Got a small room that you're not sure how to max out? Check out these small space ideas and tips that could help transform the smallest or most awkward of rooms into a palace. Well, they'll help anyway.

1. Keep the room light (even if you paint dark)

@soph_eddie are lucky to have plenty of natural life in their 2AM painted dining room. 

Light paint colours are usually advised for small rooms. But, this isn’t really necessary. Instead the key to prevent a room from looking cramped and claustrophobic is to make sure you have enough light coming into the room (obvs) - whether that means optimising the natural light, or adding other light sources. If you want to keep it classic and go for a light shade, Screenshot or Low Salt are great picks. If you're looking to embrace the small space and go down a darker route 2AM or Ditch The Tie are good choices. 

We're always asked how to decorate small spaces and the answer is accessories, who would have thought. Mirrors are a great way of optimising natural light. If you put a mirror opposite or next to your window, it'll bounce more light around the space helping it feel lighter, bigger and more open. If you want to add more light sources, maybe avoid table lamps and go for mounted lights or lights that hang. This frees up table top space.

Image from Pinterest

2. Fewer, bigger pieces

Less is more with furniture and art work, especially in a small room. An amount of empty space, in the right proportions, is the key to making the room look bigger. A few seating ideas for small spaces mean opting for one big chair rather than two. Try scraping the coffee table in favour of visible floor space rather than squashing it, try side tables instead. 

As for artwork, while a gallery can looks great it can easily swamp a small room. Big statement pieces are best for creating the illusion of space.

Take inspo from @yas.wyatt, choose a large piece of art to be the focal point of your small space. 

3. Use the ceiling

Another way to create the illusion of space is to emphasise the vertical space that you have, and draw the eye upwards. Clever. Painting the ceiling a statement colour will do this, and it'll be a great design feature in to your room too. 

Image from Pinterest

4. Multi-function furniture

A great way to optimise space in a room is to be sneaky with your small space storage solutions. Invest in multifunctional or built-in furniture. Choose a bed with built-in storage space underneath it, a mirror that doubles as a storage cabinet, or a table that can double as a desk.

Image from loaf.com, storage bed

5. Furniture with legs

Not always possible, but choosing furniture with legs means more floor space is visible. It tricks the eye into feeling like there's more space in the room.

Try buying furniture with legs like @its_all_about_the_house has done in her living room, you'll trick the eye into thinking you have more space than you actually do. 

6. Bring the space to life. Literally.

In small spaces, a splash of natural green from plants can help avoid any feelings of it being cramped. Some popular small home ideas we've seen are people using shelves on the wall or raised planters to keep floorspace whilst still adding interest and freshness.

'Shelfie' anyone? @yas.wyatt knows just how to do it, always creating the perfect balance when it comes to muted colours and accessories. 

7. Use a broken plan layout

You don't necessary need to be an expert in interior design for small spaces to get it right, just think about space creatively and make use of every inch of space. Creating different 'zones' within your room can help achieve this. You could have a cute reading nook by a bay window or a home office in your guest bedroom, get savvy about your choices. 

8. Get rid of clutter

Some of us are just secret hoarders, as much as we hate to admit it. But really think about whether you need that pair of shoes you haven't worn in over a decade or that doll that hasn't made its way out of the cupboard since you moved....

Unnecessary clutter can make a small space seem crammed and even smaller. Try to make time for regular spring cleans and store away anything you don't use on a regular basis. Make the most of your space by using storage baskets, multi-purpose furniture like storage beds and wall mounts and shelves to keep everything neat and tidy. 

You don't even have to hide your clutter, get clever with space. @matt_t_porter has made this handy bookshelves in a space that would otherwise go to waste.

9. Go for a mobile office

Love it or hate it, hybrid working is here to stay. With more of us working from home, creating the right working from home environment is really important, not only for working efficiency but for our mental health. 

Not all of us have the luxury of having a spare room to transform into an office, so try using a troller or cabinet which folds-down as a table. Your office space doesn't always have to be visible and will really help with your work/ life balance in the long run. 

10. Make a feature of the door

Whether you want to use to hang a full length mirror on the back of it or add storage solutions like over-the-door hooks, don't rule your doors out. Instead, use them to help you give an illusion of space or to help you appear more organised. 

Small rooms are nice. Plenty of people especially in Urban spaces or in houses with quirky shapes do clever things to maximise the available space in small rooms. The tips above will help you max out yours.

Find the perfect COAT colour for your small space.