Thank you, thank you, thank you. Apartment sized furniture and pale wall color may be unexciting, but people confined to small space living can rely on these design elements to make small spaces breathe.

I couldn't agree more. I prefer a tailored sofa that I can walk around. And editing chairs is such a good idea!

no comment.

I had to give up my beloved sofa because I had the radiator moved from behind the door to under the window. I have better heat distribution but lost half a wall so as a trade off I bought a hanging chair which takes up less space and is just as comfortable. I can highly recommend one. Pic here: http://ploefff.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/hc3a6ngestol.jpg

Depends on the layout and also as mentioned above, the other pieces in the room. I had a huge black leather higher back sectional (the most comfy couch ever). In my 500 square foot rental, it looked perfect in my tiny living room because it lined up perfectly on two walls in the corner, up against the wall. Other pieces in the room were minimal.

Fast forward to my move to a bigger space, 800 square feet. 1/2 the space devoted to living to dining, couch needed to sit in the center of a room with its back to the kitchen. Suddenly it looked huge and puffy (the term catcher's mitt was tossed around sarcastically). Because it wasn't up against a wall and now paired with another larger statement piece (kitchen island) instead of being the main attraction, it just didn't work. I kissed my beloved sectional goodbye and swapped for a smaller, lower backed couch with cleaner lines.

Ihave a normal sized house (for the Midwest, anyway) but even the master bedroom could not fit a king sized bed. Sometimes I hate those "small space" articles. It seems like my normal house qualifies for small spaces based solely on the room sizes!! It seems crazy, but my laundry space is not living space! Neither is the hallway! But then I feel bad, because I shouldn't be a "small" space.... sigh

While I agree that out-of-proportion furniture never looks good, in this case devil is also lurking behind the other side of the spectrum: number of items, regardless of their size. By choosing smaller furniture it's easy to fall into a trap of having a "proper amount" of it, thus ending up with equally dwarfed, as well as cluttered space.

Balance, balance, balance.

I suppose if somebody wanted their home to look appealing to those with interest in design and scale, it might matter. But if somebody doesn't really care what others think and want to stuff their room with two big fluffy oversized sofas... then why not? Design is so subjective, so is use of space... I think it's okay to say you wouldn't like it and other professional designers wouldn't like it, but when you say somebody 'shouldn't' do it... doesn't it seem quite judgemental?

Some of the best homes we've looked into break design 'rules' and do what they love - and even if we don't like the style, we love that they've done it *their* way. That's what I tend to think, anyway.

Look, lady. I love my Crate and Barrel Chair and a Half. I also love my couch. And I'm not moving to the suburbs just so "a professional with a BFA in Interior Design" will approve of these items in my abode. If having Chair and a Half and a couch in my living room is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Oh please. Rules don't apply in my home because it is not about rules, it's about what I like in my space. Next you are going to tell me that a dark paint color will make a small space smaller.

Profoundly disagree. The first ruel, in my mind, is function: I have a 10 X 15 foot living room, and in said living room I have a 10 foot long couch. And it's not some midcentury modern slender little couch. It's a big honking chesterfield. Observe: http://howtorunyourlife.blogspot.com/2010/11/this-is-for-you-blackbird-merry.html
It needs to be 10 feet because I have a boyfirend and a roommate, and we all need to sit on the couch at the same time. 8 feet won't do it. 8 feet will barely do me.
(that's what she said)
So function is first -- and then make that piece the given around which you work everything else. Big hionkikngf couch calls for airy slender but function (8 foot) coffee table (though truth be told its not that functional -- you have to walk over it to get out of the sapce. I've since replaced iwth with three little matching wood cube tables... midcent modern at that.), and there needs to be at least one chair across from it, and that one too needs to be substantial but a bit airy -- ie, not upholstered, not with club feet.
And I for one love dark wallks in small spaces, especially if they dont get a lot of natural light. You have to work with your architecture, and decorate with intention. Don't fight what you have. If it's a room with great southern light, let it be breezy. If its dim and small and only gets northern light, embrace it: paint those walls glossy navy or dark olive green and make it into a fabulous cocoon. No one will say:"this room is so small." They'll say: "what an awesome room!"
pam h
howtorunyourlife.blogspot.com

My husband and I are tall and are sprawling sleepers. Though we had a queen bed for a couple of years, once we got to sleep on my in-laws king we decided that we were getting a king-sized bed no matter what. So when we left the south for our 350 sq ft studio in L.A., we decided to make it work. We did have to sacrifice the sofa, sadly - we use 2 Poang chairs instead. Our studio is like 50% bed but it's sooo worth it every night.

