Latest news with #smallspaces
CNET
02-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
This Magic Chair Converts Into a Comfortable Bed, and It's 40% off Right Now
Creativity with space is key when you're working with a small home but like to host weekend guests. That's the situation I found myself in with a 1,100 square-foot cottage and only one guest bedroom. To help remedy the situation, I added Coddle's Switch Convertible Chair and a Half -- currently 40% off for the Fourth of July -- to my home office and now guests are fighting over who gets to sleep on it. The Coddle Switch chair isn't just an extra bed, it may become your new favorite place to read or listen to a podcast. David Watsky/CNET Futon-style convertible beds aren't known for comfort but Coddle's chair and a half is an exception. The wide chair unfolds into a twin bed with sinuous springs and a semi-firm pocket coil mattress. All it takes is a few gentle pulls and sliding the matching ottoman into place for the piece to transform from a handsome, cozy chair to a comfortable bed. The modular chair is made for forging a sleeping space out of even the smallest room without having to roll out a rickety cot or dedicate tons of real estate to a daybed or pullout sofa. The oversized chair, upholstered with your choice of plush velvet, flat weave (what I have) or soft boucle, isn't just a handy bed when needed, but my new favorite place to curl up with a book or laptop and chill. It takes about 5 seconds to turn this chair into a bed. David Watsky/CNET There are other, cheaper convertible-style chairs, and I've tried a few, but the Switch chair has a premium feel and mattress that's supportive enough to sleep on for more than a night. I did a deep dive into reviews before taking the plunge and my research paid off, landing me with with a spare bed that helped my dad get the "best night sleep he's had in weeks" during a visit in June. I opted for sturdy flat weave fabric and I don't regret it. David Watsky/CNET Coddle's Switch Convertible Chair and a Half is currently down to $899 -- $400 off the normal price -- until July 6, along with the mostly direct-to-consumer brand's full-sized sofas, sectionals and loveseats.
Washington Post
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
7 paint colors for small spaces, from quiet to loud
Teensy spaces can still pack a big aesthetic wallop, if you play your paint cards right. Just ask Coco Chanel, whose intimate salon at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris had gold walls dripping in rich girl energy. Or look at Monticello, where the parakeet green walls in Thomas Jefferson's private study give the room the swagger of a space twice its size. 'I love to embrace [small rooms] because they're already somewhat flawed in nature, because they're tiny,' says designer Sara Swabb, founder of Storie Collective, which has offices in Georgetown and in Nantucket, Massachusetts. 'Adding depth [with] a cocoon-like feel is very effective in a small room.' That doesn't have to be synonymous with dark colors, though. 'There's always some random designer who will say 'Paint it black, it doesn't matter,'' says Christine Tuttle, a designer based in Dedham, Massachusetts. 'And I'm like, 'You know what? It does matter. It doesn't make it cozy just because you're painting it dark.' I think you have to really understand the flow of the house, how the room presents when the door is open … So it depends on the space.' At the end of the day, it's not about rules — it's about intention: Do you want to make the space feel cozy or expansive? Here, designers share seven colors that can supercharge the style of even the smallest of rooms. Alison Hammatt, a designer based in Providence, Rhode Island, recently dressed up a client's narrow, low-ceilinged living room with Sherwin-Williams's Aristocrat Peach. The shade, she says, is 'warm and inviting while also still being fresh.' Hammatt removed the recessed lights in the room because they were overwhelming the small space, and she brought in lamps. 'We wanted a color that would feel soft with the lamplight and kind of recognize that this was going to be a cozy, warm room and not like a bright, vibrant one,' Hammatt says. Alison Hammatt, a designer based in Providence, Rhode Island, recently dressed up a client's narrow, low-ceilinged living room with Sherwin-Williams's Aristocrat Peach. The shade, she says, is 'warm and inviting while also still being fresh.' Hammatt removed the recessed lights in the room because they were overwhelming the small space, and she brought in lamps. 'We wanted a color that would feel soft with the lamplight and kind of recognize that this was going to be a cozy, warm room and not like a bright, vibrant one,' Hammatt says. Tuttle went with a light neutral, Benjamin Moore's Pale Oak, for the walls of this 'teeny tiny' dark bathroom. 'I know everyone was doing the moody thing last year, but you want it kind of sensible and bright,' Tuttle says. 'We usually do a midtone, but in small rooms it intensifies because the four walls are closer to each other.' Enter the lighter shade, which Tuttle says 'reads darker' when it's used in a small space. Tuttle went with a light neutral, Benjamin Moore's Pale Oak, for the walls of this 'teeny tiny' dark bathroom. 'I know everyone was doing the moody thing last year, but you want it kind of sensible and bright,' Tuttle says. 