Design Vogue

There's nothing more exciting than refreshing a room in your home, but deciding how to decorate a smaller space involves some extra care and consideration during the design process to keep things functional and avoid overcrowding.

No matter what room you're working on, these are some of the most common small room decorating mistakes to avoid, and ways to fix them, according to interior designers.

Poorly-Proportioned Furniture

In any small room, having the right layout is key. And our designers say one of the biggest road blocks preventing a smaller space from feeling livable is having the wrong furniture.

"When designing small bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, people often make the mistake of overcrowding their space with furniture that’s too large," designer Laura Brophy says.

Although having oversized sofas, dining tables, and beds dominating an area is a common mistake, interior designer Samantha Tosti also cautions that leaning too far in the opposite direction can lead to a sparse and unfinished feeling.

"I actually find small rooms get under-furnished sometimes," she says. "If you fill the room with furniture that is right scale, size, and function, you will actually make the room look bigger."

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Forgetting Multifunctional Pieces

Every inch is valuable when it comes to decorating a small room, which is why our experts say selecting furniture pieces with only one function is a no-go. Instead of filling a living room, bedroom, or home office with excessive storage elements, they recommend searching for items with useful hidden features.

"Choosing multi-use furnishings—like a coffee table with built-in storage, or a fold-out sofa bed to accommodate an extra guest, for example—simultaneously maximizes space and minimizes clutter," designer Justin Miller says.

"Multifunctional pieces like storage ottomans or wall-mounted desks can make a world of difference in functionality," Brophy adds.

Overdecorating

There's no denying the joy a dopamine decor-drenched, maximalist living room or bedroom can bring. But when they're on the smaller side, having too many eye-catching pieces of artwork or a pile of colorful pillows and blankets can quickly make things feel too crowded.

"Overstuffing a space with too many pieces not only subdues movement in the room, but also creates visual clutter," Miller says. "Having a surplus of decorative objects tends to disrupt the balance, scale and flow of a small space."

Underutilizing Vertical Space

Although the square footage of your small room may be limited, your storage doesn't have to be. Instead of occupying precious space with larger sideboards, book cases, or chests, Brophy recommends working upwards.

"Opt for sleek, space-saving furniture that fits a room proportionally, and maximize vertical storage with shelving and tall cabinetry," she says.

By utilizing open shelving, narrow-yet-tall wardrobes and cabinets, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, you'll be able to free up more of the floor while also creating the appearance of a much larger kitchen, bathroom, or living room.

Neglecting Lighting

According to Brophy, a lack of light is a one-way ticket to making your small room feeling even smaller—and one of the most common mistakes she sees is a space without a variety of light sources reflecting around it.

"Lighting plays a crucial role, so layer your lighting setup with a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting," she says.

Instead of relying solely on natural light and overheads, think about how on-trend alternatives could work in your home—like a rechargeable waterproof lamp in a windowless bathroom, LED strips under kitchen cabinets, or cozy smart lighting in the bedroom and dining room.

A Too-Dark Color Palette

Whether it's through lighting or color, one of the best ways to make a small room appear bigger is leaning into the bright and open look. And on the flip side, using too many dark and moody colors can easily cross the line between cozy and constricted.

"People often make the mistake of choosing dark, heavy colors that make the space feel more cramped," Brophy says. "Use light, neutral color palettes to create an open and airy feel."

If you love the look of the currently-trending richer tones, consider using them as a part of a balanced color palette through the walls, dark wooden furniture, flooring, or soft furnishings—but not all of the above.

Avoiding Color and Pattern

Although our designers do love light and neutral colors in small rooms, Tosti also believes one of the biggest mistakes you can make is letting fear prevent you from injecting your personality into your home's decor.

"Small does not have to equal vanilla," she says. "Small rooms are a great opportunity to get more bang for your buck. A vibrant color, funky wallpaper, or unique light fixture will go a long way. Find something that you love and work from that, whether it's a pattern on a pillow, a rug, or a wall color you adore."