OMG did half of you actually read the post??? the editor is remarking about some of these points exactly (dark colors will make your space seem smaller!), and she's criticizing the "rules" that are often times promoted in design mags. She's suggesting that we put rules or design theory aside and talk about what works in small spaces, e.g, king size bed and 8 foot sofa probably won't fit in 300 sq feet -- do the math! She's questioning whether some of the "big can work" advice is realistic, or whether some readers made it work. Eg. you may not have the foot print for huge, but maybe an oversize pendant or chandelier will work in a small, but tall space? Microcontent is one thing, but micro readers? at least if you're illiterate you have an excuse.

urbancricket, your as snarky as the poster with her bfa

I disagree about dark paint making a room feel smaller. That's what we've always been told, but it wasn't until recently that we were being told the opposite. I painted a room a very dark navy and to me the room felt much more expansive. I suppose these "rules" are in the eye of the beholder.... And this post is just referring back to the other rules for small spaces, no large scale furniture pieces, and no dark colors, that we were being told in design magazines not too long ago... I happen to feel like a small space with too many small pieces feels cluttered and unwelcoming, but a small space with a couple of large comfortable pieces is far more appealing. Obviously a small room filled with a full size sofa, two chairs, an ottoman, a coffee table and a couple of end tables will feel smaller.

Here two examples from the Small Cool 2011 contest that seem contradicting the "no dark colours in small places" rule (at least from the photos) and actually achieving great spaces and tons of personality:
Square Feet: 285
http://community.apartmenttherapy.com/contests/smallcool/2011/entries/2076
Square Feet:523
http://community.apartmenttherapy.com/contests/smallcool/2011/entries/920

I think, as always, the trick is in the details. Both examples have plenty of small reflective surfaced that make the spaces sparkle.

I'd be curious to see how they look in daylight.

. . .I will disagree on some of the points you have mentioned - first of all having a small space does not mean having everything else small . . . having to furnish a small space means intelligence and style! Small spaces can look all the more interesting & charming, done correctly.As an Interior Designer myself (Residential, commercial & Yacht) I find that large key pieces add impact and drama - they help the eyes focus more on whats there then whats not (space) obviously one would have to limit a size of a sofa accordingly- that's plain logic! But the worst thing one can do in a small space is clutter it with small furniture, when you do this you tend to create clutter and make the eyes go all over the place, you will feel confused and you wont create that sanctuary feel of your home. Dark walls - I disagree as well! & I also recommend painting the ceiling a couple of shades darker then white as white is more stark and will still give you that impact contrast you don't want! Compromise on size not style!!!

Giving tips to help us make the most of our space. Please tell me that a dark paint color will make a small space smaller. Thanks a lot :)

Pamh: That giant couch rocks that space. But... you've given consideration to the other pieces and to balance, which allows it to function and look beautiful at the same time.

I agree that we shouldn't limit ourselves to tiny furniture because we live in tiny homes, but I also see the author's point - that sometimes advice-givers err too far on the other side of the spectrum, advising people to go giant when they should maybe go giant-with-small or giant-but-limited-number.

Mary

I agree that smaller furniture is better in my apartment. I currently have a Huge sofa and I have no choice in the matter at this time. We don't all have thousands of dollars to work with like the pro's on HGTV have to help people out with small spaces. My apartment is currently comprised of two big rooms and a tiny kitchen and bathroom, one of the big rooms my living room, and the other is my bedroom Both are equal in size. I've moved my shelving to the walls, and plan to get a better but smaller desk. My sofa is so Nice though! Maybe I can trade it off for a loveseat, hmmmm.

One thing I have to point out is that making a space seem bigger isn't always the goal. Dark paint, for instance, can make a space seem cozier. There's nothing wrong with that. I think we should be allowed to question this ideal of larger spaces, or spaces that seem larger than they are.

I wish I had thought of this 5 years ago when I helped choose furniture for my boyfriend's house- or could convince him of this idea period. He has a tiny living room and decided to get a normal sized couch, a huge armoire to hide the TV (which he no longer has) and huge (size of a child's bed) coffee table that flips up so he can eat on the couch. All at rooms to go and a local large furniture store. It's made it next to impossible to use the room and it feels overwhelming every time I'm in there. I want to sell the coffee table and armoire but he paid so much for them that he refuses to part with them. His solution: Just don't go in there.

