Handy How-To's

Make the floor more visible   In an earlier post, I described how windows and mirrors can relieve the feeling of being closed in by a small room. Here, I will describe strategies that focus on improving sight lines towards the floor of your home. Using thin, streamlined furniture makes a small space more roomy. As can be seen in this example, the dining table and chairs take up very little space, allowing for greater freedom of movement in this small dining area. They also allow unobstructed views of the floor and walls, which create the illusion of a bigger space. A big bonus is that this type of furniture is durable, lightweight, easy to move, and easy to clean. By raising its bottom slightly above the floor, the cabinet shown below appears to float between the living and dining areas, looking a lot smaller than it really is. Raising the cabinet also improves the air circulation between the two spaces, making them feel cool and comfortable.  Anothe...

Use windows and mirrors to make a space feel big Confined spaces are so…confining, and many people find it almost impossible to feel comfortable in them. Unfortunately, many of us cannot afford to live big homes with expansive rooms and picture windows. But do we small-house-dwellers have to put up with that feeling of being boxed in? Not at all! In this article, I would like to describe a couple of strategies to make small spaces feel bigger and more relaxing. While being in small room or space can make a person feel ill at ease, a mere glance outside the window provides instant relief. Why? I believe it’s mainly because looking out the window enables the eye to focus on a more distant scene. So here is one way to make ourselves forget that we are in a small room: get a view of the outside world! Open those windows​ and curtains! If the window glass is frosted, replace it with clear glass. If there is some concern about security or about the heat, cold, rain, dirt, i...