Why Not . . . Decorate Small Spaces?

Just imagine, less time spent cleaning, less furniture to buy and more money to buy quality decor that you love. These are just three of the many benefits that accompany living in a small home.

Whether you are living in a studio, one bedroom flat or a cozy cottage, the challenge can often be what items to choose to ensure that the space feels as welcoming, yet uncluttered as possible.

Many of you shared your personal stories and experiences with living in small homes when this post went live earlier this year. Through detailed experiences and pleasant surprises upon realizing that living in a smaller home is not only doable, but very enjoyable, I wanted to accompany that post with ideas on how to decorate in such a way as to create a sanctuary that creates a feeling of tranquility, not suffocation.

Having furnished a studio in Portland’s Pearl District recently (a few pictures are below) and having lived in tiny rentals in my early twenties, I’d like to share what I’ve learned along the way.

 

Show Some Leg

Choose a sofa, chairs and dining tables in which their legs are visible. Eliminate the dust ruffles and boxy solid look as it weighs the furniture down and makes it appear heavier as well as larger. By revealing simple wooden, acrylic or metal legs, it allows the eye to see through the furniture giving the illusion of more space.

 

Clear = Invisible = More Space

One of the best ideas for tables in a small space is to choose items that are made of acrylic or clear glass. I was thrilled with my C-shape acrylic side table from CB2 as it can hold a cup of tea, my laptop or the daily newspapers, but all the while it appears as though it isn’t actually there. Being able to see through these pieces of furniture opens up the space and creates less clutter, while also providing the necessary function you need.

 

Decorate Up

While you may not have as much square footage on the ground, don’t forget about the walls. Use floating shelves for pictures or place tall, a narrow book shelf in a quiet corner that doesn’t take up as much floor space, but brings the eye up and keeps your home organized.

 

Multi-Use Pieces

Anytime you can purchase a item you love that can serve two purposes, you automatically save space. An ottoman with internal storage or a headboard that serves as a room divider in a small studio or a standing tray table that serves as a table in your entry during the week and a bar on the weekends for dinner parties (I love this one from West Elm) are both great ideas to look into.

 

Rely on Solid, Light Colors, Stay Away from Prints

When living in a small space, the less differing colors and busy prints the more open and spacious a home will feel. My approach is always to choose colors for the walls and major furniture pieces that are solid and neutral. The smaller details, such as throw pillows, table and wall decor, can then be bright, full of prints and playful (and easily changed according to mood and season). 

 

Welcome the Light

If you have a choice, always choose a studio or home with as much light and as many windows as possible as it again opens up the space making it appear larger than it actually is. Ideally two walls with windows would be a dream (especially in an apartment/condo building as it would mean you have a corner unit), but even one wall with floor to ceiling windows will do immense wonders for your mood.

 

More Mirrors

It’s not about vanity when you live in a small space. It’s about necessity. Mirrors are a small home dweller’s best friend. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s about creating the illusion of more space, and mirrors instantly create more square footage where none actually exists. Whether you choose to arrange three or four small mirrors on the wall as decoration, or place a full-length mirror on the floor adhering to a contemporary decor scheme, stop into your local thrift shops for steals on mirrors that will instantly enlarge your living space.

 

Big & Less, Rather than Smaller & More

While proportions should always be considered, having one impressive framed print or piece of art, or even a large wall mirror rather than many small items placed on a wall creates a grand tone. A tone that defines the small spaces and presents the idea of living large. One of the other benefits of choosing one large piece as opposed to many small pieces, fewer decisions.

 

Hanging Closet Organization

Even though I have a passion for fashion, hauling in a large dresser isn’t always a possibility when living in small spaces. The best thing to do is stop into your local Storables or Container Store and pick up hanging organizers. Available in all shapes, colors and styles (sweaters, shoes, jeans, etc), choose enough for the items that would normally be folded and placed in drawers and hang them in your closet to create tidy organization and save an ample amount of space.

