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.

The Inner Struggle

As you may now, I have been participating in Alex Beadon's "Feel Good Blogging Challenge" this week. I am approaching the end stretch with today being DAY 6.

In middle school, I never really felt comfortable being who I was. Middle school was definitely the worst stage for me growing up. Think about it - you are going through that "awkward stage", you have no idea how to apply makeup or style your hair, and boys suddenly don't have "cooties" anymore. On top of that, you have the evil "cliques" that you have to deal with.

I was very outgoing and friendly in school. Regardless of the amount of people that I seemingly got along with, I was still bullied. When a group of kids are calling you names, of course you will question if is true. You start to question who you are and then you become insecure. The voice inside my head was worse then the voice of those girls.

But I broke free ..

One day, I woke up a NEW person. It was the day I found my voice. Surprisingly, my voice was so strong that it stopped all the bullying. It was that day that I realized who I was. It was the same year that I ran for Student Council President and won!

I managed to master middle school, but I haven't mastered self-doubt. Tell me if you can relate to some of these --- "Am I good enough? Can I handle it? Do I deserve this? I'm not smart enough. I'm not creative enough. I'm not skinny enough. Why aren't I more successful?"

It is time to start mastering the negative voice inside. I feel that we can be our worse critique! Our mind makes up excuses and reasons for not doing something and we end up holding ourself back. We skip out on opportunities to grow because of the voice of fear. It's time to listen to your "inner cheerleader" and start believing in yourself. If you don't believe in you, WHO will?

I have realized that these negative thoughts and feelings no longer serve me and they are NOT who I am. Sometimes it is best to do things in spite of our mind. I recently was in a "funk" and lacked passion and creativity. I was torturing myself inside. One day, I said "THAT'S ENOUGH." I took all my paint brushes, all of my drawing tools, all of my sketch pads, and got to work!! That day I surrounded myself with creativity and all the things that make me happy. I proved to myself, "Hey, I really am creative. I can do this".

A few months back, I was preparing to film an episode on how to create a home office. The night before I began to psych myself out. You're not confident enough. You're not exciting enough. You don't know what your talking about. You don't have enough experience. You aren't talented enough.

What did I do? I kept repeating in my mind the opposite: You ARE confident. You ARE talented. You ARE enough. You ARE creative. You ARE exciting! You ARE awesome and you can handle anything that is thrown at you !!

It was these affirmations that validated who I was. Not to mention, it helped me tremendously with my stage presence, performance, and confidence.

This is still a learning process for me. It is all about acknowledging your thoughts when they come in and letting them go if they do not serve you. I can tell you that bringing out your inner-cheerleader truly does help! Start looking at yourself in the mirror and say how wonderful you are. Start to appreciate and embrace everything about yourself!

If you haven't heard it today, I want to tell you that you ARE awesome and hope your day is as bright as you are.

Much love,

Amanda

#AreaRugProblems

HI EVERYONE!

I need YOUR HELP! This is my first post EVER that I am requesting design advice for MYSELF! Shocker - but hey, there is a first for everything. I love hearing from you all and it warms my heart that my tips impact your lifestyle in some way. Now is your chance to help me!

Here's the Deal - my parents have me on the hunt for a 6x9 area rug. I have searched so many different stores and vendors.

The problem is that my dad has VERY ornate style. He gravitates towards the most oriental rug in the store. The guady-er (is that even a word?) the better. My mother on the other hand likes contemporary rugs.

Complete opposite side of the spectrum but I am trying my hardest to satisfy both their styles. Our house is more casual so the traditional/ornate rug is too formal for our family room. I have been looking at traditional rugs that are more washed out or less ornate. I've also been looking at transitional style rugs too.

Here's the catch: we are looking for a thick plush rug with gold and brown tones. No red tones. Green/olive are okay. 

I don't want to give up and settle with a plain shag rug. Please comment below :)

Greatly appreciated <3

Make Your Room Appear Larger

Have you ever closed your eyes and wished your room was bigger? Then open your eyes to the sad reality that your room is still the same size as you started...... Well, wish no more! I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I would love to share with those of you who are frustrated with your small space. Being an interior designer, I have some "magical" tricks to help you create the illusion of a larger space. The concept is to fool the eye. In a small space, everything counts so pay attention to every detail.

COLOR: I can not stress how important it is to pick the right paint color. The perfect color on your walls can make all the difference. In small spaces, keep your colors light and it will make a strong impact. I recently painted my room a blue-grey. The blue undertone is soothing and happy in the morning light. Plus, It is neutral enough to match my bedding and accessories. In addition, if I ever change my color scheme in my room, it is easy to find other accessories that won't fight with my walls. It allows me to have options - and I love options! Not to mention, my room looks a thousand times larger than the original muddy beige color.

LIGHTING:  By allowing natural light to shine through in your room, you will be amazed at how open a room can feel. It is important not to block natural light from entering if you have a small space. If you get indirect sunlight or do not have windows in your room, you have to be creative with your lighting. Some people save shopping for lighting last, but this is not an "add-on." It is a small detail that can make a big difference.

CONTRAST: Color techniques and  smart lighting ideas can make a small confined room feel more spacious. Ladies, it is like contouring your face by adding highlight and bronzer to make those cheekbones pop! Light colors are reflective making a space feel more open. Dark colors absorb light, making a room look smaller. When you paint your molding light, the wall appears further back, making your space feel bigger!

CLUTTER FREE: In small spaces, it is essential to keep a clean organized room. Too many things on your walls, can make your room feel smaller. If there is too much going on, your eye is being drawn all over the place making your room feel cluttered. Keep it simple. In a small room, create a focal point. Arrange the furniture so your eye is drawn to those areas. Keep the floor as clean as possible to maintain a sense of openess.

MIRRORS: Mirrors can make your room feel larger so strategically place them. Make them a focal point, or hang them directly across from a window to reflect more natural light. My personal favorite are floor mirrors. By leaning a large floor mirror up against your wall, you would be surprised how much larger your room feels.

LOOK UP: You always want to draw your eye up. If you have crown moldings, make sure it is lighter than your wall color to draw attention upward. You can also paint your ceiling a crisp bright white so your room feels more spacious. You can also add vertical stripes to your walls, this way your eyes follow the lines upward creating the illusion of heigher walls.

GLAM IT UP: Don't forget to add some bling! I love adding metallic accents! I added silver vases on my dresser which reflect light and I also purchased metallic placemats in which I put underneath my bedside lamp. This simple detail reflects light and adds a glamorous feel!

Make the Most of Your Small Space!

Whether you are moving into a dorm, downsizing, or have a small room that is causing you difficulty - it is all about making the most of your space. Play with height, utilize the storage underneath furniture, add shelves, and storage bins. Don't forget to use the space behind your door for more storage! I have a small bedroom myself so I understand the struggle of feeling confined. I wanted to share my design tips for maximizing your storage in small spaces.

1. Bed Risers - if you think about it, a king size bed takes up 42 square feet of space. So why wouldn't you use that space wisely? I purchased bed risers from Target which raised my bed 6" more. The additional height helped me tremendously because I was able to fit large storage containers under my bed with my winter clothes and shoes. You can also add bins that roll or find organizers that are specifically made for under the bed. 2. Maximize your Closet - Before purchasing large pieces of furniture, make sure you get the most out of your closet space. Try adding shelves or drawers to your closet for more storage. Closet organizers also make a difference and are available at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and The Container Store.

(Photo cred: hgtvremodel.com)

3. Frame your Bed - Make your bed a statement by framing it with bookcases or cubbies. I personally like to mix and match open and closed storage together. This way pretty items are on display and the rest is hidden.

(Photo Cred: thisoldhouse.com)

4. Doors - I am a woman with a lot of shoes - aren't we all? Since my bedroom is very small, I have to get creative with storage. I added the behind-door shoe organize that hangs behind my closet door to store a good amount of shoes. It's not the prettiest but its functional. Plus, it is behind doors so it is not visible when my closet is door is shut. I love the fact that is an easy display of what shoes I have readily available. 5. Multi-Functional - I love pieces that have multiple uses! I added a storage bench at the end of my bed for extra seating and for maximum storage!

(Photo Cred: involvingcolor.com)

6. Hook It Up - Hooks make my life so much easier. I have them hidden everwhere. I like to use the adhesive hooks that don't ruin your walls. I have hook on the front of my closet door so I can hang my outfit up at night so it's ready to slap on when I wake up. I also have hooks behind my bathroom door to hold my robe and towel when I come out of the shower.

(Photo Cred: thrifyandchic.com)

7. Analyze What You Have - Before I switch my closet over for winter or summer, I always go through what I have. If I haven't worn it at all that season, I will donate or sell my clothes. It feels great to get a good cleaning in before the season starts. Plus, it helps your closets from busting!

Being organized in a small space is very important. You don't want your things to consume your space. Next time you are ready to take on the challenge of redoing your room, remember my tips! What tip would benefit your space the most? Please share! I would love to hear from you.