Small Space Living: Basic Tips & Tricks

Everyone has lived or is currently living in that small space we have a love-hate relationship with. We have the problem solving tips and tricks to turning that love-hate relationship to an all-loving attitude!

Basics

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Before we start talking about small space decoration, we have to go over a few basics. First and foremost, frequent cleaning is a must. It will keep the small space from getting cluttered and will automatically look more open. Next, only keep what you absolutely need and cannot live without, and last but not least, avoid buying unnecessary items. These last two kind of go hand in hand, but they both are very important.

Decoration

We have quite a few decorating tricks for a small space, but to keep this list down to a minimum, we’ll share the ones with the most impact.

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1. Put your lovely sofa backed up against the wall. It opens up the space a little more, and you won’t have to worry about small walkways behind or in front of your sofa.

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2. Use items that have dual purposes, such as couches that turn into beds. This useful item can make your studio apartment a living room and a bedroom with one quick fix.

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3. Use as much natural light as you can. Keep your curtains open throughout the day if you’re spending the day at home or having friends over. It helps make the space feel larger and simply more open.

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4. More storage space saves lives! Shelves, bookcases, and under the bed bins are all wonderful ways to store more stuff you don’t know what to do with. In a small space, storage is key! We repeat. Storage is key!

We hope our suggestions help you tremendously. Just remember to keep it clean and get some extra storage!

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The Couple’s Guide to Decorating a Place Together

If you’ve decided to take the leap and move in with your significant other, you might be worried that you’ll have to start over when it comes to your new home’s décor. Mixing styles and tastes can be tricky, especially if you gravitate toward more delicate, feminine pieces while your partner prefers a more streamlined or traditionally masculine aesthetic. Don’t fret! Our tips below will help you seamlessly combine the two styles!

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First, go dramatic with paint! If you are contributing the majority of the furniture and décor pieces, temper their ladylike vibes with a deep, dramatic paint color. The saturated shade will balance any delicate details in your existing pieces and make the unexpected pairing more gender-neutral.

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Next, remember to mix your patterns. If you find your accent pillows, rugs, and throw blankets all feature more feminine patterns like Greek keys, leopard print, chevron, or trellis motifs, add in some more neutral pieces to create a diverse mix. Wide stripes, houndstooth, pinstripes, and check are all unbiased patterns and are often seen in men’s suiting and fashion.

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We also suggest to bring in deep woods. Add small furniture and accent pieces in dark wood tones to balance out the more precious aspects of gilded touches, plush upholstery, and delicate details. Just one heavy, substantial piece like an oversized coffee table or nightstand will temper the softer aspects of a room full of more feminine pieces.

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You must also balance your bright hues. Do you have a purple chair you can’t bare to part with or a turquoise rug you badly want to make work? No problem! Just be sure to offset saturated pieces with some more muted items to prevent your space from skewing too girly.

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Potentially the easiest way to toughen up feminine décor is with a dash of black in the form of furniture, art, paint, or accessories. Whatever you choose, incorporating a few ebony-colored elements will create a more gender-neutral space. Just add a touch of black!

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Lastly, you must balance the line! Sculptural items with more extreme angles and lines are a great way to counteract the softness seen in ladylike furniture. Have an overstuffed sofa with gentle curves? Pair it with an inexpensive side table that has more architectural details, or pull up some angular dining chairs to a white marble table to create a striking balance between soft and hard.

Our biggest tip, though, is cooperate, listen, and be ready for some compromising! (You might just have to incorporate a life-size storm trooper into your living room decor.)

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Thank you for being an A.Clore Interiors Blog reader…..

Don’t forget: you can find us on Facebook – “like” us to keep up with the latest and greatest!

You can always find more design inspiration on our Pinterest and Instagram pages!

Connect with us on Google+ and LinkedIn

Visit our Website for more information on what we are about and how interior design can change your life!

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