How to Create a Cozy Home in a Small Space: 5 Practical Tips

I’ve always lived in small spaces, from living in a tiny dorm room in NYC to a basement apartment at the in-laws. As odd and sometimes uncomfortable as these spaces can be, I’ve also found that they can be more homey and welcoming than a massive home. I’d like to think I’ve mastered the art of the small home, and I’d like to share that with you.

1 - Lighting has the biggest impact on any space. Whether you want to make your space feel larger, or more intimate, lighting will have a huge impact on how the space feels. Small can lights offer a pleasant way to bring in a lot of light in a variety of color temperatures, while also maintaining a clean, noninvasive look. Using a 4000K to 6000K bulb will provide a bright white to cool white look to a room, perfect for a modern and open look. On the other hand, using a 2700K or 3000K bulb will provide a warm, cozy atmosphere. While you could still use can lights for a warmer look, using only lamps and small lights will provide a level of intimacy that will encourage any guest to stay a while. My favorite is a couple of lamps with 3000K dimmable bulbs, allowing me to light the room for any and all moods.

2 - Colors matter. We all know this, but sometimes color is scary. I’ve been thinking for a while about painting our office/dining room (yes it does double duty) a dark navy or evergreen, and while it is extremely intimidating in the small room, color will always add where character is missing. Our current home doesn’t have any old charm or beautiful moldings, and while we could leave it white and beige, I’d rather give the space its own character, full of mystery and warmth. Even with a small space, the story the walls tell is important, and it should never be that you’re afraid of color or of shrinking the space. Dark walls don’t have to push you our, in fact I think they can bring another layer of interest for everyone who enters. Each color tells its own story and while I may prefer more muted tones, a bright pink wall will also tell its own tale. Vibrant colors are welcoming in their own way, full of joy and life, something that is often missing in the homes we often see in magazines and social media. The color you choose tells the story of you and your home, so don’t be afraid of putting yourself on the walls.

3 - Art is where your interests and personality can really play. From a vintage oil painting to a modern print, the art you place on your walls is where the conversation starts. The moment you place an interesting piece of art on your walls and the conversation starts, you expand the space well outside its walls. Art is where the imagination can run, whether to the flowing fields of an impressionist or into the abstract mind of a cubist. The conversations that flow from those pieces will take the mind out of a small space and expand it to the world beyond. 

4 - Furniture anchors a room, whether it be light and bright acrylic chairs or a trusty mahogany table. Each piece makes a difference, even more so in a small space. With little room, each chair, table and shelf must fit in perfectly to ensure the room is not over crowded. With family hand-me-downs and thrifted finds, this can be difficult to sustain a style or even space. The key is limits. Too many pieces in a room will look more like a stuffed thrift store than an inviting home, so even if you aren’t into minimalism (and I’m not), less truly is more. A cozy space is not about how much you can fit in, it’s about how you make the space feel. All this being said, don’t be afraid of big pieces in small rooms, within reason. Our current sofa is almost the size of our living room, and while I would normally say that’s not ideal, there is nothing that could make the room cozier. When you walk in the room, the sofa is there waiting to engulf you. While it defines the space, it doesn’t overwhelm the space. There’s only a small table and a lamps on either side, so while it is large, it fits the space perfectly.

5 - Rugs are where your feet land when you step through the door, sit down on the couch or stand to wash the dishes. Each rug has to be suited for its room, not just in style, but also in function and size. A rug that reaches to the corners of the bedroom will shrink the space, and a tiny rug under a coffee table won’t give your feet a comfortable place to rest. A well sized rug, with a suitable pile for the room provides a warm welcome to your feet, and your guests’.

These 5 aspects of a room are not the only areas that make an impact, but these define the space from floor to ceiling. A home is not meant to just be furnished and designed, but to be lived in, so while we may all love to romanticize the "perfect”, clean homes we see on social media, they are not realistic. They are not not lived in. Home is the heart of every family and I hope that even if you have a small space like I do, that you can find small but impactful ways to create a more welcoming and inviting place.

Cheers, to a home full of love and laughter, coziness and care, and most of all to a home that you make your own!