When a room is small, that doesn’t mean it should lack in style. There are so many ways to decorate a small room so that it’s both stylish and functional. Here are some great decorating tips for small rooms in your home or apartment. By following them, you’ll learn how to best utilize your space and still come out with a great-looking room.

Paint an Accent Wall
An accent wall can really stand out in a small room. Choose one wall and paint it a bold color. This give the room a stylish feel, and it also helps it to appear larger than it is. Just be sure to paint the other walls a complementary color so the bold wall doesn’t look out of place.

It’s a good idea to stay away from dark colors, though. Black, dark blue, red, or dark green don’t necessarily make good bold colors. Rather stick with colors like pink, yellow, or aquamarine. Unfortunately, when you use dark colors in a small room, you only make the area look much smaller.

Choose Furniture That Fits the Size of Your Room
Keeping your furniture to scale is essential. If you have a small bedroom, don’t put a huge wooden bed in it. The same principle applies to the family room. Find furnishings that won’t overpower the room and instead fit well. You want to be able to comfortably walk around in the room without having to bump into pieces of furniture.

Find Furniture That Also Works as Storage
Furniture in a small room should be functional as well as stylish. A wooden chest, for example, not only makes a great coffee table or side table, but it also provides storages for items you might need in the room, such as blankets or toys. By sneaking more storage into a small area, you will end up with much more room.

Another thing to consider is whether you are maximizing your vertical space. When you make the most of the height in your room, you can easily add so much more storage and design space. For great vertical storage pieces, look for items such a solid wood bookcase and armoires.

Another great idea is to attach shelving to the walls. You can use the shelving both for design and functional space. By placing some of your books and knickknacks on the shelves in an interesting manner, you can add additional style to the area.

Let in Some Light to Open Up a Room
It’s a good idea to allow as much natural light as possible to filter into the room. Natural light will always make a room look bigger and brighter. Avoid those overwhelming window treatments. Instead, keep it simple with some blinds or a pair of plain drapes. For an even brighter and bigger look, add mirrors to the walls, as they will reflect the light in the room.

Choose Lighting That Doesn't Overwhelm the Space
Avoid installing lighting fixtures that either hang down or are otherwise way too large for the space. For small spaces, track lighting is a great option, as it doesn’t take up much space yet provides ample light for the room, even at night.

Just because you’re decorating a smaller space, doesn’t mean that it has to be hard or boring. Just focus on keeping things simple and functional, adding in small aspects of your style here and there. This way, you’ll really be able to enjoy your small space.