Small House Dos & Don'ts Advice?

1 ANSWERS

1. Merlyn
   

   Don't despair. Follow this advice for maximizing a minimal space.
   
   Start at the ceiling. hang window treatments in the dining room from the highest possible point on the wall (just under the crown molding). Hanging the curtains high lets the fabric flow freely and tugs the eye upward.
   
   Well-chosen furniture,  including  a large ottoman that  doubles as  a table, makes a  smaller home  cozy and  efficient.DO Include built-ins. They take up almost no floor space but yield plenty of much-needed storage -- both perfect characteristics for a small house. Sheila assigned double duties to a built-in bookcase in the living room: It not only holds books and display items but also serves as a mini-bar.
   
   DO Reflect on the situation. Mirrors and panes of glass act as room expanders when strategically placed to reflect something pretty.
   
   DO Open rooms to each other. Though it's important to clearly define separate spaces, some openness between adjoining rooms makes all of them feel bigger.
   
   DO Define different spaces subtly. Separate one room from another without choosing completely different wall colors or flooring. A checkerboard pattern in slate blue on the floor of the dining room looks like an area rug without being bulky.
   
   DO Give each room its own treatment. i.e. differentiate!
   
   DO Draw the eye upward. This creates the illusion of more volume, which makes up for a lack of square footage.
   
   DO Keep flooring continuous. Maintaining the same flooring material throughout the house imparts a sense of continuity; the eye does not jump from one room to the next but rather wanders easily between the spaces.
   
   Large windows let lots of light in and help  visually enlarge the room so DO Invite the sunshine inside. Large windows usher in sunlight to bounce off the walls and brighten even the dreariest room. In an area that requires privacy, such as a bath or bedroom, put up window treatments that can be adjusted easily to let the sun pour in.
   
   DO Stretch your space into the outdoors. A patio, deck, or screen porch goes a long way toward increasing usable space -- without the expense of adding on.

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