16 Smart Decorating Strategies for Small Homes

Sunset Magazine

In a small space, being creative with color, materials, and layout yields big payoffs-and savings.


Mix high and low
Inexpensive furniture mingles with high-end touches in the living room: Ikea curtains hang on plumbing pipe behind a $1,200 chandelier from Leah's shop; custom pillows sit atop a bargain (at $579) settee from Urban Outfitters; a hand-painted chinoi­serie coffee table rests on an old Pakistani rug ($85 on eBay).
> Related: Tips for freestyle decorating


Update secondhand furnishings
A $10 framed mirror from Goodwill reads "high class" with a couple of coats of high-gloss red paint.
> Related: Turn secondhand finds into eco-chic decor


Create multi-purpose areas
With no proper dining room, the breakfast nook functions as such-and doubles as an art table for the homeowners' two daughters. Thankfully, the vinyl cushions are specially treated to resist ink "and basically everything known to man," says Leah. The benches provide storage space under their hinged lids. Bold wallpaper (Chinatown Toile by Flavor Paper; $150/15-ft.roll; flavorleague.com) accents a single wall. "In a small house, sometimes touches have to be small, like with patterned wallpaper and fabric," the homeowner says.


Repurpose furniture
An old candy making table serves as a mobile kitchen island.


Create attractive storage space
A tray atop a narrow storage cabinet between the living area and the kitchen (really one continuous room) holds ingredients for cocktails.
> Related: 6 great storage solutions


Be bold with color
A child's bedroom is painted a cheerful orange-a happy hue on rainy days.
> Related: 10 ways to redecorate with paint


Shop salvage
The windows and door of the garage-turned-guesthouse came from Second Use (seconduse.com), one of the homeowner's favorite local secondhand shops.


Reinvent materials
Split concrete from the former backyard parking strip becomes pavers.
> Related: 21 DIY salvage makeovers

SEE ALL 16 DECORATING STRATEGIES

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