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Spruce up your small spaces
Another homestead aspect that we tackle this month is decorating small spaces. Click here to start prettifying your petite place!

It may seem like a challenge to fit everything in a small home, such as a condominium unit built for two. For sure, less space may mean less room to romp in, but that doesn't mean that your living quarters have to be sparse and Spartan! With a little imagination, you can maximize your space and add charm to your living area at the same time. Here are practical interior decorating ideas to help you get started on dressing up a cool and cozy home.

• Look up and down. The space in a room does not only mean the floor area. You can put in shelves for storage on the walls, or look for furniture with pull-out features such as hidden drawers under a sofa. These will help a lot in lessening the cluttered appearance of your rooms.
• Think small. You will not want to crowd out your living room, for example, with an overstuffed sofa, especially if it will not leave room for anything else. Fit your furniture and appliances to scale, to make the most of your available areas. If you wish, you may have one item larger than the rest, and use this as the focal point in your room. When choosing your furnishings, remember to keep it simple, but stunning.
• Review your lifestyle. Thinking about how you would use a particular area regularly will help you decide what belongs and what does not. In your kitchen, for example, a two burner stove would do if you are not into heavy cooking. The space that will be occupied by a full-service range and oven will be better occupied by a microwave oven, especially if you are always on the go.
• Keep it light. A scheme with dark colors will tend to make a room seem smaller. Go for light-colored wall and window treatments. If you are leaning towards wallpaper, choose a design that utilizes vertical lines, or small patterns. You would also do well to stay away from loud patterns on sofas, tablecloths and rugs. Windows can be kept nice and bright with the use of sheer fabrics, instead of heavy curtains. Adding mirrors in strategic areas can also help give the illusion of space by reflecting light.
• Volt in! Some interior designers and architects are now favoring the practice of hiding items behind walls – a decorative hinge on a wall can be pulled to reveal a guest bed, or even a breakfast nook table! You may want to scout for professionals in the area who can help you with this cool idea.
• Get thematic. Aside from adding to your cleaning chores, too much clutter in the way of decorations can also give one a claustrophobic feeling. To help you choose which décor items to keep and which to store, take a good look at all the display items you have accumulated through the years and spot a common theme among them. Paintings or photos with one recurring subject matter, interesting wedding souvenirs from friends and family, or a favored collection of china dolls can be put on display, while the rest can be hauled out to storage.