smallcoolnyc

This Counterintuitive Art Selection Tip Can Make Small Spaces Look Larger

Written by

Alison GoldmanSpecial Projects Director at AT Media
Alison GoldmanSpecial Projects Director at AT Media
I manage large-scale editorial projects for AT Media's brands: Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, Cubby, and Dorm Therapy. I’ve also held editorial positions at Boston Globe Media's Boston.com, WomensHealthMag.com, and Glamour magazine. I graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, where I’ve taught as an adjunct lecturer.
published May 16, 2022
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modern archival style room with yellow floral long curtains, deep red velvet sofa, artifacts, a desk, abstract art prints
Credit: Rikki Snyder

When you live in a small space, your first inclination may be to decorate it with small furniture — after all, small will fit in small, right? The truth is, that’s not always necessary — in fact, sometimes mini items can draw more attention to the size of the room and therefore make a room feel even tinier. You can also think big when it comes to adding art to small spaces — and this year’s Small/Cool NYC designers have created rooms that offer all the evidence you need. 

Credit: Rikki Snyder

In Kyle Ortiz’s “California Cool” room, large art on three different walls anchors the space. “The tapestry and art pieces on the wall add eclectic visual interest right when you walk in the room,” Ortiz says. Above the bed, you’ll find a set of coordinated but distinct tall abstract floral prints that together take up about five feet of wall width. Additionally, Ortiz hung a 44-inch-by-44-inch warm-toned digital artwork, “The Secret” by Efrat Ofek, above the dresser and placed a more than five-foot-tall textured wall hanging on the opposite wall. It’s a lot of large pieces, and yet, rather than crowd the room, they offer depth. 

Credit: Rikki Snyder

Carmeon Hamilton also placed large textured art on opposite walls in her “Boho Beauty” bedroom. In her case, she used a stunning canvas piece by Frances Berry and a wall hanging from The Citizenry that was handcrafted in Mexico. “I believe small space calls for big style,” Hamilton says. “Mixing and layering these different patterns and textures makes the room feel way more dynamic and instantly adds volume.”

Credit: Rikki Snyder

Several other Small/Cool NYC designers demonstrated the same technique as Ortiz and hung two distinct but harmonious big pieces side-by-side. designers Cortney and Robert Novogratz placed the coolest portraits of Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi by PAJAMERZ next to each other in their “Be Our Guest” guest bedroom. In her “Modern Archival” space, designer Christiane Lemieux paired two pieces from different artists: “Terra Cotta” by Angela Simeone and “Construct 32” by Ashleigh Ninos. Designer Jenna Pilant did the same in her “Walls That Wow” room, mixing things up with a print of Andy Warhol’s “Cow 1971” and a print of “She Believed She Could” by Robyn Blair.

Credit: Rikki Snyder

Clearly, even small rooms with minimal wall space have massive art possibilities — figuratively and literally!

Small/Cool NYC is a shoppable, in real life and digital home design showcase full of decorating tips and tricks from your favorite designers. Visit us from April 22 to May 15, 2022, on weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) from 11 am to 7 pm ET at 515 Broadway in Soho, New York City. Check out our event schedule and the whole virtual experience online at smallcool.com and follow along on Instagram @apartmenttherapy. Thank you to our sponsors BEHR® Paint, Toyota Corolla Cross, Ashley, Yogi® Tea, and Chasing Paper for making this experience possible.