of the same color. It will make the living room feel larger. This trick also works well with small bathrooms that open into bedrooms.
• Paint a room on the cold side of house a warm color. It will instantly feel cozier.
• Connect rooms with color. Different rooms can be different shades of the same color. Identical accent colors can be used throughout the house, unifying the color scheme.

Tips for Decorating a Small Space on a Budget

• Have a focus in every room – One wall can be darker than the other walls in the room. Group family pictures into one area.
• Be brave – Sometimes you need to push yourself to add something unique to your décor. Painting dark walnut kitchen cabinets might feel like a big step, but you will love the added light it will bring to your kitchen. Painting one wall a bright color may be just what your room needs to establish a focal point.
• Experiment with color – Painting all the walls white will not make a small room look bigger – it will only make it look white! Reinforce the warmth of a small room with color on the walls.
• Add personality, not clutter – Display a few of your favorite treasures to enhance your signature look. Use decorative boxes, basket chests, stacks of vintage suitcases and under bed boxes to store all of the other treasures you own that you can't live without.
• Use shelves instead of furniture – End tables, hallway tables and breakfast tables can all be floor space hogs. Replace them with stained or painted shelves.
• Add a dramatic overhead fixture – Lighting is a relatively inexpensive way to change the look of a room. A dramatic, eye-catching fixture will draw the eye up to the ceiling, creating an impression of a taller, larger space.
• Use multiple lamps on dimmers – By adjusting the dimmers, separate areas in the room can be showcased with light, making the overall room appear larger.
• Use reflections – Mirrors and metallic accessories reflect light and add a lightness to the room.
• Avoid furniture as room dividers – Placing heavy bookcases or couches as room dividers will only break a small space into two, very small spaces. Instead, paint the two rooms a slightly different color, or use a plant, or a piece of artwork on the wall or two area rugs to divide the two spaces.
• Avoid tiny furniture – It is tempting to purchase small tables and chairs, thinking that they are more in scale with a small room. Instead, the look achieved is more of a cluttered house of miniature furniture. Look for moderately-sized furnishings. Use open-leg chairs and glass tables to open up the space.
• Minimize the amount of furniture in a room – Rethink every piece of furniture in your room. If you don't use it every day, move it out. There is no reason to have a dining table ready to seat six next to a buffet filled with dishes for twelve if there are just two of you in the house.
• Use multipurpose furniture – Look for bookcases with baskets that can function as a bedside table, storage units that hide electronic equipment and footstools that store blankets
• Reposition curtains – Hang curtains outside of the window frames to increase the light and to make the window appear larger. Hang them floor to ceiling to make the ceilings appear higher.
• Use a light rug – Lighter colors on the floor open up the room. Consider a carpet remnant on existing floors or carpet – it's less expensive than carpet and easier to clean or replace.