Most recently he bought a four post bed that he had to position just right so the ceiling fan doesn't hit the top rails. *headdesk*

Our place is 550 square feet. We have two of the largest recliners we could find (we're tall), and a reclining love seat and a captain's chair in the living room...all large. Maybe we're breaking the rules, but we love it. Also in the living room is my grandmother's china hutch...filled with books. We have a Queen Sized bed with the large headboard with side cupboards (the only furniture in the bedroom). I say...rules be damned. People should have what they like and feel comfortable in. I don't know who died and left certain "experts" in charge of what's "acceptable" in home or personal fashion. *groan*...just be happy people.

Our place is 550 square feet. We have two of the largest recliners we could find (we're tall), and a reclining love seat and a captain's chair in the living room...all large. Maybe we're breaking the rules, but we love it. Also in the living room is my grandmother's china hutch...filled with books. We have a Queen Sized bed with the large headboard with side cupboards (the only furniture in the bedroom). I say...rules be damned. People should have what they like and feel comfortable in. I don't know who died and left certain "experts" in charge of what's "acceptable" in home or personal fashion. *groan*...just be happy people.

It does always seem to be a combination of factors that makes the difference - mauishopgirl's big black sofa is a good example. I find this subject fascinating and would love to read more. Examples would be great!

I saw bookcases at Dania, white and black side by side, and the black seemed about 3" deeper no matter from what angle you looked - i.e., the dark color receded.

I painted my 8x8' windowless laundry/utility room navy, and carried the blue up onto the ceiling about 16". The sense of height was so convincingly increased that I sometimes am surprised when an item doesn't fit on the top shelf.

On the other hand, the dark gray floor-to-ceiling curtains I hung in another small room made it terribly oppressive. Switching to light tan improved the situation remarkably.

"Ask yourself “What is the least amount of furniture I can get away with, while still meeting my needs?”" Thanks, that's great advice. I buy, keep, and maintain only furniture I use and for which there's space. Traditional arrangements rarely suit my small home.

@Annie-O, I find this subject fascinating, too. For example, lady's fashion guides often say women wearing black look smaller. Yet, home decor guides often say black furniture looks bigger. Can opposite positions regarding how color affects visual weight both be true? How?

I'll stick to my "Lucite and leggy Danish Modern furniture".

I totally agree with @mauishopgirl. It so depends on your space and your layout.

Also there's also plenty of spaces that aren't just straight "big" or "small" that you can't just magically apply rules to anyway. I personally have a large loft-like space - original beams, soaring ceilings, etc. However, I'm in an average size condo from a sqft perspective and our main room is a combo living/dining kitchen with not a ton of room for the living area. We tried a few variations and no sofa really worked well. The apt sized was too small, the overstuffed too big, the low-back longer one was too long and didn't go, etc.. In the end I just did the style I liked the best and worked around it in other ways. So as much as we'd like to compartmentalize into big and small spaces and give rules for each, every single space is different and requires its own "rules" be it for furniture or paint colors or whatnot.

Elaine, a person, unless they are very large, is generally smaller than a couch.

@ec05, Yes, and?

Some good tips here... just one comment - a darker colour can also make a room feel cozier - it depends on the colour & how you use it. Don't do this if you're trying to sell, but don't throw the idea out for yourself just because your space is small. Figure out how you want the room to feel, and maximize the way you use incorporate your lighting.

Pamh, yes I had a similar situation as you and it worked. I had a ten foot u shaped sectional in a 10 by 10 living room. But that was the only seating, except a counter stool near the open kitchen counter. Had no end tables (just an ottoman), a mini parsons desk and a very low profile media center. It worked perfectly but it was important that no clutter be left out. The couch became the main piece and everything else was bought in smaller scale (desk), even to the point of eliminating some pieces (no tables) and/or having multipurpose pieces (ottoman). In that same teeny apartment, I had 2 bedrooms, the sleeping room I had a queen size modern canopy bed 2 nightstands and dramatic drapes. In the 2nd bedroom, I stored my dresser and cubitec shelving, leaving just enough empty floor space for an air mattress when guests came to visit. If I had limited myself on the type of bed I wanted in order to fit my dresser in the same room, I believe how the small the room was would've been more noticeable but by leaving out the dresser I just made it into a very dramatic sleeping alcove.

Urbancricket, I did read the post closely and all the way thru so I guess I'm in the other 50%? I don't disagree with the poster and at the same time I'm of the fewer larger standout pieces look ten times better than a bunch of small ones. In my original post, I did comment how my big oversized couch worked in one small space but not another, as it depended on the scale which was affected by the layout and the other pieces in the room. This is pretty consistent, I think with what the article was getting at, right?

oh dear....I've gotten a massive sectional which I can't return for my tiny 500 sq ft apt :-(

can ANYone post examples of spaces that do take such cons and turn them in to pro's? thanx