A lot of times, the rules for designing small spaces are the same as for bigger spaces.

The goal is to have a stylish and functional space that’s comfortable for everyday living.

The difference is that smaller spaces often have constraints that are more challenging to deal with.

A larger room might have many options for rearranging furniture or lot’s of ways to get in and through the space.

Smaller rooms might only have one way to arrange the layout and very specific and limited ways in and through the space.

With these limitations, adding unnecessary things into small spaces or not using other covert tricks to help create a beautiful and functional space can leave you grappling with a bunch of frustrations and regrets.

Here’s 17 decorating mistakes to avoid in small spaces.

Mistake Number One: Large, Bulky Closed Storage

Large, closed storage doesn’t allow you to see through it. That’s the point, I guess.

The problem with that is, it doesn’t allow you to see through it.

Open storage, especially in small rooms, allows you to see the wall behind it which makes a space feel bigger all around.

Open storage also forces you to edit the stuff you display.

So, instead of cramming everything and the kitchen sink into a bulky closed armoire, try displaying things on an etagere that are meaningful instead of superfluous and seldom used.

The moral: Ditch the oversized armoire that’s too huge for the space in favor of a beautiful and open etagere. Create a curated as well as functional display of cherished items instead of clutter.

Mistake Number Two: Oversized Outside Dimensions on Furniture

Always pay attention to the outside dimensions of any new furniture you’re considering.

The reason for this is simple, the thickness of the arms on your sofas and chairs will eat up valuable real estate and pathways in your room.

A sofa with a rolled arm will potentially take up several inches more space than a sofa with a slim arm like a track, pleated or post style arm.

That can make a significant difference in small rooms where every usable inch is essential.

The truth is, the outside dimensions of furniture rarely affect the interior seating space.

If you’re going with a custom sofa where you can choose the style of arm, choose the smaller scale arm so that it will fit better in your space. I will recommend that for chairs as well.

So, skinny arms take up less space without compromising interior seating space. That’s a win for comfort and a win for functionality!

Mistake Number Three: Too Much or Too Little Furniture

Loading up every portion of wall with a piece of furniture will make a small room feel like a storage unit that you stuffed to the gills.

Leaving some walls open and not lined with furniture will give your room breathing room.

For example, pulling your upholstery off the wall can make a small room feel bigger. Even if you can only afford a few inches off the wall, the change in perception can be huge.

Be conservative with things like credenzas or cabinets.

A good rule of thumb is one storage or display piece per wall is plenty.

When in doubt, edit the items that require closed storage. This means being really honest with yourself to determine if the item needs to be in the room at all.

On the flip side, if you’re small room doesn’t have enough furniture, it can feel empty and unwelcoming.

I’ve seen plenty of small rooms that feel bare because people think adding necessary pieces will overcrowd it.

The truth is, even small rooms need a pleasing balance of furniture to be stylish and functional.

The way to balance it is to start to define your space.

Use the largest rug that your room can accommodate. 8’ x 10’ or 8’ x 11’ are my top picks.

They fit most small rooms like a glove and that makes a huge impact.

Next, move onto the second largest piece: sofa in living rooms, bed in bedrooms and table in dining rooms.

These are the work horses of those rooms and they get the most use, so they need top consideration.

After that, fill in with everything else.

It will be immediately clear, after choosing the two biggest objects, what will fit. You’ll have a specific space for secondary seating, dressers and chests and servers or buffets, etc.

When you strike a balance with room size vs. furniture, you’ll always have a comfortable room that you’ll want to spend time in.

Mistake Number Four: Not Planning Your Furniture Placement (Crowding Walkways)

Always, always know the size of any room you’re planning to furnish.

That especially includes any space that you’re hoping to place furniture in.

Here’s my free guide to measuring floor space if you need to know how to do it right.

The reason this is so important is because you cannot “eye” where furniture is going to go.

A sofa in a showroom might look like the perfect length. Once you get it home, it might be too long.

