The condominium lifestyle can offer all the conveniences of a larger home without the yard work. True, your neighbours may be a bit close and you may not have as much square footage as in a detached house, but you are most likely within walking distance of many activities, from the mundane to the exciting.
The following are some tips for making your space elegant and livable from Sally Morse, director of creative services for window fashions manufacturer Hunter Douglas:
Clear Out Clutter
Most of us will admit to having more stuff than we need. A really rigorous editing of possessions collected over time will make your home appear more spacious. Contemporary window treatments that provide an expansive view of the outside also work wonders in creating an open, airy feeling.
Create Space
Create the illusion of increased space by letting colours flow from one room to the other and using mirrors to enlarge spaces.
Consider Colour
It's a fact that pale hues advance, thus expanding a room, while dark tones recede and shrink a space. So for a small room, unless you intentionally want to make it feel snug, choose lighter tones and keep the colours harmonious. Colour can be used to connect rooms—the lines between rooms can virtually dissolve with a shared colour scheme.
Add Texture
Remember that texture can be used in place of pattern to add interest without interruption. Pirouette window shadings, with soft adjustable horizontal fabric vanes attached to a sheer backing, come in stylish textured fabrics.
Absorb Sound
Interior furnishings can help block out noisy neighbours and street traffic. All Hunter Douglas products are rated for sound absorption and certain styles of its Vignette Modern Roman shades earn five stars for sound absorption.
Add Height
High ceilings can make a small room appear larger. One way to fool the eye and make them seem higher is to add trim five feet up on the wall and paint everything above—including the ceiling—a darker shade than the walls below.
Choose Furnishings with Flexibility
Use chairs that can move from one room to the other, tables that stack or provide storage space and free-standing bookcases that can serve as room dividers.
Entertain with Ease
Even if you don't have a formal dining room, invite your friends over and create a moveable feast by setting up a buffet on your kitchen counter.
Make Rooms Multi-task
Between meals, the dining table can be used for arts and crafts projects, homework or a home office. Children's rooms need to accommodate bedroom, playroom and study space. With built-ins and flexible furniture, even a small child's room can do it all.
Break the Rules
But break them carefully. If you have a large piece of furniture you adore, use it. A lot of tiny pieces may actually make a room look even smaller. If you love dark colours, take care of contrasting planes by using a similar shade on floors, furnishings and ceiling.
More information is available online at www.hunterdouglas.ca or toll-free at 1-800-265-8000.
