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Design Ideas
How to Make Small Spaces Feel Luxurious
Snug spaces can still feel chic and grand if you pay attention to scale, edit out the clutter and splurge on the cozy details.
When interior designer Ally Whalen refreshed this Charlotte, North Carolina gem for an artist homeowner and her family, one of the goals was to ” use a cleaner aesthetic and color palette that was calming.” This mission is perfect for small spaces–soothing colors and clutter-free rooms have a way of feeling more open, airy and... Keep Scrolling
Written by Shelby Deering
Photography by Dustin Peck
Styled by Ally Whalen


When interior designer Ally Whalen refreshed this Charlotte, North Carolina gem for an artist homeowner and her family, one of the goals was to ” use a cleaner aesthetic and color palette that was calming.” This mission is perfect for small spaces–soothing colors and clutter-free rooms have a way of feeling more open, airy and well, larger.

Related reading: Why you shouldn’t be afraid of color in a small space

Ally shares her tips for choosing correctly-scaled furniture for a room, saying, “There are apps that people can use now that can help them space plan like a pro. Take measurements of your room and figure out what size sofa will fit in your space to allow enough room to walk around before making that large purchase.”

A generously stuffed sectional fills the room perfectly making this small library feel a bit more grand.

Her top tip for styling a diminutive space? “Keep things simple.” She adds that it’s important to “avoid cluttering your home.” “Choose items that have meaning and are important to you, which may mean scaling down and decluttering.”

Simple vignettes also allow special pieces to shine. This sideboard is adorned with a painting the homeowner painted herself.

Looking for more small-space inspiration? How about this post on small-space solutions for a awkward sized bedroom. 

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