A funny thing happens in most showrooms; the vastness of the floor space tricks you into believing that sectional will fit the same way at home. Don’t fall for it! Ask for a tear sheet with dimensions so you can measure at home before buying.

If you’re shopping online, always check the description for dimensions before clicking the buy button.

Plot out your room on paper.

Make arrows for how you need to get through the space. Point them toward the doorways and entries to adjacent spaces.

Once you see how you NEED to navigate the room, you’ll have a much clearer idea of where furniture can be placed.

My rule of thumb is 36” of passable, unobstructed pathways to and from all major adjacent spaces.

“Don’t put things in the doorway!” My ex was really tired of me saying that, but it made absolute sense.

When furniture encroaches on pathways it’s a nightmare. It’s a series of accidents waiting to happen and, honestly, it looks awful.

So, sketch your room, measure each wall segment, doorway, window and architectural feature. Then Plot out the major pathways to adjacent rooms so you know what you’re working with.

Mistake Number Five: Planning your Furniture Placement Based on Expectations

Here’s a scenario, say you are obsessed with a beautiful modular sofa/sectional that you came across on a visit to your favorite furniture store.

Maybe you’ve visited the display 4 times in the last couple of weeks.

The feels are all on point. You love the color of the fabric. Every inch of the display is 100% your style and you just want to wrap it up and take it all home.

On your 5th visit, you decide to buy the configuration just as it’s shown on the showroom floor.

Here’s the rub, remember when I mentioned how the showroom can mystify you into believing things will fit at home?

Well, that’s because there’s usually super high ceilings and a lack of interior walls.

Furniture stores do an amazing job of helping you visualize possibilities.

They have the luxury of reconfiguring large, open spaces into irresistible displays that are specifically designed to elicit strong emotions from you.

Always use your critical eye and sound logic when buying furniture. Leave the emotions out of it.

When you do venture out, carry a tape measure with you so you can grab some measurements of key furniture you’re interested in.

Also, keep a folder with you that has your room sketch and dimensions, wall color references, fabric swatches and anything else you need to refer to in order to make purchasing decisions.

Keep your expectations informed and inspired by the realities of your room and you’ll never make a mistake.

Mistake Number Six: Planning Your Furniture Placement Based on Exceptions

Exceptions are temporary situations.

It happed to me a lot when I sold furniture… Someone would come in and tell me all their plans for the perfectly appointed family room and at the end would they’d throw in “I have to have a place for the Christmas tree.”

Being the smart ass I am, I’d usually say, does it stay up all year?

One person said yes, but that’s another story…

Planning your small room around exceptions will only limit what you can do with a space.

The same can be said for designing based on your desire to host large gatherings.

Think about the exceptions that you might be holding your room from its full potential.

Are they really necessary? If they limit the every day functionality of your room, I say it’s not worth it.

Not designing your room around exceptions will free up space and add functionality you might desperately need.

Mistake Number Seven: Area Rugs: Too Small or None at All

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, area rugs anchor your space and define a furniture arrangement.

They are not after thoughts.

They are an integral part of a room’s decorating scheme.

They are opportunities for color, pattern, texture and sometimes all those things at once.

Rugs are important in my line of work.

They’re usually the first thing I’ll source for a project because they often provide the inspiration for a room’s design.

They help me coordinate colors and inform pattern.

Sometimes they’re the driving force behind the entire design.

From the most practical standpoint, rugs provide sound absorption, warmth and comfort.

Often, when rugs are absent, a room can feel unfinished.

When a rug is too small, it can make a room feel out of balance.

That’s worse than unfinished.

Let me channel my inner Sophia Petrillo… Picture it, a beautiful sofa, couple of end tables, a chair off the side with a drink table, a coffee table in between and underneath, a postage stamp sized rug with just enough edge showing so you know it’s there.

What???

That’s not how you want to show up for your room, right?

