Allow Your Space to Breathe

"_MG_2804" by CharlotWest is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

It’s getting cold outside, so there’s no doubt you’ll be spending more time indoors than you did over the spring and summer. So how can you spend more time indoors without feeling smothered by your apartment? By decorating in a way that gives your space room to breathe. You may be pressed for space as it is, so don’t overcrowd your apartment  (yes, there is such a thing as over-decorating). Use these tips, courtesy of Apartment Therapy, to create a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and spacious!

1. Declutter and use furniture that pulls double-duty

In a small space, sometimes sacrifices have to be made to make a space feel more airy. If you've got a piece of furniture you're no longer using, get rid of it. And then make the furniture you do have in there work extra hard, like in the image above, where an upholstered ottoman doubles as a coffee table or extra seating.

2. Rearrange and move big furniture to the back

Consider moving your bulkier furniture away from the room's entrance. Place your heaviest, most important pieces on the wall the farthest away from the door, and then arrange the rest of the furniture based on trying to visually balance out the space. You won't feel like a room's furniture is ganging up on you when you first walk into the space.

3. Use paint to unify and disguise

Camouflage a piece of furniture — take away its visual weight — by painting it the same color as your wall. It's drastic, but it works (find images in this post as proof). By camouflaging a piece of furniture in this way, it doesn't grab your attention as easily, and it doesn't feel heavy or imposing. But also use paint to disguise and hide bulky, unwanted things that stick out in the way like radiators, fans, anything else that gives visual clutter to a room.

4. Keep surfaces clear and free of unnecessary clutter

Getting to create vignettes and display your favorite items on surfaces is always fun. But keeping them clear and clutter-free can have a huge impact on making a room feel more airy. You don't have live in an empty space, but try clearing off surfaces and see which ones make a room feel better when they're empty.

5. Don't choose oversize art or go crazy with wall collages

Though oversize art can certainly play an important role in interiors (as can wall collages), oversized pieces of art, even if they make for a dynamic look, can feel imposing in a small room. Wall collages, if they're too large or randomly sized, can feel busy. It can literally feel like the walls are squeezing in slowly. So stick to a moderately sized piece of art that complements your space (and as you can also see illustrating our point about not choosing all these tips at once, this room sports a not-clear coffee table).

6. Keep window coverings simple (or don't use any)

I love a set of curtains that pool on the ground dramatically, and they can really up the feeling of coziness and softness in a room. But, pool on the ground a little too much, especially too close to furniture, and it might feel like they're inching toward you. While you're consider curtains, think about your rugs, too. Too many small ones in one space can add to the feeling of clutter in a room. Keep the textiles simple in your space for a more wide open feel.

7. Use mirrors to your advantage

It's a common suggestion around here, but it's because it works. Not only will it make a small space feel bigger, it'll help cut down on that claustrophobic feeling by not letting those walls feel too imposing or solid. And spreading more light around a space can't hurt.