7 Design Tweaks That Will Instantly Refresh Your Small Space for Spring

ICYMI: Living in a small space isn’t all Instagrammable tiny houses or fun D.I.Y. projects from Pinterest. Sure, small spaces offer the unique challenge of maximizing your design chops in a teeny, tiny space, but the truth is it can be really frustrating. Not only do you have to find sneaky ways to make your small space look bigger, but you also have to figure out clever ways to store your stuff without turning it into a cluttered mess.

But hitting the refresh button on your small home? Now that feels like mission impossible. With a new, warmer season creeping up on us (well, hopefully!), it’s only natural to want to spruce up your space for spring. But there’s only so much you can do with a small space, right?

Think again.

Here, eight design experts share tiny tweaks that can totally transform your small space.

“Paint it deep blue. It’ll look endlessly spacious as blue recedes and your small space will look so much bigger. Napoleonic Blue is my deep cobalt, which is calming, mysterious, and interesting—and spending an afternoon painting one or all the walls in this color is the cheapest most immediate way to transform a room.” —Annie Sloan, color expert and founder of Chalk Paint

“Removable wallpaper is an easy and affordable way to refresh your space. Whether it’s an entire wall or just a small nook, you can add interest, depth, and pattern in a short weekend project—and change it out anytime you need another refresh.” —Elizabeth Rees, founder of Chasing Paper

“There is no better low-cost way to revitalize a small space than plants. Fresh plants bring life and happiness to a space.” —Kristen Peña, founder of K Interiors

“I see so many rooms that could benefit from a little window magic. Instead of hanging your curtain rod just above your window frame, hang it high—ideally a couple of inches from the ceiling. Then, choose curtains that extend all the way from the rod to the floor. It’ll instantly make the room look taller! For even more impact, get a longer curtain rod (or extend your current one) so that the curtain panels hang outside the window frame when they’re pushed open. You’ll get more light in the room and make the window look bigger.” —Donna Garlough, style director for Joss & Main.

“When you’re dealing with tight quarters—and especially with spaces with limited storage—so much ends up being out in the open, which can make a room look cluttered fast. I love the idea of good-looking hooks or this genius catch-all that puts your everyday things like keys and bags on the display, maybe even mixed in with some plants!” —Erica Cerulo, co-founder of Of a Kind

“Creating sitting areas by windows helps to create warmth and is a perfect way to utilize a space surrounded by natural light and/or beautiful garden or city views. You can achieve this through the use of window seats, grouped chairs, or chaises.” —Kenneth Boyer and Kristin Gunnette, co-founders of Atelier k

“Introducing new textures, such as a plush throw blanket or a woven basket, takes your space up a notch and adds another visual layer. And since they aren’t a permanent fixture, you can refresh each season.” —Camille Styles, lifestyle expert and EasyCare Paint brand ambassador

“Furniture is expensive. So rather than change the furniture, add a new rug. It will instantly change the feel of a room and also bring a sense of warmth and comfort.” —Philippa Briscombe, founder of little P