A too small rug is like wearing a pair of trousers two sizes too small.

Ergo, small rugs are the muffin top spillage equivalent of home fashion.

(Yes, I’ve had too many Christmas cookies this year and I know the muffin top spillage struggle.)

Point is, I like to start at the 8’ x 10’ or 8’ x 11’ rug size with most rooms, especially small rooms.

When I said that rugs define furniture placement, that’s because they determine the position of large items like sofas, chairs and coffee tables.

When you place a large rug down, you almost instinctively know where to place the furniture.

Sofa goes on the long side, chairs tend to hug the shorter sides or corners on the opposite side.

The beauty of letting area rugs define your layout is if you place something and it feels off, you know there’s only a couple ways to change it.

A large rug defines not only the position of furniture, it defines the position of the people who sit on the furniture.

Using a rug to define a seating arrangement will bring the furniture together in a more intimate conversation grouping instead of willy nilly or, spread out and awkward.

When in doubt, go bigger rather than smaller with area rugs. By all means, cover those naked floors!

Mistake Number Eight: Lot’s of Small Décor

It has been my experience that one large piece is much more impactful and pleasing than a bunch of small pieces.

This is especially true in small spaces.

God bless my grandmother and aunt, but they loaded every inch of a surface with tchotchkes and little glass whatsits.

If 5 were good, 10 were better.

Lord help you if you had a drink you needed to put down.

Moving one of the soldiers on the battlefield got you a scandalous side eye that would send shivers down your spine.

I could be scarred from childhood, but I will preach my message of curated collections over copious clutter all the days of my life!

Having so many little things is distracting because you don’t know where to look.

A crowded collection is the anti-focal point in any room, especially small rooms.

It takes longer to clean because you have to move each piece to clean it, clean around it and probably underneath it. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Conversely, a statement piece like a pretty piece of pottery, or a group of pottery in varying sizes, or a signature sculpture or art will make an impact.

It’s noticeable and interesting. It tells you, “Hey! Look at me! I’m here and I’m worth noticing.”

Remember, don’t drown your surfaces in a sea of clutter. Make an impact with a statement piece or a group of similar size items that add impact, not clutter.

Mistake Number Nine: No Mirrors

Mirror, mirror on the wall… or leaning on the wall, or inlayed on cabinet doors, or as an entire wall! You get the picture…

A small space without mirrors is like a cake without frosting.

First, mirrors offer a chance to reinforce the decor and style of the room because you can find mirrors that fit into any style: contemporary, traditional, modern, transitional.

You can find mirrors in any shape, size or composition, framed or unframed.

Second, they’re essential for creating depth.

A mirror in a small space can give you the illusion that the space continues on or at least gives you the impression that it’s deeper than it is.

Third, mirrors reflect light, which is usually a big plus in small spaces.

If you want your room to ‘feel’ larger, add a mirror or mirrored elements like furniture or accessories, to give it some heft.

Mistake Number Ten: Not Using Large Art or Accessories

Here’s the mirror opposite of ‘lot’s of small décor’.

I already laid out my argument for that situation, but I’ll also say that there’s a cost difference associated with decorating your space with one statement piece as opposed to multiple smaller pieces.

On average, you can expect to pay more for lot’s of small décor pieces rather than one, amazing and impactful piece.

Even if you love to shop at thrift stores, the same argument is true.

Many small $5.00 or $10.00 pieces will usually add up to more money spent than buying one $100 to $200, spectacular statement find.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather spend that money on something that I truly love rather than a bunch of small stuff that’s just okay.

If you’re looking for impact and drama, go big with the décor in your small room!

Mistake Number Eleven: Not Using Patterns, Texture and Colors

A neutral room with all the same color tones and no variation is as exciting as white on rice. Blah…

The fear of overwhelming small spaces with too many colors, textures or patterns is real. I hear it all-the-time.

People are afraid that using bold statements will make their homes look busy or not ‘minimal’ enough.

