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Make Small Spaces Shine
Think light and bright to make small spaces cheerful.

photography: James R. Soloman
Wendy Dixon painted the walls and wood floor in a small upstairs bedroom a fresh shade of green called Leisure Green by Benjamin Moore. A semi-gloss white on the exposed ceiling keeps the room bright.

1. Don't let diminutive rooms hinder your urge to decorate. A few good architectural features like exposed ceilings and casement windows can launch your imagination. Play them up with a simple furniture plan and wall color.

2. Small scale dictates fewer pieces of furniture. Concentrate on practical seating and eye-catching accessories, such as a chandelier or great mirror, that won't crowd the space. Above all, avoid clutter; it's magnified in smaller rooms.

Nanci Bell Carmel cottage
photography: Roger Davies
3. Introduce a bold accent color to connect rooms and spark a mood. Nanci Bell chose red by finding a line of fabrics she loved and using all the coordinating prints together.

4. Lampshades are an unexpected and clever vehicle for accent color in a room. If your space can't take much decoration, great fabric shades provide lots of bang for the buck. Be sure to choose a color that casts a complementary glow in the evening lamplight.


Nanci Bell Carmel cottage
photography: Roger Davies
A corner sink in this small bath saves space and adds a touch of cottage character.