COZY, NOT CRAMPED

After decades of bigger-is-better thinking, more and more Americans are making a lifestyle shift. Weary of the upkeep and expense that comes with expansive real estate, they are consciously thinking small. The rising popularity of cottages and condos reflects that vibrant new trend.

For many, it's a choice that works. But with the timesaving benefits of small spaces come special interior design challenges. How do you decorate these cozy little habitats? And what options make the most efficient use of each and every square foot?

"First, and most important, do edit," says Edie Cohen, senior editor at Interior Design magazine. "Don't cram the place with too much of anything." Use the same economic sensibilities that brought you to a small living space to decorate it.

Christine Pittel, editor of House Beautiful Magazine, agrees. In her upcoming book, "House Beautiful Small Spaces" ($30, Hearst Books) Pittel reminds the small-space advocate, if the key factor to consider when buying real estate is "location, location, location," the guideline in decorating cozy confines should be "edit, edit, edit."

But don't eliminate clutter altogether. "Most of us work in a very cold, computer-monitored, sterile setting," says Greg Johnson of Design Works in Spokane. "When we go home, we want to see the little things we've held onto -- the warm things that make a house a home. So keep your mementos, but think `organized.' Use shelves, curio cabinets and small tables to order your displays -- everything in its place."

Avoid overstuffed furniture in small spaces, Johnson warns. "You need to respect the scale of the furniture to the room. Wood furniture legs raised up off the floor allow the room to look more spacious. And floor coverings -- area rugs -- hold everything together (and) don't allow it all to float."

Does this order have to mean dull? "Not at all," Cohen says. "But it does means `be creative.' Choose one special aspect of a room as a `Wow' factor. This can be a piece of furniture, a work of art, an outrageous color scheme or an unusual material mix."

Key to success is quality, not quantity, according to Cohen. "Don't cram the place with too much of anything," she says. "Emphasize the space, not the stuff."

Color can also be important to more intimate spaces, the experts say.

"People get hung up on pastels," Johnson says, "but that's a mistake. Don't avoid dark colors just because the space is small. I've used lots of dark colors and they look great."

Don't be afraid to use lighting to enhance your space either, Johnson continues. "Putting `up-lights' on timers behind plants and foliage will throw interesting shadows on the walls for another expansive, small-space illusion," he says. "And considering you can get an up-light for about $9 and a timer for $10, you achieve a dramatic effect for very little money."

According to "House Beautiful Small Spaces," the middle of a small room is a frequently neglected decorative resource. "Furniture usually hugs the walls," the book says, "leaving the center unoccupied. Try a pedestal table piled with books in the middle of a living room, with a comfortable chair nearby."

Creative flooring is another overlooked option, according to Johnson.

"Take a small bathroom for example," he says. "For years, the traditional thinking was (to) keep the pattern or print in tile or linoleum small. But a large line makes your eye go a little further, and gives the illusion of more space. So don't get too hung up on doing things by the book."

Precisely, says Cohen. "As long as you respect the architecture, you can break the rules and disregard the trends. You can have a sense of humor and reflect your own distinctive personality, as long as you respect the space."

These experts agree: within small spaces you'll find a world of decorative possibility. Personal style and imagination, it seems, are the keys to unlocking those diminutive doors.

Copyright 1999 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.