Some get intimidated by magazine spreads or Pins that look ah-mazing because they feel they can’t replicate the look.

But, if you look closely at those pins or spreads, no matter the style de jour, you’ll often see the same formula at play:

There’s a small, medium and large pattern featured in the mix. It will show up in the area rug, window treatments, upholstery and accents.

You’ll see texture: baskets, woven rugs, chucky upholstery and pottery.

As you look closer at each image, make a note of where they’re using these formulas.

You’ll see them now that you’re aware they exist.

Also, notice how the color is comprised. I will guarantee that they’re using a 60%, 30%, 10% ratio and a 2/3 to 1/3 ratio as well.

That’s because these ratios are pleasing to the eye and can be found in nature.

The practice of interior design owes much to the study of the natural world.

Patterns, textures and color ratios will bring your room to life, so do a little critical inspection of the pictures and posts of designers and style experts you love.

Mistake Number Twelve: Skipping Window Treatments

Bare windows are like leaving the house for work without wearing pants. Everyone can see your business.

(Remember when we left the house for work? LOL).

Anyway, window treatments aren’t just for privacy.

They soften harsh, straight lines.

They help with sound insulation, heat insulation, offer opportunity for color, pattern, texture.

Most importantly, window treatments give a small room height and when you don’t have a lot of horizontal space, you must go vertical.

Even if your room is small with vaulted ceilings, you still want to hang those curtains high!

Enhancing the height of the windows will only provide more opportunity to bring attention up to that awesome ceiling!

Cover your bare windows and hike that curtain rod up and you’ll amp up that cozy vibe in no time!

Mistake Number Thirteen: High Contrast Between Walls and Ceiling

When the walls are dark and the ceiling is stark white, you can expect your room to feel smaller, especially if you have 7’ or 8’ ceilings.

The high contrast between the ceiling and the wall will highlight the shortness of the room by calling attention to the actual height of it.

So, if you want to make your small room feel taller, bring the contrast between the wall color and the ceiling color down by bringing them closer in hue to each other.

For example, go bold in a powder room.

Slap up a dark, funky wallpaper and have some fun with your décor, but remember to bring the contrast down.

Dark funky wallpaper in a small powder room needs a dark ceiling.

Pick a dark color from the wallpaper like the background of the paper and have the paint store match it for the ceiling color.

You can also bring that wallpaper pattern up onto the ceiling for an even more dramatic effect.

Make sure you paint your trim the same color as the ceiling or wall.

You NEVER want to have a dark wall, dark ceiling, and white trim. This is a huge no no.

The trim will look out of place causing an unnecessary barrier that draws the wrong kind of attention.

It doesn’t look clean.

It looks bad, period.

From the top down, keep your walls and ceiling and trim similar in color and hue.

Mistake Number Fourteen: Only Using Over Head Lights

Nobody looks good in only overhead light.

Table lamps, ambient lights, up lights, all help to layer a room with interesting depth, shadow, and dimension.

They aren’t just functional.

When I worked in a furniture showroom, people would gladly buy furniture, rugs, and pillows form my designs.

The one thing that always go the chop was the lamps.

‘We have recessed lights in the room’. Ummm, so what? That’s overhead light.

You NEED other lighting to round out the design of the room.

If they insisted on not taking the lamps, I’d make them pinky swear to me that they’d invest in some form of living level lighting ASAP..

Most of the time the adjective many clients would use to describe what they wanted for their rooms was “cozy”.

I dare you to pull a cozy room together without adequate lighting.

Lighting IS what makes the room cozy.

I don’t care if you have seven weighted blankets to hunker under, you need lamps in all your small rooms!

Simply put, overhead lights make things ugly. Table lamps and ambient lighting are the key to cozy.

Mistake Number Fifteen: Not Using Vertical Space

When you can’t go wide, go high.

That’s a recommendation that works for small spaces and large spaces alike.

