Make Your Small Condo Feel Larger

By Laura Bickle | 2 minute read

What’s your philosophy toward condo décor design?

You want to go from a space of feeling flat to one that has personality and interest. For example, we rarely match furniture pieces with the same texture and colour, especially in condos where you don’t have a lot of opportunities for different furniture pieces. Each piece needs to be unique. It needs to have a voice, but it also needs to be pulled together. 

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What do you recommend in terms of paint colours?

Light colours are a good choice because they reflect light. An interesting way to add depth is to add a dark feature wall —in charcoal gray, for instance. It pulls you in and elongates the space. We’ve been doing really cool wood panelling. It gives visual texture to a room without taking up too much space, and gives it that “wow” feature so you don’t feel like you’re just surrounded by white walls.

A dark feature wall with textured panels adds depth and visual interest without taking up space.

What about window treatments?

You may not have completely private views in a condo, so window treatments are very important. One option is roller shades because they’re very clean and don’t block your view. Also, consider sheers — they’ve come a long way and are available in many shades and textures. some even have some shimmer.

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Any tips for flooring?

The whitewashed wood look is very popular right now and we’re coming back to natural wood tones in general. Be mindful of the proportion. Stay with five- or six-inch planks; 12-inch farmhouse-style planks will actually make a condo feel smaller.

How does proportion play into furniture selection?

Measure before you buy anything large because every inch counts. Look for low-profile pieces: avoid furniture that’s too tall and bulky. You don’t want it to feel heavy in the space. For dining tables, look for something on a pedestal instead of four legs. It will make the space flow and make the condo look bigger.

When it comes to furnishing your condo, consider low-profile furniture to make the space look bigger.

How can lighting create a spacious feeling?

Floor and table lighting is often overlooked but incredibly important. It fills in the gaps between overhead lighting and feature lighting. You have to consider lighting from all different levels and have fun with it. It’s the jewelry of the space.

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Any tips for storage and saving space?

We have used a small console table under a mirror in the foyer that opens up into a small dining table for special occasions, but not for everyday use. Coffee table ottomans and beds with storage are great options.