'We usually do a midtone, but in small rooms it intensifies because the four walls are closer to each other.' Enter the lighter shade, which Tuttle says 'reads darker' when it's used in a small space. 'Sometimes lighter rooms can make a small room feel washed-out or overly reflective,' Swabb says. That's why she chose Farrow & Ball's London Clay, a richly grounded hue with a lot of depth that absorbs light beautifully without feeling heavy, for a Bethesda, Maryland, powder room. 'The color itself is obviously warm, but it creates this sophisticated drama that works really nicely with the molding and trim detail that we added to the room,' she says. In a compact space, that balance of warmth and depth prevents the feeling that the walls are 'closing in,' while also lending a moody, tailored elegance. 'Sometimes lighter rooms can make a small room feel washed-out or overly reflective,' Swabb says. That's why she chose Farrow & Ball's London Clay, a richly grounded hue with a lot of depth that absorbs light beautifully without feeling heavy, for a Bethesda, Maryland, powder room. 'The color itself is obviously warm, but it creates this sophisticated drama that works really nicely with the molding and trim detail that we added to the room,' she says. In a compact space, that balance of warmth and depth prevents the feeling that the walls are 'closing in,' while also lending a moody, tailored elegance. Going monochrome — painting the walls and trim in the same color — can trick the eye into believing a small room is larger. This corner space in a home in Georgetown, also designed by Swabb, practically begged for the hygge treatment. The color that got the job done beautifully: Farrow & Ball's Studio Green, which shifts depending on the light. 'It has more yellow undertones when you're looking at it in natural light, but in a dark space, you're not getting a lot of that yellow reflection.' That's when it deepens to a rich, almost blackened green, and 'it can look dark blue,' Swabb says. Going monochrome — painting the walls and trim in the same color — can trick the eye into believing a small room is larger. This corner space in a home in Georgetown, also designed by Swabb, practically begged for the hygge treatment. The color that got the job done beautifully: Farrow & Ball's Studio Green, which shifts depending on the light. 'It has more yellow undertones when you're looking at it in natural light, but in a dark space, you're not getting a lot of that yellow reflection.' That's when it deepens to a rich, almost blackened green, and 'it can look dark blue,' Swabb says. Why fight the square footage when you can flirt with it? Marie-Joe Bouffard, principal of JFY Designs in Nashville, selected Sherwin-Williams's Grizzle Gray for the walls and ceiling in this 16-by-17-foot Nashville bedroom. The green undertones 'make the room feel warm and happy, not somber.' Bouffard said in an email. The rich, almost moody color envelops the space. 'I chose that color because it's a teen boy's room and wanted a color that felt masculine and a bit youthful, yet dark and cozy like a hug,' she added. Why fight the square footage when you can flirt with it? Marie-Joe Bouffard, principal of JFY Designs in Nashville, selected Sherwin-Williams's Grizzle Gray for the walls and ceiling in this 16-by-17-foot Nashville bedroom. The green undertones 'make the room feel warm and happy, not somber.' Bouffard said in an email. The rich, almost moody color envelops the space. 'I chose that color because it's a teen boy's room and wanted a color that felt masculine and a bit youthful, yet dark and cozy like a hug,' she added. Designer J.P. Horton selected Benjamin Moore's Guilford Green for this laundry room in Charleston, South Carolina. 'It's a gentle green with warm undertones that brightens up an otherwise tiny space,' he said in an email. The sage-y hue also plays well with others. It 'acts as a neutral and was a good choice for a room central to the house and open to other rooms painted in various other colors,' Horton says. Designer J.P. Horton selected Benjamin Moore's Guilford Green for this laundry room in Charleston, South Carolina. 'It's a gentle green with warm undertones that brightens up an otherwise tiny space,' he said in an email. The sage-y hue also plays well with others. It 'acts as a neutral and was a good choice for a room central to the house and open to other rooms painted in various other colors,' Horton says. Designer Tracy Morris chose Mineral Alloy, by Benjamin Moore, for a client's office, to match a 'beautiful, beautiful blue' in a Matt Camron rug in the adjacent living room. 'We decided the way to make it the most impactful was to paint the entire space that color,' says Morris, who is based in McLean. 'It's saturated, but it's not suffocating.' The result: a bold yet breathable space that feels like the definition of 'fun size.' Kathryn O'Shea-Evans is a design and travel writer in Colorado. Designer Tracy Morris chose Mineral Alloy, by Benjamin Moore, for a client's office, to match a 'beautiful, beautiful blue' in a Matt Camron rug in the adjacent living room. 'We decided the way to make it the most impactful was to paint the entire space that color,' says Morris, who is based in McLean. 'It's saturated, but it's not suffocating.' The result: a bold yet breathable space that feels like the definition of 'fun size.' Kathryn O'Shea-Evans is a design and travel writer in Colorado.
