Design ideas for small spaces

After you move into your new home and get everything in place, it can look a lot smaller than when you signed those papers.

Here are some designing and decorating ideas those small spaces to make the most of your new home.

Using mirrors in a room to expand the space is an oft-used home improvement design trick, but here's the secret: Hang the mirror high enough that it doesn't reflect the clutter of the room; higher than eye level is preferred.
If it is a large mirror, hang it as high on the wall as is practical. If high wall placement is impossible, lean the mirror on a shelf or mantel so that it tips upward slightly. If the mirror is hung too low and reflects the contents of the room, it will actually make the room look smaller.
Try placing your furniture at an angle to the walls in the room. If the furniture won't cooperate with that arrangement in your new digs, just place a large area rug on an angle to the walls. This allows the eye to be drawn across the room to visually expand the space, and also makes a room more interesting.
White walls are not necessarily the way to make a room look large -- they tend to create a lot of contrast with furniture and artwork, and contrast makes a room look smaller. Try painting the walls a soft, cool color to reduce the contrast, but still reflect as much light as possible. If you're renting an apartment, be sure to get the landlord's OK.
Use more light. Hang the window treatments for your new room to let in as much light as possible. When curtains or blinds are open, they should totally clear the window so they don't block any light. Also, hang the window treatments as high on the wall as they allow. This creates the illusion of a higher window, or a larger light source, making the room appear to expand.
Keep accessories to a few, larger-scale pieces to reduce clutter. If you have collections of smaller items you want to display, find a way to place them into a grouping. A display cabinet or shelf works well. Grouping the smaller elements together allows them to be seen from a distance as a single thing, and expands the look of space.
Try to choose window treatments in a color that blends with the wall color. This reduces the contrast seen with the larger items in a room, and makes the entire room appear more open.
Finally, take some time to shine the sleek surfaces in a room. Cleaning the windows, stove fronts and countertops from all the moving-in dust and grime brightens any room, reflects more light and creates the look of more space.

Kathy Wilson is a home and garden writer, author and consultant and is the home decorating expert for LifetimeTV.com.