by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: April 12, 2009   Last Updated: June 14, 2009

Small doesn't have to mean cramped. A small living room can provide great accommodation, though there are many ways in which you can address the smallness, and make the whole room seem larger. Often we forget that filling a space will diminish the impression of size, and this artilce is written to help those faced with this problem to address it, getting the whole overall picture in balance.

*Color.
*Light.
*Flooring
*Furniture.
*Finishing items.

Color.

Small rooms in dark colors will always look smaller. What you do when you add dark color is close the whole room in. Instead of dark colors, choose those colors in pastel shades which can be lit up with the occasional accent color without closing the area in. Natural colors are great for small rooms, and the less busy the walls are, the better. Avoid wallpapers with prints. Stripes or patterns which go downwards will give the impression of height but shrink the overall size of a room, so avoid patterns. Mixed messages also get given when there is too much color contrast. Colorful floors, colorful sofas, carpets and curtains all add confusion to the appearance of the room, and plain color works much better to unify the appearance.

Ceilings in white are the safest bet. Using a mat paint also helps to give the room luminosity and help to give walls and ceilings an even appearance which does not cast shadows and reflections which confuse the eye.

Light.

Often people forget that fancy curtain dressings actually cut out light. Keep curtain fabrics simple, and make sure that curtains tie back away from small window openings, to let as much light into the room as possible. Light has a wonderful effect on how a room appears. If the light is bad within the room, try changing the lighting arrangement, taking emphasis off those areas which make the room look small.

Add mirrors. These are amazing at giving the appearance of doubling up the space. Make sure they are used as a focal point without being too overstated.

Flooring.

Dark flooring in a small living room will make the room seem smaller. If you change that for a more modern look using the wonderful range of light colored wooden floorings available on the market, you can give the whole room a lift and clean lines which give the impression of space.

Furniture.

If you have moved from a large house to a smaller house, chances are your furniture will be too large for your living room. While you may be accustomed to that furniture, investing in a new start is

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