Size does matter when it comes to decorating your small space.
We decided to ask the experts: How can I make my tiny abode look a little larger?
Less is more, says Karl Lohnes, from HGTV's This Small Space, who brings his expertise to the Calgary Home and Garden Show this weekend at the Roundup Centre.
"To keep a nice flow throughout the main living space, keep the same colour in the attached rooms.
"For example, if you are using a neutral shade in the living room, keep it going throughout the kitchen, dining room and hallway. That helps you to create one larger space, rather than separating it into several smaller spaces."
Paying attention to the colours of baseboards, doors and even heat registers can also create a larger space visually, he says.
"Often people will have a closet or a door in a room that is painted a different colour than the walls.
"By painting everything the same colour, including your baseboards, you can literally add inches to your walls."
The same rule of thumb can be applied to your window treatments, says Mary Dobson, a familiar face from CityLine and fellow celebrity expert at the Calgary Home and Garden Show.
"People often choose a contrasting colour for their drapes or window treatments, which can really shrink your space.
"Instead, reduce the contrast. If, for example, you have a pale green wall, choose a drape in the same family of colours with the same intensity. That draws the eye up and creates a sense that the wall is much larger than it actually might be," says Dobson.
If you are really working in a tight space, it might be best to forego drapes, she adds.
"If your space is more eclectic or contemporary, eliminating the drapes can really work to help maximize the visual space.
"Just a blind can work wonders but again keep it simple and avoid too much contrast."
It's also important to keep your furniture in proportion to your space, says Lohnes.
"When choosing your furniture, remember it should never be more than two-thirds of the width of your room."
Art is another great way to add grandeur.
"Art is a fantastic way to add grand proportions to your rooms," says Lohnes.
"Use large pieces of art to really open up the space. When you see a very large piece of art, say above your sofa, you immediately see its size and think 'wow.'
"If you don't have one piece of large art, group 25 smaller family photos together."
