28 Small Space Decorating DON'TS

1. Don’t… Use Short or Ruffly Curtains

Instead, use long, neutral colored curtains to open up the room and give more height to the ceilings.

2. Don’t… Clutter your space with too many colors

Pick one or two accent colors, plus a neutral mood (warm (browns), cool (greys), or high contrast (black & white)

3. Don’t… Confuse your space with too many patterns

Keep most things solid/pattern-free, and then just use a couple, complimentary patterned pieces to act as accents.

4. Don’t… Waste vertical storage space

Implement storage racks on the backs of closet doors to add out-of-the-way storage options.

5. Don’t… Be afraid of white paint

You might be afraid that white paint will make your space look cold or lifeless --- but that doesn’t need to be the case! White paint provides a clean, modern, blank canvas that will make all of your furniture and decor pop.

6. Don’t… Be afraid to paint everything the same color.

While traditionally ceilings are painted a different color than walls, in a small space this doesn’t apply. By painting the walls and ceiling the SAME bright, light color, you’ll draw the eye upwards and make the room seem larger (and the ceilings taller!).

7. Don’t… Live by the rules.

Just because your house was designed for certain functionalities doesn’t mean you have to use it that way! Don’t be afraid to make changes that work better for your lifestyle. Use your formal dining room as a family room, turn a closet into a bar, your unused second bedroom could be your walk-in closet. In my house, I have very little kitchen storage and no pantry, so I converted the cupboards in my laundry room into food storage.

8. Don’t… Forget the walls.

The walls of your house can offer functionality and visual appeal. Use that space to install hanging bookshelves, fold-out desks, storage cube units, or even more cupboards. Just make sure it’s attractive as well as utilitarian. Who needs art when you have your pots and pans hanging on the wall?

9. Don’t… Let stair space go to waste.

Install stepped cube organizers on the stairs to add more storage space. Great for shoes or board games

10. Don’t… clutter up tables with lamps.

Add space and style to your room by installing pendulum lights instead.

11. Don’t… Waste transition spaces.

Hallways and foyers can be turned into function spaces by adding slim organization units or desks.

12. Don’t… Waste space on frumpy furniture.

Many sofas and chairs have lots of unnecessary fabric and fluff on the outsides, which adds nothing to comfort, but eats up a lot of valuable space. Instead, opt for a more slim, minimalist design that provides comfort at less of a cost.

13. Don’t… Waste space on clunky end tables.

Slimmer, more vertical designs will save you space and give your home a more modern feel.

14. Don’t… forget the space under your bed.

Make use of this valuable, underused space. Store something visually interesting under there (such as vintage hat boxes filled with photo albums), or hide away less attractive items with a simple bed skirt.

15. Don’t… Choose an over-sized sink cabinet.

Most “small” bathroom sink cabinet units are terrible space wasters. They are actually quite large, but provide very little storage space. Instead, opt for an alternative, slimmer cabinet design, or even a pedestal sink. With all the space you save, you’ll be able to install a much more space efficient, slim, vertical organization system.

16. Don’t… Use deeper cabinets than you need.

Most bathroom cupboards are very deep, which not only takes up a lot of space, but also allows clutter to collect in the back half. Instead, choose shallower cupboards that take up less room and keep everything visible. That way you won’t forget what you have and buy unnecessary things!

17. Don’t… Let your storage be unstylish.

There are so many beautiful storage options available today that there’s not reason to try to hide away the things you love out of sight. Instead of trying to hide your blankets under the couch or in an inconvenient, overcrowded cupboard, instead, store them in a cute basket. They’ll be easier to put away, and more available when you want them.

18. Don’t… Let corners go to waste.

Put this space to use with a corner organizer, corner shelving, or even install a one-legged desk.

19. Don’t… Forget to look for a perfect piece of furniture.

Keep looking for a couch or table that fits your space great! Don’t just buy one you like the looks of but won’t work well in your small house. A modular sofa can actually be a great choice that takes up less space than several smaller pieces. The trick is finding the right one.

20. Don’t… Always choose a small rug.

Just because your room is small doesn’t mean you have to pick something tiny! By getting a rug that fills the room wall-to-wall, you’ll make everything seem more open and spacious. You’ll also save yourself from tripping on the edges!

21. Don’t… Hang your lights too low.

With less space to move around, taller folks will be more likely to bump lighting than they would be in a bigger place

22. Don’t… Think you can’t do chunky.

If you like the look of solid, substantial “details” then go for it! While you don’t want to fill your space with pieces that are too big, oversized detailing can actually add a great, modern feel to your small home.

23. Don’t… Overlook wall details.

Adding classic elements to your walls like crown moulding, paneling, or wainscoting can make you home seem much more substantial, spacious, and give it a sense of architectural integrity.

24. Don’t… Be afraid to get creative with storage.

Install shelving in an existing closet, or create a whole new closet by installing closet rods and shelving on a wall and hanging a long, sleek curtain in front of it.

25. Don’t… clutter up your dining room with unnecessary chairs.

Instead of six or eight chairs at your dining table, keep things simple and replace the chairs on one or two of the long sides with a bench instead. You’ll appreciate the simple feeling your dining room has with fewer pieces of furniture.

26. Don’t… Cram furniture into corners.

You might think you’re saving space by getting the furniture as close to the walls as possible, but really you’ll just make your room feel cramped and too small. Instead, give your furniture room to breath by spacing it appropriate distances away from other furniture and walls.

27. Don't... Think you have to stick to a small mirror in a small bathroom.

While a little mirror might feel like the appropriate choice for the little room, you’ll be sacrificing the depth that a larger mirror can provide. Spacious mirrors can make any room feel almost twice as big, so go for as large a mirror as you can fit. Just skip the chunky frame, which will make the mirror look out of place in a small room.

28. Don’t… Choose traditional swinging doors. 

Wherever possible, go with space saving sliders instead. You’ll still have your privacy, but you won’t have a bulky door in the middle of your room whenever it’s left open.

Images sources from Amazon.