From painting in light colors to putting a sink outside the bathroom, here are 10 clever decorating ideas and tips for small spaces.

1. Choose a Light Palette

For his 1,450-square-foot California cottage, designer Stephen Shubel created the feeling of more space by selecting a warm "French vanilla" color scheme. The walls and ceilings were originally dark redwood, and the floors were oak. "The first thing I did was paint everything white to open it up and make it feel better," he says. Interior columns create the effect of an enfilade toward the balcony, glimpsed between curtains.

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2. Place a Table Lamp on the Kitchen Counter

"Having a lamp on the counter makes the room more intimate," Shubel says. "And when you live in a house this size, you want the kitchen to be more than just utilitarian." Giallo Siena marble counters, an antique gilded lamp, and a pilastered Edwardian china

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You may not be a professional athlete in the 2012 Olympics, but you can still go for the gold with these winning home accessories.

Animal Key Ring

Adopt an animal from this brass menagerie to help keep your keys from running wild.

Eza Animal Brass Keychains, $98 each. tortoiselife.com

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Double Old Fashioned Glasses

Add a little swank to your bar.

Platinum Safari Drinkware (also comes in high ball glasses), $43 each. vietri.com






















Ralph Lauren Carthage Lamp

This vintage-looking lamp will brighten up any study. It's a different take on the classic desk lamp.

Ralph Lauren Carthage Lamp, $870. ralphlaurenhome.com

Plus: Black Fabrics for Summer Nights ››


















Letter Opener

Brass bibelots with a job to do. What fun to slice envelopes with one of those tails!

Jonathan Adler Brass Peacock and Squirrel Letter O...Read More »

If you're longing for the beach but miles away from the shore, take tips from this historic Nantucket cottage to transition your home into a coastal paradise.

1. Decorate with Nautical Elements

This dining room's late-1800's farm table and reproduction chairs are from Nantucket House Antiques. The verdigris chandelier is by Richard Mulligan. A model sailboat stands in the corner.










2. Take Advantage of Every Nook and Cranny

A custom linen cabinet and a ship's ladder -- both crafted locally -- make the most of an upstairs hall corner. Also notice the ship-inspired outdoor fixture, which brings light to an indoor space.














Plus: Tour a beautiful beach house, decorated on a tight budget »



3. Use Light, Beachy Paint Colors

Instead of the expected bright white interiors, opt for coastal blues and greens that enliven antique quilts and period chests, apothecary bottles, and stacked footstools. Choose paints with names that include the words mist and dew, like this kitchen painted in Benjamin M

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Wallpaper can work wonders in a kid's room - it's no wonder the trend is starting to stick.

The latest wallpaper we're obsessing over comes from Loboloup, a New York-based aunt-and-niece team, Nancy and Elizabeth Wolff. Nancy's background as a children's book illustrator is evident in the line's playful designs, from nautically inspired Ships and Sails to rollicking animal-centric Circus. The look is at once vintage and modern, with a hand-drawn style that makes a homey haven of even the starkest space.

Available on loboloup.com, $175 per roll.

Our Favorite Online Kids Boutiques

If your little one is all about animals, try this Animal House wallpaper. Renowned since the 1950s for its bold fabrics, Finnish company Marimekko recently applied its graphic patterns to wallpaper. The comical Karkulaiset displays elephants, zebras, and flamingos - in cowboy boots.

Available at kiitosmarimekko.com, $199 for a 27-inch-by-33-foot roll.

20 Wall-to-Wall Kids Room Ideas

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