Interior Design 101: Small Space Decorating Don’ts

Small House? Not enough room? Too Crowded? These are just some of the complaints one will hear from a person living in a small house. Or a person sharing an average sized home with a bunch of people. What must one do regarding this dilemma? How will style improve the look of a small house into a bigger space?

HGTV defines what every small house owners must do in order to address these "issues" and how they can make changes to make the house look bigger or have more space.

1. Don't ... Drape Curtains Right Above Your Window Frame

This is always a given solution for small houses, try not to exceed the curtains above the level of the window frame. Why? Making the curtains go right above the window frame will only make your house appear smaller. Instead, Kimberley Seldon, designer and owner of Kimberley Seldon Design Group, suggests that you go right above the ceiling in putting your curtains to create the illusion that you have a high-ceilinged home.

2. Don't ... Forget the Back of the Door

If you need more storage in the bathroom, this is just the bonus organizer area you would want, "the back of the bathroom." Fairly easy storage solution, you could nail here some baskets or racks. This can hold some of your bath necessities which surely will be handy for you to have.

3. Don't ... Be Afraid to Paint Everything the Same Color

Painting all parts of the house with the same color does not suit everyone but according to Brian Patrick Flynn, designer of Flynnside Out Productions, "Blur the lines by continuing your wall color onto the ceiling; doing so makes everything feel more cohesive and less cramped."+

4. Don't ... Overwhelm a Room With Too Many Patterns

This is one pit that many of us are trapped in doing, patterns, patterns, patterns! Although there are extremely wonderful patterns available commercially, one should not take in so much of these especially for small houses, this can clump up the look of a room that you can even feel suffocated.

The Land of Nod Creative Director Danielle Kurtz suggests to "Choose a hero piece as the focal point for your room, like a bold upholstery pattern for the sofa. Then use a mix of quieter neutrals for the remaining furniture and walls to keep the space light and open."