Photography by Alise O'Brien
Color
Whether you choose neutrals or darker colors, a monochrome or minimalist palette is best, say the designers we interviewed for our story. “Dark colors help blend the lines and corners,” says Chelsea Smith of Chelsea Design Company. As shown above, Smith painted the living room ceiling of a small University City condo in a greenish-black semigloss, making it appear much higher than it actually is.
“I’m a huge fan of painting everything the same color as far as the trim work and even the ceiling,” says Jessie D. Miller of Jessie D. Miller Interior Design. “It eliminates all of those lines so that the space doesn’t feel so cluttered.”
If you prefer multiple points of color, Maria Lesko, half of the C&M Interiors duo, advises, “Pull in greenery to help a space feel fresh and updated.”
Photography by Megan Lorenz
Décor
Less is more. Designers agree that keeping accessories to a minimum and opting for a cleaner, simpler look works best in a small space. Designer Miller recommends hanging one large piece of artwork on a wall as a focal point rather than grouping smaller pieces. “Gallery walls can add to that feeling of clutter,” she says.
“Mirrors are another great way to make a space feel larger because of the reflection and how they bounce light around,” says Lesko. Her design partner, Channing Glover, stresses the importance of quality lighting. “We like to use sconces in our spaces, because they help elevate the walls and make everything appear larger,” she says.
Furniture
Close attention to scale is critical when you’re furnishing a smaller home. “Be thorough with measurements, or you’ll end up with furniture that feels too big for the room,” Lesko says. Smith recommends incorporating Lucite or glass tables, which seem to disappear in the space, tricking the eye. Miller sums it up this way: “Design the space for how you live, not how you wish you lived.” In other words, Laurie Smith, a senior architect with Agape Construction, advises: “Start with the space and how it works and design around the function, then layer in the aesthetics.”
Look for pieces that are multi-purpose. “The same chair from the dining room might turn around and function in a different way,” says Smith. “We built a narrow sofa table for a client that also acted as a desk.” Pieces with built-in or hidden storage are an added bonus.
Photography by Corey Hogrefe
Organization
Kitchens are one of the most-used rooms in a home and often the most cluttered. Glover recommends such tricks as mounting a paper towel holder under the upper cabinets and stowing appliances inside cabinets to help clear countertops. As visually inviting as cookbooks are, they’re best stored to maintain a clean look.Though some homeowners hesitate to incorporate open shelving, Lesko says, “it helps you minimize what you purchase and makes the room feel bigger.” This is especially true of glass shelves.
Chelsea Smith, who designs her own line of cabinetry, advises homeowners to be strategic when organizing and to consider incorporating a lazy Susan in a corner cabinet for maximum storage. She also recommends using trays to group oils, coffees, or tea supplies. “Things are collected on the tray and stay on the tray, so it looks like it’s one piece,” she says.
