That big empty wall above the bed is taunting you like a blank question mark hoovering over your head and it’s ruining that vibe you’re going for. Here’s 15 fast and creative ways to finish up that space so your bedroom can feel like the oasis you want it to be.
Read More
Source: Pottery Barn
Knowing These 4 Secrets Will Make Your Small Living Room Look Expensive!
If you want your small living room to look expensive, it’s more about what you don’t do. Don’t pack it with clutter. Don’t over furnish, don’t forget balance and symmetry and Don’t spend money you don’t have to.
Read More
Love Rearranging Your Small Living Room? Here’s the Furniture You Need to Make Multiple Layouts Work
We learn early on that you can’t fit a square shape into a round hole. Small Living rooms often have the same kind of restraints. Unlike a child’s puzzle, real rooms have more leeway for furniture placement, but that can still make things tough. Planning your furnishings carefully is the key to multiple layout options.
Read More
Source: Анна Хазова, Pexels
8 Impactful and Easy Ways to Create that Wow Factor in Any Room
If we dissect what the wow factor is, it becomes clear that what we’re actually after is something surprising. This surprise is the secret weapon that designers rely on to knock our clients socks off. It takes planning and execution to make that kind of impact but, there’s a few easy tricks anyone can do. Here’s how.
Read More
Source: Wayfiar and Living Spaces for Michael Helwig Interiors
Got a Room with Opposite Focal Points? Here’s How to Arrange it!
If you don’t have a gravitational pull towards something in a room with opposite and competing focal points, you have a room that feels out of place and unfocused. You don’t know where to look or how to position your furniture.
Read More
Source: Pottery Barn for Michael Helwig Interiors
7 Questions You Need to Ask Yourself About Open Concept Layouts in Small Homes
Few or no internal walls. Some might think, heck yeah that sounds amazing! Others might think, no way, that’s like being stuck in the same room all the time! Is open concept living still right for life in a post 2020 world? Find out.
Read More
Source: David Pisnoy, Unsplash
Don’t Forget About Your Walls When Renovating a Room
When renovating a room, we often put more importance on the different structural changes and additional fixtures. However, the walls — one of the most overlooked parts of room renovations — actually have a huge impact on a room’s depth, appeal, and overall feel.
Read More
You Want a Christmas Tree in a Small Room? Here’s 7 Tips to Find the Perfect Spot Fast!
Like most decorating projects, finding the right spot for the Christmas tree is often the first step in the holiday décor planning process.
Having a large room, or a dedicated Christmas tree room, is great but, what if you have a small house and floor space is limited?
Does that mean you can’t have a tree?
No Way!
Sure, a large room with high ceilings, decked out for the holidays is impressive, but you can absolutely make a beautiful impact and have a stunning Christmas tree display even if your room is small.
I’ve got 7 easy and impact filled tips for finding the perfect spot for the tree and how you can make it look just as amazing as any Hallmark movie set!
Plan a Focal Point
When you’re thinking about your focal point, think about how you will use the immediate area.
Will you have enough room for gifts under the tree or close by?
Source: Taisiia Shestopal, Unsplash
Can you change out the wall décor to enhance your theme or reinforce colors?
Do you want other décor like figurines or special decorations as part of the scene?
As you plan, remember to not obstruct walkways, doors or pathways through your room.
Source: NeONBRAND, Unsplash
You don’t want to squeeze around the tree in order to enter or exit the room and you don’t want the tree blocking seating areas or the main functions of the room.
For example, if you’re placing a tree in the family room and the main function in that space is watching TV, don’t block the TV.
You also don’t want to put a tree in front of windows if you have to squeeze around it to get through the room.
Source: Pixabay
If you have a fireplace, you certainly don’t want a tree in front of it. That would be a fire hazard and would obstruct the view.
A better spot would be off the side of the fireplace.
Ultimately, For small rooms, placing the tree in the corner will work best.
They’re out of the way but you can still enjoy them.
You might have to get a little creative with your furniture arrangement, but the tree will only be in the space for a short time.
That brings me to my second tip:
Move or Remove Furniture
It may be necessary to bring your furniture in closer together so that you can accommodate a Christmas tree in a small room.
You may need to shift furniture pieces over to create more space.
I did this for the first two years in my small house.
I have a long sideboard that sits below two windows at the far end of my living room.
When I put the tree up, I had to shift the sideboard toward one corner and remove a large potted plant to make the placement work.
You may have a similar scenario in your small room.
Sometimes you’ll have to borrow an inch here or there to make it work.
Go Tall, Not Wide
Whether you go with a live tree or an artificial one, you’ll want to consider the amount of space you have to work with before you bring a tree home.
Measure how much space you have from one corner to any obstruction: doorways, fireplace, built-in units, radiators or any object that cannot move.
For example, I’m planning on putting a tree in my foyer this year and there’s only one spot for it to go.
I have to consider the space between the corner and my front door and the opposite wall to my radiator.
I also need to know the distance from the corner of the wall out to the swing of my front door so I know how wide the tree can be.
The last consideration I have is the height of the ceiling because my ceiling slants down almost 1 foot.