Rely on Rugs

~Shop for this rug here from Flor~

Living in a studio or small apartment often requires two rooms to become one. Choose to decorate with area rugs to create designated spaces – living area, kitchen, bedroom, office, etc. The simple act of training the eye and the mind as to where one room ends and the other begins reveals to the homeowner that excess space isn’t always necessary. (On a budget and looking for a rug? I have had very good luck shopping at Overstock.com.)

As I’ve discovered with most things in life, quantity is never a substitute for quality. So long as the space you live in carefully and tastefully decorated and cared for creating a space that becomes your sanctuary the moment you cross the threshold, it doesn’t matter how large it is.

~Looking for more specific ideas as well as furniture and decor that correlates with the above suggestions? Visit my Houzz Ideabooks – here and here.

~SIMILIAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~Why Not . . . Live in a Smaller Home?

~Why Less is More

~Live Below Your Means

Images: (2) source (4) source (5) source (6) source (7) source (8) source (10) source (11) source (12) source  (13) source, all other images taken by The Simply Luxurious Life via Instagram

A Simple Decor Idea: Shape & Color

One of the lessons that I have learned as I have tried my hand at many different decor adventures in my home and previous homes is that when you have larger items, you need fewer items in any given space. While keeping things in proportion is always important, I try to buy the largest item that I am looking for that fits within my budget.

A simple way to change up the decor in any room is to add flowers, but that also means you need a vase. Now, while any vase may work, the type of vase you choose can make all of the difference. Choose a vase that makes its own statement due to its shape, color or size. When I happened upon this vase from Target's new Threshold collection I was intrigued. Their large blue square vase fit what I was looking for beautifully – statement making with a touch of modern simplicity.

Not someone that gravitates towards lots of color, I love how the vase makes a statement without being overwhelming or intrusive. I chose to place daffodils inside as it is spring, but I think a single white hydrangea bloom would be a fantastic choice that would allow the blue of the vase to pop with even more volume.

P.S. Like the white comforter set? It’s also from Target’s Threshold collection and comes in a variety of colors – click here to learn more.

~While the four part simple, home decor series has wrapped up, click on the following links to see the three previous parts in this new series.

*Part One

*Part Two

*Part Three

~In the interest of full disclosure, Target via Style Coalition reached out to me to choose items from their Threshold collection and style them in my home. While we did work together, the items in this series were all hand-selected by me and the opinions expressed are my own. It is sponsors like Target that allow me to continue to write and share ways to create a simply luxurious life.

All Images by TSLL - (1) source (2) source (3) source (4) source

Why Not . . . Live in a Smaller Home?

Since the recession, McMansions quickly began to be less desirable to potential homeowners. In fact, as a result of the housing crisis, the average square footage of primary residences dropped to 2300 square feet, and while it has slowly crept back up about 100 square feet in the past year, many people are finding the luxury of living in smaller homes to be very attractive. Not only is it less expensive to own a smaller home or apartment, but it also provides many unforeseen opportunities to enrich our lives.

For nearly four years, I have had the itch to move back to Portland, or at least rent a studio in the city to escape to on weekends and during the summer months. And while I’m already a homeowner that takes care of a yard and more than 2600 square feet, I become giddy at just the thought of living in a small 500-600 square foot studio. Why? With less space to decorate and care for I could simply enjoy all that the city has to offer. If Powell’s bookstore was calling my name, I could easily arrange my schedule. If a stroll through the famed Japanese Gardens tugged at my need for tranquility, I could indulge without feeling guilty that something was being left unattended at home. And most importantly, if a friend wanted to drop in, I could quickly pick up the studio at the last minute and thoroughly enjoy their company. In other words, with fewer material items and space to tend to, more opportunities could be ushered in to improve the quality of my life rather than living a life quantitatively.

I realize such realizations may seem obvious or common sense, but in a world that bombards us with unrelenting advertisements whether in magazines, on the radio, television or online, if we do not consciously limit these intrusions, subconsciously we become persuaded ever so slowly and subtly. Living with less can be the foundation of a more fulfilling life if indeed what we seek is a life of more memorable moments and fewer material goods.

