Even when you may not have a lot of square footage, you still want your home to be stylish and welcome without the space seeming cramped and crowded. Here are some helpful tips for making the most of the space you have.

Not all homes have large rooms. Even if your home has small rooms, don’t despair. You will still be able to display your treasures without creating cluttered rooms. These basic decorating dos and don’ts will help you make the most of the space you have and create a home that feels open and inviting.

Do’s

Make the ceiling the starting point for decorating. Place the drapes or curtains as close to the ceiling as possible. This allows the curtains to flow freely and creates the sense of an open space.

Use built-in storage spaces. Built-in bookshelves allow you to display your treasures without taking up precious floor space. Built-in storage bins and drawers give you more storage space to help keep the room from looking cluttered while allowing you easy access to these items.

Reflections can make a small room seem larger. Use mirrors and glass as a way to “expand” the space you have.

Use open spaces between rooms rather than closed doors. Removing doors or widening entryways between rooms will make each separate room a part of something larger, creating a sense of a more spacious area.

Use subtle differences to define each room rather than completely different color schemes or flooring. For instance, the walls of two different rooms can be in the same color, but have a different texture. This gives each room a separate look while still creating a unified and open look throughout.

Use light colors. Darker colors can make a room appear smaller. Use light, bright colors in order to give the sense of an open and airy space.

Draw attention upward. This helps to create an illusion of more space. This can be done using crown molding, placing curtain rods as close as possible to the ceiling, and placing borders along the walls at ceiling level.

Use the same flooring throughout the house. This will help give the impression that each room is part of a larger whole – rather than separating each room into small spaces.

Use the great outdoors to give your home a sense of expanded space. Large open windows allow the sunshine in, allowing natural light to give your room an airy and open appearance. Large windows and doors opening onto porches or patios can also help to make your rooms appear larger.

Don’ts

Don’t be afraid to use large pieces of furniture – especially pieces that have the added advantage of providing much needed storage space. A large entertainment center in the living room can provide storage space that allows you to keep games and other items readily available for family time as well as provide a focal point for the room.

Don’t clutter. This is one of the most important don’ts for a small house. Fewer pieces of furniture will create more room and keep the room from feeling crowded and small. As stated above, use larger pieces that are multi- functional.

Don’t use a lot of patterns – plain and simple patterns that work well together throughout the home will give the essence of more space and provide a uniform view of the entire home rather than a single room at one time.

Don’t forget to include the ceiling in your décor. There are many ways in which you can bring the ceiling into the overall design of the room.

Don’t undermine the value of architectural detailing, such as molding or wainscoting. Molding and wainscoting can be used to accent and define a small space.