I can’t fit a wide tree in this space, but I’m shooting for the fullest tree I can find.
The way you determine the best size tree is to always have a measuring tape with you when shopping for it.
Bring your space measurements with you and measure the width of any tree you’re considering at it’s widest point.
If you’re getting an artificial tree, many big box stores have the measurements of the trees right on their websites.
Source: Michael’s
Say you found one you like and it’s 32” wide. You have to account for it being 32” deep as well.
Think about the tree as a circle in your space.
If you have 29” from one corner the next before you hit an obstruction, a 32” tree will not fit.
If you can’t accommodate a wide tree, get a tall one.
In other words, don’t put a short, dinky tree in a small space because it will only highlight how small the space is.
Source: Michael’s
Instead, go for the tallest tree that will fit.
If you have a ceiling like mine, you’ll have to negotiate both height and width so that the tree doesn’t stick out too far.
Get a Rotating Tree Base
If you’ve been around as long as me, you probably have a lot of special ornaments you’ve collected over the years.
How do you enjoy as many as possible?
The best way I’ve found is to get a rotating Christmas tree base.
Source: Wayfair
These awesome devices let you decorate the entire tree, front to back, so you have the chance to see all your treasures as it slowly spins around.
Rotating bases work great for trees in corners and small spaces because you don’t have to pick and choose which ornaments to put out, you can have as many as possible because you can use the entire tree instead of just the half that faces out.
Repurpose an Accent Table
Another great way to get height on a smaller tree is to place it on top of a table.
Source: Wayfair
Say you have a round table in the corner. Instead of removing the table for the holiday season, why not use it to add height to a small tabletop height tree?
A 4’ or 5’ tree will look great perched on top of an accent table that is around 28 “to 30” tall.
Using the table where it is will save you from storing it in another room or trying to find another spot for it. That’s more convenient, right?
Go With Multiple Small Trees Instead of One Big Tree
Sometimes a few smaller trees, spread out in a room or in different areas of your home, is the answer to small space challenges.
You might not have a large, open space for a grand Christmas tree, but you might have a few corners or a couple of tables that would fit small trees.
This option gives you the chance to spread out your décor and treasured ornaments in a few different spots as opposed to all in one concentrated area.
Instead of one main tree, you could bring in multiple small trees to decorate.
You could also have a garlands, wreaths, swags, or sprays as the main décor pieces in place of a tree.
Source: Wayfair
Each of these things can give you the chance to spread your décor around and really create a complete holiday home transformation.
Coordinate Color Schemes
Once you’ve got a plan for where the tree or trees will go, it’s time to coordinate your holiday color scheme.
This is the fun part.
I love to use one element as the inspiration for a holiday color scheme.
Source: Wayfair
The easiest way to do this is by using what you already have.
If you have a patterned rug that stays in the room all year, that is a great place to draw inspiration from.
Take the colors for your holiday décor right from the rug. Get fabrics, ribbons, filler ornaments and other décor with those colors to tie it all together.
Source: Wayfair & Michael’s
Keep your palate to 3 colors.
Don’t try to force colors that are outside of the palate because it won’t look pulled together.
For example, if your color scheme is pink and gray bringing in a ton of red and green Christmas décor will not look great.
Source: Ilya Shakir, Pexels, Michaels
Instead build on your color theme with additional pink and gray décor.
Source: Ilya Shakir, Pexels, Michaels
Last, bring in one additional color like white or turquoise to add a little more interest.
Source: Ilya Shakir, Pexels, Michaels & Wayfair
Keep your palate consistent throughout the house and you’ll have a beautiful and thoughtful decorating plan.
There you have it, you’re one step closer to the perfect Christmas tree display for your small room.
To recap,
Plan a Focal Point
Move or Remove Furniture
Go Tall, Not Wide
Get a Rotating Tree Base
Repurpose an Accent Table
Go With Multiple Small Trees Instead of One Big Tree
Coordinate color schemes
How about you?
What are some of your favorite tips, tricks and hacks to make a Christmas tree work in a small space?
I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below.
Join the Fun!
If you enjoyed this post and you want to keep seeing my weekly blog, the best way to do that is to subscribe.
You can subscribe by downloading my 11 Secrets Only Designers Know to Make Your Space Rock. If you’re curious about how decorators and designers make a home look magazine ready, you’ll love taking a gander at these 11 secrets. You’ll learn how to style your room from the floor up and it will work for ANY space you have.
I write about small space design and decorating, sustainable furniture options, positive self care and a variety of do-it-yourself home décor.
I’d love to connect with you!
“This man is a plant shaman. He not only designs beautiful rooms, he’s got a green thumb that works like magic! My peace palm never looked better.”
“Michael Helped me to get my home office in magazine ready form. Thank you a million times for helping me figure this room out. It’s now my favorite room!”
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.
Top 7 Pros and Cons About Living in a Small House
No matter how you crack it, more stuff is why we have bigger homes.
If you have 4 people in a house, that’s 4 individuals with hobbies, interests, tech, and all the paraphernalia that comes with them.
So, do you think it’s comfortable for a family of 4 to live in 1200 square feet or less?
I love small houses and think that they’re charming and cozy.
