Lots of Living for a Small Space

  Living in a tiny space poses an issue. How can you store all of your stuff, make it functional, comfortable, and stylish all at the same time?  Keep in mind these 5 tips when decorating your space.

1. DON'T OVERFILL YOUR SPACE

Just like the saying, "less is more" the same concept can be applied to your home. Leaving more open space makes the room feel larger. Try not to fill up your space and leave a little wiggle room.

2. BIG PIECES THAT MAKE A BIG IMPACT

It may seem counterintuitive, but surprising larger items can help a space feel bigger. For example, hanging an oversized painting above a sofa can visually enlarge a space.

3. EMBRACE TRANSPARENCY

Lucite or glass furniture gives the illusion of more space. Try using a lucite desk for a barely-there look that is both functional and stylish.

4. HIDE WORK PROJECTS

Carve out a place to work and a special place to tuck away reminders of projects so the rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy living. Instead of creating piles around the house (I'm guilty of this), leave a storage box handy to safely store your work items.

5. VERSATILE FURNITURE

What is better than a piece of furniture that has more than one purpose? Multi-functional pieces work in your favorite when it comes to small interiors. Storage ottomans, nesting tables that can be separated and used around the room, and even a coffee table that can be converted into a dining table.

DIY Tutorial: Make a Drab Lamp Fab!

I have been crushing on a gold desk lamp for months. While I was cleaning out my basement, I found a white desk lamp that I was about to toss. Fireworks went off in my head and I suddenly had a bigger grin on my face than the Grinch before Christmas. My gold desk lamp wish is FINALLY coming true..

It was the perfect shaped lamp to spray gold. I dusted off the lamp and cleaned it up. I grabbed all my old newspapers and ran outside. I eagerly sprayed the lamp with Gold Metallic Rustoleum Spray paint. After 15 minutes, and two coats of spray paint later... my gold lamp was complete !!

CALL TO ACTION

- What do you think of the finished result?

- What have you been crushing on lately?

- If you can't buy it, can you DIY it?

- What fun DIY projects are you working on?

COMMENT BELOW! I would love to hear from you. :)

Can't get enough of DIY? Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

http://www.pinterest.com/byamadesigns/

Not your #Basic Nighstand

Welcome to the No Basic Zone! Say Goodbye to the ordinary nightstand and Hello to unique! Here are 10 unconventional nightstands that add a little extra character and charm to your bedroom. 1. LADDER

2. NESTING TABLES

3. SHELF

4. STEP STOOL

5. SWING

6. TRUNK

7. CONSOLE TABLE

8. RECLAIMED WOOD

9. CHEST OF DRAWERS

10. CINDER BLOCK (Why not?)

Stray away from standard. Are you willing to be daring with your next nighstand? Which nightstand style was your favorite? Share your comment below, I would love to know! My favorite is the vintage trunk. Love the extra storage that it can pack - great for seasonal items.

5 Ways to Get Organized

Organization may not be your favorite thing to do but you can't live without it. I have created 5 easy tips that you can implement today!

1. Find a Home for Everything - The main reason why things pile up is because they don't have a place! Find a home for everything. Have a place to put your mail. Have a place to put your keys so you know where to find them later (I always lose mine). If everything has a home, you will know where to look!

2. Sort - Sort through the piles that have accumulated and create two smaller piles: 1) Recycle/Toss 2) File (if you want to break down the File pile even more you can separate it by kids, home, and personal).

3. Create Simple Solutions - Find what works for you. Create a simple organizing solution that you can follow on a daily basis. If you create a complicated solution, you are less likely to stick to routine. Organizing your work can be as easy as purchasing a few bins that are labeled: Do Now, Do Later, File.

4. Home Kits - I love this tip personally. Buy clear shoe boxes and create Task Kits. Think about all the tasks or projects you do. Group all the tools you need for that task in one bin. For example, I have a "Paint kit" with all of my paint supplies and brushes. Label the outside of the box so it is easy to pull off the shelf when you are ready to use it.

5. Schedule It - Some areas need more help than others. If you know an area that needs to be frequently decluttered, schedule a day to focus on that one space. For me, I clean my room at the end of each week and my office at the end of each day so I can go back to work the next day on a clean slate.

Looking for my organization tips? Check out my Pinterest board, "Organization Nation."

http://www.pinterest.com/byamadesigns/organization-nation/