Designer Dan Marty didn't worry about making his 500-square-foot living space seem larger--he simply treated it as "normal" space, using lots of texture and a British Colonial theme. White furniture was paired with dark wood, accented with sisal flooring, stacked rattan suitcases, bamboo shades and lots of baskets for texture. Marty prefers old European market baskets for their aged patina and interesting hardware. One of his secrets for living in a small space is to use furniture that rolls, flips or folds, such as a dining table that flips up or leaves on a table that fold down. Outside , he transformed his patio into another seating area, using plants and pots to define conversation areas.
The colors of grass, flowers and sky gave designer Caryn Hoffberg the inspiration for decorating her 700-square-foot apartment. In her pink living room, she uses lots of geometric prints--stripes, ginghams, plaids and polka dots--for her upholstery, all connected by the same color. She angled her furniture to create a sense of more space. In her green office with grass-green carpet, she uses large furniture pieces , even though the room is small, for a cozy feel. In her blue bedroom, she keeps her displayed collections of hats and old pictures from feeling cluttered by keeping them well organized.
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