IT'S BIGGER ON THE INSIDE
Can't afford more space? From a strategically placed mirror to the right paint color, smart design ideas can fool the eye and create the illusion of space. Here are 15 decorating tricks from design experts Robin Baron of Robin Baron Design; Amy Bell, owner of Red Chair Home Interiors; Michael Berman of Michael Berman Ltd.; Patricia Davis Brown of Patricia Davis Brown Designs; Jaclyn Lambert of HireAHelper; and Rachel Laxer, founder of RLI Interiors. They can help make the most of what you have, whether it's a house with small rooms or a studio apartment.
THINK BEYOND NIGHTSTANDS
Instead of putting nightstands on either side of the bed and finding a spot for a large, bulky dresser, homeowners with small bedrooms can use a pair of small dressers (or one dresser and one writing desk of a similar size) in place of nightstands. Alternatively, mount a couple of shelves to the wall instead of taking up floor space.
ADD MOLDINGS
Installing casing around doors and windows can make a big impact in a small space. Increasing a 4-inch base molding to 6 inches, as is common in newer construction, goes a long way toward updating an older property. And consider adding crown molding, which neatly trims the room at the ceiling, and painting the wall a different hue. All this can fool the eye into perceiving a larger, grander space.