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small space SECRETS Designer Laura Stein reveals her secrets to Text Laura Stein designing a small space. This sofa and shelf convert into a beautiful bed! Nuovoliola 10 Queen Wall Bed and Office, Resource Furniture, www.resourcefurniture.com SMALL SPACE Multipurpose Furniture This large table folds into an accent piece. Goliath Table, Resource Furniture, www.resourcefurniture.com When you’re living in a small space, it might seem that you just don’t have enough room for everything you need. Au contraire, it’s time to get creative and find furniture that serves double or even triple duty. A bookcase that includes storage and hides a TV takes up half the wall space. A console table that folds out into a dining table can also be used as a desk if you pull up a chair, or better yet, an ottoman with storage. Dare to Decorate Functional to fashionable Bigger is Sometimes Better Hollywood Regency Mirror, Mirror Image Home, www. mirrorimagehome. com Avery Ottoman, Laura Stein Interiors, www.laurasteininteriors.com 66 Just because a space is small doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be beautiful. In fact, using accent colours or wallpaper to define an area visually separates the walls and tricks the eye into thinking the space is bigger. Don’t be afraid to use colour and pattern, even dark colours. As long as you have good lighting, it won’t make the space feel smaller, but it will make the space feel cosy and inviting. Don’t forget to add a statement light fixture to really make the space pop, and use a mirror to bounce the light around the room. CANADIANHOMETRENDS.COM Just because your room is small, doesn’t mean all your furniture should look like it belongs in a doll-house. It’s better to use a few larger pieces than fill up the room with lots of small ones. Too much tiny furniture makes a room look cluttered and smaller than it actually is. The trick is to avoid heavy-looking furniture and keep the proportions balanced. - Text Laura Stein