Today I’ve gathered ten benefits of living in a smaller sanctuary.  Ranging from financial incentives to a reduction in stress, have a look and feel free to add other worthwhile bonuses  you have discovered upon choosing a cozy rather than grand house floor plan.

1.  Less Home, More Money Saved. Financially, buying or renting a smaller home saves you money. Money that can be placed in savings each month. Money that can be spent traveling to Florence as you’ve always dreamed. Money that can be spent anyway you want, instead of having to spend it as you must. Imagine what downsizing by even just a few hundred square feet could do to the many memories that are waiting to be created? So maybe in a studio you don’t have a formal dining room? Purchase a chic bistro table and dine as though you were in Paris gazing at the passersby or the stars. A home can become a sanctuary no matter what the size.

2. Less to Clean, More Time. This benefit has always been a selling point for me, as I chose to clean the house on Friday in order to allow the weekend to be spent in a clean house. However, after a long work week, I’d rather relax than vacuum the floors. While there will always be cleaning to do no matter what the size of the home, having less to tend to shortens the time we have to spend keeping everything clean and tidy.


3. Less Stuff, More Quality. While initially having less space may make us feel cramped, it is actually the amount of stuff we have that creates the illusion of spacious living rooms or itty bitty bedrooms. Once we have less space, we are required to be mindful about what we bring into our homes in order to maintain an open living area. And when we no longer need a long list of furniture to fill our home, the furniture we do purchase can be of much higher quality which will ultimately maintain its use and value far better.

4. Less Space, More Opportunities to Strengthen Relationships.  Last year as I was reading Going Solo by Eric Klinenberg, he made an interesting observation. He asserted that people were becoming more accustomed to living alone in small part because many Generation Xers were afforded their own room as a child as their Baby Boomer parents were able to afford larger homes. While having one’s own bedroom is certainly a luxury as a child, it made me wonder. While having my own bedroom is something I will always need, if we take this need for more personal space even further (the McMansion craze for example), we begin to live in homes so large we can easily avoid the ones we live with. And you have to wonder, if you are living with someone you don’t particularly want to come into contact with, why are you living with them. Choosing to live in a small home creates an environment of interaction and an opportunity to work together, respect the small space we each may need from time to time and strengthen the bonds with those we love.

5. More Energy Efficient = Smaller Carbon Footprint. By choosing to live in less house, we also consume less energy to heat or air condition our homes. As energy costs rise, smaller homes are becoming more and more of a buyers’ choice and far more marketable than the larger homes that contain an extra bedroom or more living space.

6. Less Maintenance and Upkeep = Less Stress. The ridding of any unnecessary stress should be a must-do when it comes to structuring our lives, and when we have a smaller home to care for – pipes, windows, roof, yard, etc, we have fewer opportunities for money to be spent fixing what might need repairing or replaced.

7. Efficient Use of Space. Living in a small space may at first appear to be problematic when it comes to organizing an office space, as well as a designated foyer for shoes, keys, etc., but ingenuity is spurred into action when there is a need. More and more retailers are creating multi-use products, streamlined storage and hideaway bins and drawers that allow for stylish and spacious living even in the tiniest of places.


8. More Social Options, Less Isolation. If you choose to live in a small apartment in an urban area, you are likely to be surrounded with entertainment, cultural and social activities that will engage your mind and your passions. The few people that I know that live and work in New York City may live in miniscule apartments, but the gift of living in such a magical locale far surpasses living in a 400 square studio as the opportunities that are at their fingertips are priceless.

9. Less Consumption, Better Physical and Emotional Health. This past August, while traveling in London, the flat I stayed in couldn’t have been larger than 650 square feet. However, it had high ceilings, windows on every exterior wall and the furniture was wisely placed. For such a small living area, it felt open and spacious. With that said, the refrigerator (as many are in London flats) was less than half the size of a standard US refrigerator which meant they shopped nearly every day for fresh food and produce. It also meant that exercise was done outside of the home – taking classes and walking everywhere as my hosts did not have a car. Not only was it mandatory that they not have much food in the house to nibble on mindlessly, but I found the daily walking done not as a “workout” regimen, but a lifestyle requirement was conducive to a consistently healthier way of life.

