Houston daily journal. (Perry, GA) 2006-current, September 09, 2006, Image 21
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If you’re tired of your home’s
small, crowded rooms, here are several decorating
techniques to make them appear more spacious.
Color and arrangement
You may have heard or read that light, cool colors
always make spaces appear larger. That's a myth. The key
to designing larger looking areas is to effectively employ
two design concepts: color contrast and clever furniture
arrangement. Here’s how these techniques work.
Little or no contrast
Matching window coverings, doors and trims to
the wall color results in an immediate, spacious look.
Blending large furniture pieces to die wall and/or floor
colors also multiplies into a larger look. For example,
a large recliner chair appears to take less space if its
fabric blends into the backdrop. A backdrop includes
the walls, windows and flooring treatments. If treated
in solids or patterns that blend with each other, a more
expansive look is created.
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Small Rooms
One dominating color
A sense of order and a larger appearance is achieved
when 80 to 90 percent of the colors and patterns in a
rc»m are closely related. Although this sounds a little bor
ing, if accent colors are used for accessories, the results will
give an eye-catching but visually larger impression. For
example, if a king-size bedspread matches the flooring
color, the bed "disappears,” becoming pan of che floor.
This makes the area appear bigger.
More solids, fewer patterns
Solid colors give a room a less busy, calm and
more roomy appearance. Once the room is designed
with mostly solid colors, add a few interesting pat
terns with art, photos and throw pillows.
Arrange to lengthen or widen
Without sacrificing function, arrange long pieces of
furniture to widen or lengthen a room. The ultimate
room-size illusion technique is to install a floor-to-ceil
ing mirror on one wall. If that's too much, use a framed
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mirror or other shiny finishes, such as trading a glass and
brass coffee table for one made of wood.
Get rid of junk
Rooms look larger if they’re not crowded. Be sure
the center of interest doesn’t have highly noticeable
or outstanding elements within the peripheral vision
and allow plenty of eye-rests. Resist scattering bits
and pieces around the room, such as too many florals
or single wall hangings having no relationship with
furnishings. The idea is to eliminate clutter and to
strive for simplicity.
To lengthen the appearance of a room, place
long pieces of furniture parallel to the length of
the room and hang mirrors on the end wall. To
make a room look shorter and wider, place the
long pieces of furniture across the room's width.
Enhance a fireplace as the center of interest with
colorful accessories on the mantel.
Be in charge
If you have to place furniture where it doesn’t
produce the desired effect, choose pertinent blend
ing or contrasting. For example, if the sofa has to
be placed on a long wall but you want the room to
appear shorter, contrast the color to the wall or floor
so it acts like a “stopping agent." Conversely, if a
room has to have a sofa going across it but you don’t
want the space to appear wider, blend the sofa with
the flooring color to minimize widening illusions.
Plan ahead
Before buying new furniture, experiment with
arrangements and looks by using furniture on
hand to stimulate ideas and to get a better sense
of available space. Move it around and look it over.
Remember, experimenting with design concepts
before buying gives confidence—while saving
time, money and worry.
Carol Bousquet Chop applies design techniques to her
home in Florida.
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