subject: How To Decorate A Small Studio Unit [print this page] Decorating a small space is always challenging, but when that small space comprises a person's entire living space, it can be especially daunting. Sound design tactics, however, are effective no matter what the size of the space may be, and among the strategies of design, one rule is particularly important when it comes to decorating a small space: function first.
A Zoned Approach
Rather than approaching a small space with the intent of making the space look and feel bigger, it's far more effective to make sure that the space functions well. Separating the space into zones can help make a small studio more liveable. Zones can be visually defined with area rugs. Subtle shifts in the overall colour scheme can help define zones as well.
Zones are defined by activity. One zone may be reserved as a sleeping area while another is designated for entertaining. As dining areas are used only for meals, that zone is best suited for multi-purpose use. A dining room table may double as a desk. A piece of office furniture may do double duty as sideboard. Shelving or cabinetry can store dishes and barware as well as office supplies.
Divide and Conquer
A strategically placed room divider not only creates a visual definition between two zones but provides a backdrop for furnishings. Because they add storage space too, bookcases can make great room dividers. When space is minimal, however, a bookcase may add too much visual weight to the room. In that case, operable curtains can be a stylish alternative. Shelving units that are open on both sides are another option.
Lighting Solutions
Nothing makes a small space feel more cramped and confining than inadequate lighting, and nothing so effectively makes a small studio feel larger than framing the space with ambient light. This can be achieved in a variety of ways. Ceiling moulding can hide track lighting that casts a gentle glow of light around the space. Recessed lights in the ceiling can be directed to bounce off walls. If such renovations aren't possible, pendant lighting and wall sconces can be used around the studio to frame the space in illumination. Lighting installed under kitchen cabinet toe kicks adds ambient as well.
Clutter is the enemy of small studios. It's far more visually appealing to have a few good-sized pieces of furniture in a limited space that an assortment of small pieces of furniture. Furniture that doubles as storage, such as beds, benches and ottomans with storage compartments, help keep clutter at bay. When space is at a premium, the most important furnishings to include are those that make the people who inhabit the space feel at home.