10. A Simple Life is a Fulfilling Life. As I have discovered and shared on this blog since it began, quality truly does surpass quantity when it comes to creating a life of fulfillment. Having a bigger house will not make you any happier if you don’t already know how to live well with what you have. There comes a point when more is simply more. For each of us the proper size will be unique to ours and our family’s needs, but the key is to find the tipping point between enough and too much.

Now I realize that changing the size of the home we live in is not something we can change tomorrow. It takes time and a conscious decision to search for something that both fits our needs, but doesn’t exceed them either. Choosing to live in a smaller home is something to consider if you’re wondering why you have less time to do the things you enjoy and smaller stashes of cash than you’d like. Most importantly, if you want improve the quality of your life, the size of the home you inhabit many be something to consider.

For those of you who have already chosen to live with less square footage, I would love to hear your experience. Please do share.

~Looking for small space decor inspiration? Visit my newly created Pinterest board for just this purpose.

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:

~Why Not . . . Create a Sanctuary?

~Why Less is More

~10 Simple Ways to Live Healthier

Images: (4) source others Pinterest page

Carolyn Murphy’s Brentwood Abode

I have always been a tremendous fan of vintage finds and enjoy bringing them together a little at a time in my home. For example, a refurbished oak dining room table with reupholstered armchairs to maximize comfort and conversation, or unique glassware to hold ordinary everyday technology or items (keys, bills, etc).

Model Carolyn Murphy’s Brentwood home reminds me of this approach as she as carefully created a home that is inviting without the air of pretentiousness. Have a look, I think you might find some lovely ideas.

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This & That: No. 6

A good book, a captivating movie, simple and scrumptious appetizers . . . and there’s more . . .

Read more »

A Touch of France – Houzz Ideabook

France is always on my mind, so this month’s ideabook that I pulled together for Houzz focused on touches of France to bring into your home. Click here to view and shop the entire ideabook.

Why Not . . . Become Your Own Decorator?

In yesterday’s post This & That: No. 5, I recommended Susanna Salk’s recently released decor book Be Your Own Decorator: Taking Inspiration and Cues from Today’s Top Designers. With gorgeous images of rooms designed by top interior designers such as Mary McDonald, Nate Berkus, Kelly Wearstler, Charlotte Moss just to name a few, Susanna organizes her book as a suggestion. In other words, the images she has collected essentially beg the question, Why Not . . .? – use a bit of color, be aware of how furniture is arranged, or break a few decor rules and allow your books to be chaotically organized within a perfectly organized room.

So with her suggestions to consider when it comes to decorating a home, I began to make a list of my own tips that have served me well as I have over the years painted, remodeled or rearranged my apartments, houses, and various rooms.

Salk organizes her book into seven different chapters which focus on inspiring images in the following areas: color, mixing up styles, arrangement, balance, whimsy, accessorizing and rule-breaking.  With these chapters as the foundation for becoming your own decorator, below are a few more specific suggestions that I have found great success with as I continue to create my very own simply luxurious sanctuary:

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Jenna Lyons Townhouse Reportedly Sold

Jenna Lyon’s expert eye in the world of fashion is something that I continue to be impressed with, and while I have shown images of her former home in Brooklyn, with the announcement of it being sold recently, images are surfacing that I hadn’t seen before.

Having purchased the Brooklyn Park Slope Townhouse with her former husband Vincent Mazeau for $1.3 million in 2004, it is being reported that while they were asking $3.75 million, they sold it for $4 million to a couple named Vincent and Tracy Martin. And where might Jenna now be living, many may be wondering? Well, her new address is listed as being in the Tribeca area.

Have a look at the many images of this townhouse decorated by Jenna Lyons herself (no decorator was commissioned as she proudly  reminds us.)

