Creating space where there isn't any
Sometimes too much space is a predicament. I'm sure you are rolling your eyes at the ridiculousness of such a comment in a column focused on tiny spaces.
Before you laugh out loud as you sit in your studio apartment or one-bedroom bungalow with virtually no closet storage, hear me out: There are situations in smaller living spaces with high ceilings where the lack of coziness presents itself as a negative.
Loft spaces, old row houses and converted industrial buildings can feature 12- to 14-foot high ceilings that are not conducive to functionality. Let's look at some simple solutions that can bring the focus down to a pleasant pace and create a comfortable ambience.
We function most of the time at eye level, observing what is on a wall or in a space about 6 or 7 feet high and below. If there is an element that forces our eye up, such as bold crown molding or a stunning light fixture, we gaze up. It could be a tongue-and-groove wood ceiling treatment, rustic beams or amazing contemporary light fixtures that drive us to tilt our head up. Often, designers use paint or wallpaper to move the viewer's attention from the floor up to the ceiling.
In a location where you do not want to pull the eyes upward, specific design approaches can be applied. In an act to create a snug dining corner within a room with a 14-foot ceiling, this option shows mosquito netting hung from the ceiling. It elegantly provides a room within a room, yet is light and permeable without breaking up the larger area. It's whimsical!
Another enjoyable way to create a little subspace could be enclosing a dining nook using portable see-through folding screens. In the same way that little kids are drawn to hiding places in their rooms, adults retain an affinity for compact spaces. Consider hanging mosquito netting from the ceiling around a bed for drama, or around an infant crib in a parent's room to identify the baby's space.
In a room with high ceilings and wainscoting, as shown, try using darker-colored paint on the ceiling and walls. Keep the wood trim and paneling white. By coloring a ceiling darker than the walls, you bring the surface down and shrink the space.
Most of the time in this column, we speak about expanding space. Remember that if you paint the ceiling white, you will lose the effect of a lid on the room. Color theory tells us that in general, dark colors make a surface advance and light colors make it recede. For example, if you want the walls of a corridor to expand, paint them a light color. If you want an uncomfortably wide hallway to shrink, then paint the walls a darker tone.
Another valuable point to consider is the size of each piece of furniture used in relation to the room itself. This is what interior designers call scale.
In a cavernous space, low pieces look dwarfed, which can result in awkwardness. You may not even be aware of what is wrong in such a situation. Counterbalance room height with oversized art on the walls. Introduce a very tall specimen tree or two in a large pot or basket. Place a few elements that reach for the volume created by high ceilings.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
© 2017, Creators Syndicate