The Guardian
08-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
‘There are so many rental hacks': meet the small-space interior influencers
The dance pole bang in the middle of Georgie Webster's living room is one of its less eye-catching features. The lounge has striking pink and peach walls, a sideboard painted in cubes of purple and orange, and an olive-green sofa, all of which come together to create a kaleidoscope of colour. On paper, it really shouldn't work, but the 36-year-old artist and interior designer has more than pulled it off. Thousands of other people seemingly agree. Webster is one of a growing number of small-space interior influencers who has had a boom in interest from young renters and first-time buyers looking to spruce up their compact homes. 'People think interior design is just for rich people but it's very much not. Everyone deserves to have a nice house and you can do things on a much cheaper budget,' said Webster, who runs TikTok and Instagram accounts under the name GeorgieWebArt. For many young people, the dream of home ownership is an increasingly fleeting one. Recent analysis by the estate agent Hamptons found that 3.4 million under-45s were renters, a figure that has risen by 149,000 in the past two years. In the same period, this cohort has experienced a collective £3.5bn rent increase, which has made saving up for a house deposit even harder. Webster is one of the lucky few young homeowners, having bought her flat in Bristol in 2022. Before that, she had rented numerous properties in the city for almost a decade. 'I've done all the house shares, from chaotic housemates to amazing ones,' she said. Having a place to call her own has allowed her to express herself with no limitations. Her kitchen is decked from cupboards to floor in peach and her bathroom ceiling is painted sky-blue with white clouds. 'Not many landlords would be happy with that,' she said. Her audience, which she said are mostly aged between 24 and 34, comprises of those living in small homes, including renters who face stricter rules on doing up their properties. 'There are so many good rental hacks now. You can put peel-back tiles and floors down and you can paint if you're willing to paint it back after,' she said. Some creators have been particularly creative, with one using double-sided tape to easily install boutique wallpaper that can be taken down and put up again in another home. For those who would not dare touch their walls for fear of losing their deposit, Webster has a top tip: 'Focus on adding colourful accessories and artwork. Rugs make a massive difference to a room. Go for the biggest rug you can afford because that makes a huge difference.' Webster's embrace of colour comes amid a shift away from 'millennial grey', a neutral style that was all the rage until the early 2020s. She believes style is not the only reason behind this change. 'I partly think this is because the world is quite sad at the moment so if your space is happy, then you feel happier. Plus, everyone is struggling a bit for money, people are spending more time at home,' she said. Other are still stuck with the creative limitations that being a renter brings. Alice Redfearn, 27, has long looked at the high-end interior design featured on Architectural Digest and House & Garden, but living in London, hunkering down in such grand, stately places remains a dream. Nevertheless, the marketing officer, who runs a TikTok account called MerakialInteriors, has found a way to bridge the gap. 'I think you can have an appreciation for a good taste in interior design but also not be there physically and financially,' she said. 'I thought other people must also be struggling with this, so I kind of started making videos to give advice.' Originally from County Durham, Redfearn has lived in four properties since moving to the capital. 'I've always gone for houses that have good bones, ideally with big windows and tall ceilings,' she said. 'Of course, you can only be so picky when you're looking with friends and you have a small budget.' For Redfearn, patience is key to making your compact space feel homely and unique. 'A lot of the furniture that I have is stuff that was free on Facebook Marketplace or found on the street in good condition that could be cleaned and reused. 'It's not a fast process either. The house is not going to look exactly how you want it to look immediately, but eventually it will through slowly accumulating furniture, artwork and other things over time,' she said. She has some foolproof tips to make your temporary abode feel more stately: swap out the curtains – which are often cheap and ill-fitted – for some fancy ones; mix patterns and colours using trinkets and furnishings; and make some clever choices to add some scale. 'If you want your deposit back, you probably aren't going to be hammering nails into walls,' she said. 'You can split the space in two halves by having furniture of all the same height – your table, sofa, and TV. Then, you can have a very large blank space on your wall.' Redfearn said it was understandable why some rented properties lack colour and personality. 'People are quite hesitant to inject time, resource and money into spaces they may not be staying in long-term because of reasons beyond their control,' she said. But for those who want to turn their homes into havens, despite the limitations, it can be done. 'Young people deserve to have a nice home,' says Redfearn.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
