DECORATING 9 Tips for Decorating Small Spaces

Looking for tips for decorating small spaces? Here are some design plans and ideas and inspiration for making small spaces live big.

I found this picture of one of the twins’ first bedrooms in a long-ago post written on this blog when they were still singing Hannah Montana songs.

Two little brown monogrammed beds.

Two nightstands.

Two sets of curtains.

And one amazing, incredible dollhouse full of all the furniture a Barbie could ever wish for.

And when I look at it?

I want to cry and cheer all at the same time.

Because those tiny blue-eyed blonde-haired birds are once again leaving the nest. Instead of a pink and brown bedroom with matching beds and flowers on the rug and brown and pink polka dotted lampshades?

I’m decorating two college apartments.

Here are our design plans and all the tips for decorating small spaces and making those small spaces live big.

One last look at that brown and pink bedroom from all those chapters ago.

Just between us?

It’s hard to say goodbye. And if you will indulge this mama’s heart, here is one of my very favorite stories that I wrote about this room.

You can read it here.

But that was then. This is now.

A new chapter is waiting to be written.

Each of the twins are moving into a separate apartment with their sorority sisters. That means two bedrooms to decorate and two rooms to get ready and two spaces to design.

Here are the design plans and what we’ve ordered for each of the spaces.

I’ll show you the pictures after they move in this week.

If you are planning on decorating a small space like this. Here are some of my favorite tips.

9 Tips for Decorating Small Spaces

1. Don’t forget about the vertical space. Take advantage of vertical walls by hanging the curtains above the curtain frame and using shelves to store things. We are adding extra shelving to Whitney’s closet and putting the dresser in the closet.
2. Keep it simple. When decorating a small space, it’s important not to overcrowd the room. Choose a few key pieces and stick to a simple color palette.
3. Add a mirror. Mirrors make a space feel larger than it is. Place them opposite windows or in other strategic locations to reflect light and create the illusion of more space.
4. Let in the light. Natural light can make even the smallest room feel larger and airier, so make sure to keep your windows clean and free of clutter.
5. Add some green. Choose low-maintenance varieties that thrive in small spaces, such as succulents or air plants.
6. Be smart about storage. When picking out furniture for a small space, look for pieces with built-in storage or that serve multiple purposes. For example, we have a tiny ottoman by the chair to store extra blankets and books.
7. Use bold colors sparingly. A little bit of color goes a long way in a small space. Too much can be overwhelming, so stick to one or two accent colors and use them sparingly throughout the room.
8. Make use of empty wall space. Decorate with artwork, photos, or even shelving units.
9. Small spaces can be challenging, but they also present an opportunity to get creative. Think outside the box and experiment with different design techniques until you find a style that works for you.

Here’s the design plan for Whitney’s room.

She requested two things: Boho and pink. We are reusing most of the stuff from her dorm room and I wanted to order anything else we needed and have it shipped so we didn’t have to hire a moving van. The iron bed was all her idea. It reminds me of my first bed and I love the traditional and classic look of it juxtaposed with the distressed look of the rug and the pom pom bedding. We also ordered a leather desk chair (that I forgot to link here) and added tons of texture to the space with seagrass baskets and rattan pieces. Westleigh is amazing at calligraphy, so she’s going to letter some quotes for Whitney’s wall.

Here are all the sources linked.

Boho Apartment Bedroom

This pink and white rug
Two white gourd lamps
This white rattan dresser
White bookcases
Super soft leopard throw
Khaki and white striped curtains
Gold curtain rods
Gold curtain rings
Seagrass basket
Distressed boho rug
Pom pom bedding
White iron bed

Here’s the design plan for Westleigh’s room.

It looks similar to Whitney’s (please act surprised). Once we found the rug, everything else fell into place. Her room has more pink and less khaki than Whitney’s. We went with a wood bed frame in the room and layered in lamps and baskets and a gold velvet desk chair. We are reusing most of the stuff from her dorm room, including the gold curtain rod and gold curtain rings. She is currently also shopping this house as I’m writing this post.

Here are all the sources linked: