Be inspired. Tight quarters didn’t stop Leonardo Da Vinci, who wrote in his notebooks, “Small rooms or dwellings set the mind in the right path; large ones cause it to go astray.” With tips from Marin designer Nancy Van Natta, here are some pieces to enhance any small room.
1. Last-minute additions to the dinner party are no problem with the Sienna Round Dining Table; the perimeter extension leaves add an extra 16" for more elbow room. $2,315 at Brownstone. 415.861.2426 brownstonefurniture.com
2. This set of maple nesting tables features a contemporary triangular design by Councill. $3,626 at Cabana Home (Mill Valley). 415.383.0201, cabanahome.com
Small Space Solutions
by Marin Designer Nancy Van Natta (and Quincy)
Begin by editing your color choice. Whether your color is dark and saturated or light and airy, you need to use one color throughout, along with a couple of small accents for interest. This means that the cabinetry should be the same color as the walls, the ceiling should be a lighter version of the wall color and flooring should be tone-on-tone. If you want to stick with one trim color throughout the home, go ahead and use the same paint on the trim and the walls in a small room.
Edit the furnishings in a small room by eliminating lots of small things and including just one or two pieces that fit the space perfectly. Fabrics should be simplified to flow easily with the walls.
Small spaces require that there’s a place for everything and everything’s in its place. You need clever solutions for storage — drawers under a bed or in a banquette, a cabinet or niche tucked between the studs in a wall, and furniture like a storage ottoman that does double duty. Even one or two items left out can make a small space seem cluttered.
— M.T.