If you think yours is cramped and crowded, I’d love a shot at changing your mind.
Don’t get a storage locker for all your extras or ship one of the kids off to grandma’s until college.
Read More
How to Choose a Designer: 10 Essential Make or Break Tips to Keep You Sane!
You’ve been kicking around the idea of making a change in your house.
Perhaps one of your rooms needs better function and you’re looking for help re-configuring doorways, closets or moving plumbing and electrical.
Or
You might need help sourcing new furniture because you’re in a new house and your old stuff doesn’t fit or your layout needs tweaking.
There’s a pro for every project imaginable but not every pro is right for every project.
Read More
No Fail Lighting Formula and 12 Clever Ways to Light up a Small Room!
Nothing makes a room feel more like a cave than a single light source, especially if the room is small.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a ceiling fixture, floor lamp or table lamp, one light source will highlight shadowy areas and really make the walls feel like their closing in.
The solution doesn’t have to involve installing expensive hardwiring.
You can absolutely achieve a fantastic lighting scheme with a simple formula and a few clever tricks so you can enjoy a properly lit room.
Read More
5 Ridiculously Simple Ways to Improve Your Accent Furniture Game
Accent furniture is a piece of furniture that compliments a space.
Literally it is a piece that emphasizes something like a color or style.
Accent furniture adds the punctuation to a room, providing a pause as you peruse the space.
Often, they complete a design; adding that last detail, or filling an awkward corner where nothing else works.
Read More
How to Make Every Inch of Your Small Living Room Count: Furniture Buying, Layout, Wall Color and Décor!
We’re all looking at our small living rooms and wondering how we can improve their layouts or get more functionality out of the space.
In many small homes the living room is where we spend most of our time.
We’re working from home and putting together makeshift offices and homeschooling nooks in living rooms.
And I suspect that we’re probably sick of the way things look, décor, rugs, wall color, etc.
Maybe because they have to be more than just “living rooms” we’re interested in how to get multi-function without sacrificing style.
Read More
How 8 Bold Decorating Ideas Will Change the Way You Feel About Your Small Rooms
Little houses usually don’t Have big rooms where you can experiment and close them off until you’re ready to reveal your creativity. That luxury of space doesn’t exist for small homes where the all rooms are literally steps away from the front door.
So, it’s totally understandable to not want to challenge tried and true small space decorating ideas in favor bold, gutsy choices. But, when you think about a bold decorating choice as a way to highlight the good or diminish the bad, then the prospect of embracing that choice isn’t as scary.
Read More
20 Incredibly Clever Ways to Decorate with Mirrors in a Small Living Room
Small living rooms can be challenging to decorate. This is especially true if you feel that your room is small and boxy.
If you’ve struggled to make your small living room feel a bit roomier, using mirrors in strategic and creative ways can help to make your space feel bigger and brighter.
Read More
10 No Fail Rules for Styling Small Floating Shelves
Sometimes there’s a fine line between styling a shelf and overloading it. I recall one of the pearls of wisdom Coco Channel said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” This advice applies perfectly to decorating wall shelves too.
It’s especially relevant for small, floating shelves. Their openness doesn’t provide much space to hide stuff. And, when you cram too much stuff on an open shelf, you know it right away because it feels heavy and unbalanced.
Read More
What You Need to Know to Pick the Right Outdoor Fabrics
I’m going to break down the top 4 outdoor fabric types and give you the low down on the durability, clean-ability, water resistance, mildew resistance and UV protection for each.
Depending on your home turf, you’ll have all the information you need to make a solid buying decision whether you’re looking to purchase a full outdoor seating area or if you’re in the market for accents like pillows and curtains.
Read More
Why a Round Table and 6 Chairs is Perfect for Your Small Patio
The outside patio dining area isn’t all that different from the dinning area inside the house. Many of the same rules apply to placing furniture so that you get the most comfortable and functional space possible.
And, now that we’re spending a lot more time at home, it’s even more important to have a space that’s just as comfortable and inviting outside as you have inside.
Read More
Summer Staycation? How to Create the Perfect Outside Oasis!
Chances are the summer of 2020 will be nothing like previous summers. A global pandemic has many of our favorite theme parks, concert tours and any large gathering activities closed cancelled and shelved. But before you go and get all bummed out, this could be the year of the epic staycation!
If you can’t or are unwilling to brave the usual summer fun times this year, why not invest in a sweet outdoor space instead?
Take a look around the yard and see where you might put down some paver stones or have a small cement pad installed. Maybe you already have a small patio space that’s been neglected or under used over the years?
If there was a year to put a little elbow grease into that outside space, this is that year!
Read More
11 Amazing Hacks to Create Space You Didn’t Know You Had!
Ah, the small house… It’s often described as charming, cozy and quaint. But what you don’t hear it described as roomy, accommodating or versatile. That’s because unlike larger homes with space to spread out and grow, smaller homes are finite, and you have to work with what you’ve got.
There’s no “bonus” room that lacks definition, or a great room in addition to the family room and living room. Nope, the small house is purposeful. Bedroom(s), kitchen, living, and bath are all exactly what they are intended to be with little wiggle room for any other purpose.
Read More