When you capitalize on a room’s height, you gain functional space and more interesting angles.

Use tall shelves for display.

Hang drapery and curtain rods high to bring the eye up.

Use tall art and mirrors to add reflection and height.

Stack art vertically in narrow spaces to create a moment.

Using a room’s vertical space is a lot like utilizing items with different heights on a mantle or shelf.

It’s so much more interesting to look at things that offer varied lines instead of everything being all the same height.

Just like in speech, monotonous is boring and dull.

Inflection is much more interesting and engaging.

A room with items placed at different heights is a feast for the eyes.

It’s more interesting because you have continuity of space and a visual narrative that guides you from one area to the next.

When you can’t go wide, ho high.

Mistake Number Sixteen: Not Hiding Unsightly Power Cords

A tangle of power cords will ruin the look of a room instantly.

What a shame to spend time and money to makeover a room to your taste and vision only to overlook a jungle of cords piled in a corner or running through the space like a mad scientist’s lab.

There’s a whole sub-industry of products on the market to help with cord maintenance.

Cord covers
decorative boxes to hide cords and components.
I love using command brand clips on the back of furniture placed against a wall.

Source: Wayfair

I’ll run cords from lamps, entertainment consoles, computers and anything else, down the back of credenzas, sofa tables, parson tables, you name it.

If you can see the wall behind a piece and there’s an electronic component on it, you can bet there’s an elaborate clip system behind it to manage those cords.

On a related note, I always get an extension cord that’s the same color as the main flooring so I can camouflage it.

I have dark wood floors and all of my extension cords are brown. They are practically invisible.

Here’s a beige cord that would practically disappear on this light wood floor.

Source: Wayfair & Ksenia Chernaya, Pexels

Those little details go a long way and help to keep a small space visually clean.

Hide those cords in plain sight, camouflage them, and create ways to keep them hidden so your room doesn’t look like a show taped in front of a live audience. Know what I mean?

Mistake Number Seventeen: Piling Clothes on the Floor

Piles of cloths, shoes, bags or cardboard boxes in small spaces will ruin the vibe every time.

You can’t expect to have a “cozy, inviting” space if there’s a pile of jackets or cloths next to the front door.

I totally understand that some spaces don’t have a designated coat closet.

In that situation, you have to get creative and hang pegs on the wall.
Buy or build a bench with storage to hold shoes, bags, hats, scarves etc.
Use decorative boxes to store thigs like hats, gloves, sunglasses, and anything else you need close at hand. Just please, toss the cardboard boxes in the recycling!
Bring in a portable clothing rack that will help you organize the clothes.

Don’t be afraid to modify a portable clothing rack. I’ve cut the horizontal bars on quite a few clothing racks to fit them in tight spots, works great!

Try hanging the clothes in color blocks: Dark to light. Light to dark. Neutrals to colors.

A gradient type color blocking doubles as décor in small spaces.

Get those clothes off the floor and think vertical open storage for them if that’s the only option.

That’s it! 17 decorating mistakes to avoid in small spaces:

Large, Bulky Closed Storage
Oversized Outside Dimensions on Furniture
Too Much or Too Little Furniture
Not Planning Your Furniture Placement (Crowding Walkways)
Planning your Furniture Placement Based on Expectations
Planning your Furniture Placement Based on Exceptions
Area Rugs: Too Small or None at All
Lot’s of Small Décor
No Mirrors
Not Using Large Art or Accessories
Not Using Patterns, Texture and Colors
Skipping Window Treatments
High Contrast Between Walls and Ceiling
Only Using Over Head Lights
Not Using Vertical Space
Not Hiding Unsightly Power Cords
Piling Clothes on the Floor

I’d love to hear if you have experience with any of these small space mistakes. Please leave me a comment below and tell me all about it.

Little rooms can be a challenge to layout, but anticipating a few of the challenges before moving on to placing your furniture and décor will get you through the process much more smoothly.

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Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.