Updated 12/30/2008 04:05 PM
Manhattan Showhouse Full Of Ideas To Make A Small Space Feel Bigger
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Living in New York, we often have to think outside the box when it comes to making our small spaces feel larger.
There are a lot of tricks of the trade to make a 600 square foot space feel like home, from optical illusions to paint.
NY1 met with Elizabeth Mayhew of House Beautiful Magazine in the Designer Visions Apartments, a showhouse created by the Hearst home magazines, to highlight some of these tricks.
"You really need to do a couple of things to make your space feel much better," says Mayhew. "Number one, hang a mirror. Mirrors reflect light. They can double your windows in your apartment instantly. Just whatever you do, just reflect something beautiful."
You can also raise the roof a little bit with curtain placement. To make your ceilings feel higher, Mayhew says to hang curtains just short of the ceiling. If they are too short at the bottom, just add a boarder of a different fabric to finish them off.
Mayhew says another way to make a space larger is with paint.
"Contrary to popular belief or thought, painting a small space white does not necessarily make it bigger. Sometimes darker colors can dissolve the nuances of the room," she says. "You can't see the corners, so it can make a room feel bigger."
Dark colors can also make a room feel cozy. Mayhew also suggests painting the ceiling the same color as the walls, blurring the lines a bit and making the room feel even larger.
Screens are another must in a small space. Not only can you hide things behind them, but they also delineate space and can make one room feel like two.
"In small spaces you want to think about playing tricks on the eye, optical illusions, and one idea is when you are putting your mattress in, get a headboard that is actually smaller than the mattress size, it will give the optical illusion that the bed is taking less space," Mayhew recommends.
Lastly, Mayhew says to find furniture that serves double duty – like a dining room table that becomes a coffee table, or a console table with a built-in dog bed underneath.
To see more of these tricks, or to see the different homes created by the Hearst home magazines, visit the Designer Vision Apartments at The Laurel on East 67th Street this weekend. Entry is $30, with proceeds benefitting the Worldwide Orphans Foundation.
For hours and information visit DesignerVisionsOnline.com.