New Home, Less Space? Here is Some Advice
If you have been able to purchase a new home, and you were able to afford a little less space than expected, there is no reason why your new home has to look or feel crowded, even if you have less square footage. Below are some tips to help you expand the look and feel of your newly purchased home.
1. Even if you like a lot of light, overhead lighting illuminates a room too much and actually emphasizes the size of the room. This means that if the room is smaller than you would like, excess lighting will reveal this. It is recommended that you use smaller lamps and focused lighting on the areas of the room in which you will occupy or spend the majority of your time. Table lamps and unique lighting selections can also make your decorating eclectic and inviting.
2. Color coordination – maybe a small palette of just a few colors – will make the house seem to “flow” together 
instead of using a different color in every room. By using too drastically different of colors, you are highlighting the fact that every room is separate, which may make the focus on the room size more stark. With a blended palette throughout, your room spaces may blend together more seamlessly.
3. Some people think that getting a shower enclosure is a good way to create more space in the bathroom. However, by installing a shower door, you only are creating two cramped spaces instead of a larger vanity area space. By installing a panel that can open, which only covers 1/3 to 1/2 of your shower space, you are creating a versatile space between your vanity area and your shower area.
4. When choosing your decor, think, small and delicate in order to utilize your cubic space instead of your square footage. Oversized couches, beds, and bedroom furniture can take up all of your space and make the rooms seemed cramped and tight to move around. Have fun choosing decorative furniture that is simple in design and takes up less space.
5. If you have the ability, try to use all light colors in your kitchen, including your kitchen cabinets. Dark cabinets make a room seem much smaller, especially if your kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling. Even though the storage space is great, the cabinets will seem to “swallow” the room, and a lighter color may deflect this feeling. If your cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling, and you have your heart set on dark cabinets, try using a sharply contrasting wall color (black and white) to set off the cabinets and give them a more aesthetic appeal.
