Solutions to tricky decorating problems

Small rooms and spaces can be tricky to decorate. Here are three ideas and solutions we like, which we found in decorating magazines.

To make a long, narrow hallway look wider than it really is, you want to paint the walls and ceilings the same color. The experts at Better Homes & Gardens, for example, recommend a warm yellowish or sandy tone. Paint baseboards white, rather than a dark color.

Instead of chandeliers and sconces, use recessed lighting or build niches built between the studs. Extra-large mirrors or artwork on the long section of the walls will attract attention and draw your eye away from the end of the hallway.

Use white paint and furniture to expand a space. White on all surfaces, even floors, can be effective. “With so much white around you, you’re not so conscious of walls and boundaries. A room that might otherwise seem small feels a lot bigger and more modern,” says Washington, D.C.-based interior and furniture designer Darryl Carter. See examples at Elle Décor.

Avoid the temptation to fill a room with stuff. Your eye needs a place to rest. “Instead of packing the room with furniture, place well-edited pieces in groups for conversation, with space to move about,” Jackie Higgins of Beach Glass Designs told Woman’s Day. Read more at “11 Common Decorating Setbacks—Solved.”

What’s your decorating dilemma? Drop in at Lilli’s Lighting and Decor. and ask us. We can find a solution.