Read more »

A Luxurious, Yet Simple Closet

Whether you are walking out the door to go to work, lunch with friends, a date, on a fabulous vacation or simply choosing an outfit to wear as you lounge around the house, looking fabulous begins in your closet.

With inspiration from Keep it Chic’s recent post on Closet Essentials, I decided to make my own list of what items need to be present in order to create a simply luxurious closet. With the goal of taking care of the classics and quality pieces so that they last for many seasons to come and providing inspiration readily at my fingertips so that my signature style is always conveyed.

Take a look at my list and let me know what you might add, tweak or eliminate according to your fashion needs.  I’d love to hear. The first idea was suggested by Keep It Chic and I had to include it:

*a corkboard/push pin board framed as to display magazine photos or images of outfit ideas that caught your eye
*a full length mirror
*flattering light
*quality hangers (wood, padded, with clips for skirts, etc, but no wires)
*shoe hangers or shelves as to provide an immediate visual
*a steamer (after working at a retail store, I realize how priceless one would be - this is the one I use and love!)
*creative, unique dishes for watches, glasses and every day accessories.
*a plush armless chair or bench to sit on while putting on shoes or tights
*a unique dresser for lingerie, workout clothing – anything that doesn’t need to be on display, but must be taken care of
*concealed laundry baskets (one for darks and lights)
*a beautiful bag or basket for clothes that need to go to the dry cleaner
*a jewelry organizer (easy to see, but keeps everything separate and organized
*a small table or shelf for perfume, sunglasses, any other accessory without adding too much clutter
*shelves for luggage, clutches, handbags, etc
*a special hanger for belts
*hooks the outfit for the next day/evening/etc
*beautiful, plush flooring (whether a rug or carpet)

Images: (1) Source (2) Decor Pad (3) Source (4) Decor Pad (5) Sex and the City 2 (6) Decor Pad

Cleaning Your Sanctuary – Tackle & Simplify

Spring cleaning feels amazing when it is complete, but the initial getting started isn’t always as exciting. 

As a way to minimize how much I have to take on when this momentous event arrives each March and April, I am a big believer in cleaning my house every week without fail. However, as we know, there are a handful of things that must be cleaned, but thankfully only a few times a year. Martha Stewart breaks it all down in great detail in her Housekeeping Handbook, but you can also print off the specific list you want here on her blog.

With that said, while I’m meticulous, I also don’t have a house cleaner, so below is the list that works for me.

Daily
*Make the bed
*Pick up after yourself
*File incoming mail
*Clean as you cook (thank-you-for-coming bowl – a la Rachael Ray!)



Weekly
*Launder sheets, towels, bath mats – anything used regularly
*Clean the bathrooms – everything
*Dust – tables, televisions, lamps, etc
*Clean mirrors
*Vacuum and mop floors, vacuum upholstered furniture
*Empty all trash and wipe canister
*recycle old magazines, newsletters, etc
*Go through fridge – take stock and toss if necessary
*Clean all counters, microwave, toaster, sinks, vents, and ovens in kitchen
*Clean hand prints, pet prints from windows and doors
*Add fresh flowers to dining room, coffee tables, bed stands, etc

 
Twice a Year
*clean all windows – inside & out
*flip mattress
*clean pantry
*clean refrigerator
*clean oven thoroughly
*launder pillows
*wipe baseboards and moldings
Yearly
*clean the fireplace

I would love to hear how your approach cleaning your home, what works for you, what tips you’d suggest, etc.  I’m all ears!

Images: (1)  Source (2) Decor Pad 

Shelves Of Style

Being an avid book lover, book shelves are a necessity in my life, but shelves in just about any room in the home can add character, reveal a touch of luxury and divulge a glimpse in the homeowner’s style.  Less is always more, and whatever you do decide to showcase make sure it is of either very high quality or very high personal value. I’ve gathered together shelves found in the kitchen, bathroom, office, closet and the living room to demonstrate how to incorporate this look into a variety of places.  Have a look.

 

Images: (1) Traditional Home (2) Decor Pad (3) Decor Pad (4) Source (5) Decor Pad (6) Source (7) Elle Decor