Designing a small space can be a difficult task. Larger rooms give you more opportunities to experiment with different layouts, but smaller rooms often feel like your decorating options are limited.
Although floor space is limited, the walls in a small room can be the key to adding design flair. You can transform a small space from unassuming to full of charm.
The idea was created by Ines Kelly Mazzotta, principal designer and expert interior designer at Kelly Hopter Interiors. She shared a video on Instagram explaining how to enhance a small space with wall decor ideas and give it a “quiet luxury feel.”
“A small space doesn't have to feel drab and uninspired; it can feel sophisticated and sophisticated,” Ines says in the video. “In small spaces, we don't have the benefit of grand architecture or the sense of openness, so it's especially important to utilize what's at our disposal to create a sense of sophistication. And of what we have… One is the expanse of the wall.”
Below, we've compiled three of Ines' home decor ideas to reinvent your small space.
1. Use decorative wall moldings
(Image credit: Jake Eastham)
Ines' first tip for elevating a small space is adding decorative wall treatments, especially wall moldings. “It's understated, but it can give a room a really finished and elegant feel and create great visual texture,” she explains.
When choosing the right wall molding for a small space, Innes says it's all about choosing something vertical to make the ceiling appear higher. “Make sure it's vertical so the eye is drawn upwards and the ceiling feels as high as possible. A higher ceiling will make the room feel larger.”
2. Make a statement with wallpaper
(Image credit: Jamie Haller/Photography Lauren Moore)
Another decorating idea to add a touch of sophistication to a small room is to decorate it with wallpaper ideas or mural ideas. Innes explains that bold prints can also be used to create a dramatic mural to add design interest to a stripped-down space and make a statement.
Alternatively, you can choose a more minimalist look while still enhancing the look of your space. “Tonal wallpaper or grass cloth creates lots of great visual texture without overwhelming the room,” explains Ines.
Luzon Village Wallpaper, 10 Yard Roll
Rifle Paper Co. Grasscloth Wallpaper
3. Add a bookshelf or built-in shelving
(Image credit: Future / Matthew Williams)
The final way Ines says to improve a small space is to consider adding bookshelf ideas or even built-in shelving, like in the photo above. The idea is to play with the height of the room to give the illusion of a larger room. If you don't have much space for additional furniture, installing tall shelves can add more interest without taking up too much valuable floor space.
“Anything that draws our eyes upward creates the perception of greater height and, therefore, more space,” explains the interior designer. “Bookshelves and built-ins do that well.”
For more design advice for spaces with limited space, consider our small living room design rules.