How to Decorate a Small Home Without Making It Feel Cramped
Living in a small home definitely changes the way you decorate.
When you don't have a lot of extra space, every piece of furniture has to earn its place. Every basket, lamp, and little bit of decor takes up room that you actually need to live in.
But I don't think having a small home means you have to choose between having a beautiful space and having a functional one. And I definitely don't think it means your home needs to be completely minimalist.
Our home is small, and over the years I've learned that making a small space work isn't really about having less. It's about being thoughtful about what you have and how you use it.
Here are some of the things that have made the biggest difference for me.
Choose Furniture That Fits Your Space
This sounds obvious, but I think it is one of the easiest things to get wrong.
It can be tempting to buy the biggest sofa, table, or cabinet that will technically fit in a room. After all, when space is limited, you want to get as much out of it as possible.
But just because something fits doesn't mean it works.
You need to be able to walk around your furniture comfortably. Dining chairs need room to pull out. Doors and drawers need to open. You don't want to feel like you're squeezing past everything just to get from one side of the room to the other.
Sometimes choosing a slightly smaller piece actually makes the entire room feel bigger.
I also love furniture with visible legs in a small room. Being able to see some of the floor underneath a sofa, chair, or cabinet keeps the room from feeling quite as heavy.
Before buying anything, measure your space. Then measure it again. I promise you will be happier doing that than trying to figure out how to get an oversized piece of furniture back out of your house.
Use Your Walls
When you don't have much floor space, look up.
Your walls can do a lot of work without taking up any additional floor space.
Shelves can hold books and small decor. Picture ledges can display artwork. Hooks can keep coats, bags, and everyday things off the floor. Wall-mounted lighting can give you another source of light without taking up space on a table or floor.
Of course, you don't need to cover every wall just because you have the space to do it. Leaving some areas open is just as important.
I think the goal is to look at your walls as another place to add function and personality, rather than automatically adding another piece of furniture whenever you need storage.
Look for Things That Can Do More Than One Job
Small homes don't always give you the luxury of having a piece of furniture that exists for one very specific purpose.
That is where multifunctional pieces can be really helpful.
A storage ottoman can hold blankets, act as a footrest, and give you an extra seat when you need one. A bench can work at a dining table and provide storage. A console can give you a place for your keys while also hiding the things you don't want sitting out.
I'm not saying everything in your home needs to have a second purpose. Some things are worth having simply because you love them.
But when you're choosing between two pieces, it can be worth considering whether one of them can do a little more for you.
Don't Put Everything on the Floor
One thing I've noticed in small spaces is that the room can feel crowded even when it isn't actually cluttered.
A lot of that has to do with how much is sitting directly on the floor.
If you have baskets, plants, furniture, storage containers, and everything else all competing for the same floor space, the room can start to feel visually busy.
Try varying the height of the things in your room.
Use a shelf instead of another floor basket. Hang artwork instead of leaning everything against the wall. Choose furniture with some space underneath when it works for your room.
You don't need a huge amount of empty floor to make a small room feel comfortable. You just need enough visual breathing room that everything doesn't feel like it's competing for the same space.
Use Mirrors and Lighting Carefully
A small room can feel even smaller when it is dark.
Mirrors can help reflect natural light and give the room a little more depth. I especially like placing a mirror where it can reflect a window or another light source.
Lighting makes a difference too.
Instead of relying on one overhead light, try using a few different sources around the room. A table lamp, floor lamp, or wall light can make a room feel much warmer in the evening.
And don't assume that because your room is small, every piece in it needs to be tiny.
Sometimes one beautiful lamp or mirror can make much more of an impact than several little pieces scattered around the room.
Don't Confuse Small With Minimalist
This might be my favorite point.
Having a small home does not mean you have to get rid of everything you love.
You can have books. You can have family photos. You can have vintage pieces, artwork, baskets, plants, and things you've collected over the years.
I would much rather have a small home that feels personal than a small home that feels empty because I'm afraid of putting too much in it.
The trick is editing.
You don't have to display everything you own at the same time. Choose the things you really love and give them a little room to be noticed.
Sometimes taking one or two things off a shelf makes everything that remains look better.
Let Some Things Be Empty
This one can be hard when you're working with a small house.
It's easy to look at an empty corner and think, "I could put something there."
But you don't always need to.
Empty space is not wasted space.
A little breathing room around a piece of furniture can make the whole room feel less crowded. The same is true for countertops, bookshelves, and other surfaces.
Not every corner needs a plant. Not every shelf needs to be filled. Not every wall needs artwork.
Sometimes leaving something alone is what makes the rest of the room feel better.
A Small Home Can Still Feel Like You
I think there is a lot of pressure to make small homes look a certain way.
Everything is perfectly organized. Every surface is clear. There isn't a thing out of place.
That can look beautiful, but it isn't necessarily real life.
Small homes still have laundry. They still have toys. They still have fingerprints on the cabinets and dog hair on the floor. They still have the stack of mail that hasn't been dealt with yet.
And that's okay.
Your home is supposed to be lived in.
For me, decorating a small home isn't about trying to make it look bigger than it is. It's about making the space we actually have work for our family and still feel like us.
I want our home to have personality. I want there to be books and artwork and things we've collected. I want it to feel comfortable enough that everyone can actually live in it.
That means being a little more intentional about what comes into the house and where things go, but it doesn't mean getting rid of everything that makes the house feel like home.
Small doesn't have to mean cramped.
And it definitely doesn't have to mean boring.
A Few Small Space Favorites
If you're working with a small home too, these are a few types of pieces I find especially useful:
These are all things that can add function without making a room feel like every inch has been filled.
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