by Anna Wildman

Created on: March 29, 2009

So you just moved into an apartment or you downsized into a smaller home. You love having your own place but how do you decorate such a small place without it becoming too busy or overwhelming. It can be frightening decorating a small space especially if you have made a mistake before. That deep plum color you thought would be perfect made your tiny room seem even smaller. How do you pick colors or themes with confidence? How do you make a small area feel like a mansion?How do you decorate when your budget matches your space size?

Paint and Color:

Paint is not as expensive as many people think. Especially if you have a small space. Two gallons of paint at 15$ each will paint every wall in a 1000 sqft apartment. You probably don't want every room the same color however so try the pint sized paint cans. These smaller amounts only run 5$ on average. Keep your paint chip in case you run short so you can go buy another pint though it probably won't be necessary. Another great product is glaze. A pint of paint will tint a gallon of glaze.Glaze goes on almost transparent with a sheen the catches the light. Because it goes on so thin 1 gallon of glaze will cover the same space as 4 gallons of paint. Glaze is also much easier to re-paint white when you leave an apartment.

To do several rooms in different colors grab a pint of each color you like a half gallon of glaze and a few empty cans. The ratio of paint to glaze is 1 to 2. So for every 2 cups of glaze use one cup of paint. If measuring isn't your thing just fill a large clean vegetable can halfway with glaze then add small amounts of paint stirring in between adding paint until you get a color hue that works for you. Remember that colors like red and purple will dry much darker then they look wet so try the glaze out first and let it dry to see what the color is. To lighten it add more glaze to darken it add more paint. Apply the glaze to the wall using an old rag or a sponge and dabbing all over to get an effect that appeals to you.Using glaze you can paint 3-5 rooms each a different color for under 30 dollars. Because glaze lets the white wall underneath shine through you can use darker colors and still have a room that feels light and airy.

If you choose to use normal paint go with light or bright colors. Try painting one wall in room a vibrant purple or red and leave the other three walls white. Light yellow adds a feeling of sunny cheer to a room. Light blue adds peace and tranquility.Try painting vertical stripes

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