I'm an interior designer – here's the paint colour I'd never use in a small room, it shrinks the walls
WITH summer fast approaching, there has never been a more perfect time to give your home the refresh it's been waiting for. But figuring out what to do with each room, what colours to use, and how to make it a relaxing space can be tricky. 4 4 And it can be even harder when it comes to the rooms that are a little bit smaller than you would like. When it comes to those rooms where there's not a lot of space to work with, decorating them properly is even more important. And experts have said that it's all about the colour that you put on the walls, as this can massively impact the feel of the space. Interior designer Terry Fisher of We Buy Any Home has said there is one colour that every homeowner should avoid using when painting a small room. The property pro explained that it could actually be sabotaging your interiors without you even realising. He revealed that dark grey should definitely be on the list of colours to avoid for your home. It might look stylish on Pinterest, but in reality, it tends to suck the light out of a space - especially if there's limited natural light to begin with Terry FisherInterior designer of We Buy Any Home And he added that it can make even a decent-sized space feel smaller, darker and more oppressive. Terry said: "Dark grey is one of the worst colours you can choose for a small room. "It might look stylish on Pinterest, but in reality, it tends to suck the light out of a space - especially if there's limited natural light to begin with. 'People think it'll make a room look moody and cosy, but what it actually does is shrink the walls, make ceilings feel lower, and highlight awkward shadows. I'm an interior designer & 12 'rookie errors' are making your home look cheap - avoid Mrs Hinch grey for starters "It can end up feeling more like a storage cupboard than a snug." And it's not just about looks - it could affect your home's appeal, too. He added: 'Buyers often get their first impression from photos online. 'Rooms painted in deep grey can photograph poorly - they often look dull or cramped, even if they're not in real life. "That can put buyers off before they've even stepped through the door.' Instead, Terry recommends sticking with light, neutral tones that bounce light around and make the space feel open and inviting. He said: 'You can't go wrong with soft off-whites, pale greys with warm undertones, or even subtle pastel shades. "They make rooms feel brighter and airier, which tricks the eye into thinking the space is bigger than it is. The five colours that are becoming outdated in 2025 IT'S important to make sure that when you update your space, you create a look that won't quickly become outdated. With that in mind, interior designers have revealed the five colours that are beginning to fade now that we are halfway into 2025. Interior pro Paulina Wojas from Stunning Chairs has said that 2025 is all about creating warm, inviting places. Emerald Green - "While this colour is still loved for its luxe vibe, its declining popularity could be due to it being oversaturated". Camel - "This could be due to Camel's brown-yellow undertone that may be too warm for a clean aesthetic, and 2025 interior trends favouring more muted, earthy tones such as taupe and olive.' Burgundy - "A prominent trend this year is open, airy spaces with organic elements, which could explain burgundy's declining demand". Scarlet Red - "While its vibrant hue is desirable for maximalist interiors, scarlet red's intensity can become overpowering, resulting in colour fatigue. Teal - "While this aquatic shade is still desirable and perfect for coastal, Greek-inspired interiors, the low number of teal sales could be due to changing preferences and trends shifting towards warmer colour palettes.' 'If you want to add drama, do it through accessories - cushions, rugs, or one feature wall. "But when it comes to the overall colour scheme, keep it light and simple in smaller rooms.' The right paint shade can even make your home more sellable, and Terry says it could ensure you get a higher offer. He added: 'Most people want a space that feels clean, bright and easy to live in. "And if your paint colour is putting buyers off or making a room feel smaller than it is, that could mean lower offers. 'Colour might seem like a personal choice - but when it comes to selling, it's a strategic one too.'
Wall Street Journal
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
5 Clever Ways to Make Tiny Rooms Look Bigger, According to Interior Designers
Faced with decorating a Lilliputian living space, many play it safe with neutral colors and demure furniture. Not Nina Blair, the interior designer behind the Manhattan apartment shown above. 'Don't shy away from bold personality, even in tight quarters,' said the founder of NinaBDesign. 'A strong concept can make a small space feel larger in spirit.' Here, she and her colleagues in the design field offer other techniques they deploy to make the most of volume-challenged rooms.
