There is a kind of cozy charm found in small rooms. With the right decorations and furniture, any small space can be made into a comfortable nook that is perfect for a cup of coffee and a few good hours of reading.  However, when your "nook" is also where you live, the task of creating the illusion of space can feel daunting. 

The good news is, it's not impossible to make your small living space appear larger and more comfortable.  In fact, these four easy tricks will help you turn any room in the house from feeling like a cramped cupboard into a spacious getaway right in the middle of your home.

Light Cheerful Colors for Light Cheerful Rooms

Small spaces already tend to be full of shadows.  The easiest way to counter this is with light and bright colors. If this means a trip to the local hardware store for paint, then keep in mind that bright pastel colors can help reflect light on the walls of any room, thus creating the illusion of more area.  In spaces with large windows, cheerful pastel yellows and soft rose pinks might work well, as these colors easily reflect sunlight and help spread a warm sunny glow across open surfaces. 

However, in a room with less natural lighting, it might be wise to go with the soothing tones of a soft, cooling blue or a pastel green; these colors blend well with artificial light, especially when it comes to the new LED bulbs.  If you're having difficulty choosing which color to use, remember that white or a slight off-white is always a suitable choice and is easily dressed up with room decor.

The Right Curtains Can Go a Long Way

Many people use heavy or dark curtains in their bedrooms to help block out sunlight in the morning. If your bedroom is small, however, these same curtains can make the room feel stifling.  To counter this, try finding curtains with lighter colors.  White is ideal, as it goes with almost any color you might paint the walls. But if white doesn't work for you then go with some lighter coordinating tone that compliments your color scheme.  Also, don't leave the curtains closed during the day; tie them back so that sunlight can filter through the window.  The more natural light in a small space, the less small and more comfortable it will feel.

Just say "No" to Bulky Furniture

When you live in a small space, you quickly learn that less often means more.  In this case, less furniture bulk in the way means more room to spread out and enjoy life.  Big clunky recliners and heavy leather sofas are space-eaters.  Yes, of course they're comfortable, but they also take up a lot of room that could be better utilized, and as anyone who lives in a small place knows, any space that can be better utilized should be.  

If you're looking for new furniture to bring atmosphere to your small space without cluttering it up, why not try a sleek modern design in light or bright colors.  Remember, giving up bulk does not necessarily mean giving up comfort.  There are many furniture options out there that harmonize sleek design with comfortable living, like this lounge chair from our collection- it provides a stylishly comfortable look without taking up extra room, and its clean-cut style adds a modern yet welcoming flair.

Which brings us to our fourth trick…

Declutter Everything

The downside of living in a small space is that you don't have a lot of room to work with.  Too many objects lying around can make any room feel cluttered and tiny no matter how much you paint and adjust furniture.  However, the solution is as simple as a few hours of cleaning and organization.  If you keep the areas under and on top of tables, chairs, and couches open and free of clutter, you'll provide the eye with a clear line of sight along the floor and over the surfaces of furniture.  This adds to the illusion of space. 

Of course, doing this also means that you can't keep too many unnecessary possessions in your small space at one time.  Try to get rid of any old belongings that you don't have a use for anymore, and limit the number of new things you bring into your home.  Remember the saying "there's a place for everything and everything in its place." If you don't have a good place for it, then it probably should go.

Have fun turning your small spaces into fresh new get-aways the whole family can enjoy!  And remember, if you find yourself in need of a professional designer's help, you can always contact me here.

Texture is an important element of interior design that can help shift the mood of any space. Your living room can especially benefit from the addition of a few unexpected textures. From lightweight, airy textures (linen or cotton) to earthy and rustic textures (raw wood), there's something to fit every taste. 

That might seem overwhelming, but don't fret if you're at a loss for where to begin– we've covered the bases with a few suggestions to get you started. 

Blankets Are Not Just for Fall 

It's starting to heat up across the U.S., but that's no reason to forgo a blanket! Blasting the air conditioner indoors gets chilly, so be prepared with a swiss fox faux fur chevron throw. It's an effortless and cruelty-free way to add texture and a subtle pattern to your living room without overthinking it. 

Add Some Greenery to the Scenery

It's no secret that house plants can revitalize a room, but the right plants can also add an interesting texture to the mix. 

If your green thumb isn't particularly strong, try raising a snake plant– they add visual interest with minimal effort on your part, regardless of your gardening abilities. To add more visual interest, try adding a terra cotta planter to the mix.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Once you find a texture you love, it's tempting to go overboard and fill your space with that same texture repeatedly. However, resist the urge! There's plenty of textures to choose from, and they'll all help your unique space stand out in the best way possible. 

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At the end of the day, it's important to keep an open mind when it comes to textures in your living room (or any room, for that matter). Let your creativity be your guide– we'll always be here to help if you're stuck!

Tuscan Kale Salad

With quinoa & butternut squash

Lately, I have been obsessed with Kale salad, I started maxing different variations and versions of it using different vegetables, nuts, grains and dressing(s). To my surprise there is a number of different types of Kale the most popular served at restaurants are Lacinto & Curly kale. This particular kale salad I used lacinto, you could also use the curly kale either one will work. The key and the secret of an amazing kale salad is the “massage technique” if you do not massage your kale it will be rough to eat. Believe it or not Kale used to be the leafy decor item used in salad bars and or buffets these leafy green vegetables served as the decoration outside the salad bowls, now they have made their way into our salad bowls.

Types of Kale

Russian Kale . Lacinto Kale. Curly Kale.

The Technique in “Kale massage”

Massaging the Kale

Let’s start with removing the stems. I mean throw them away. The stems in kale are fibrous and tough. We don’t want that in our salad.

Now, apply the massage technique.

Add a of pinch of salt and squeeze some lemon juice a splash of olive oil to the leaves and then start crunching them between your hands. The key is not to over-massage. Mushy kale is much worse than tough kale. Over-massaged kale loses it’s crispy texture we love so much. Rub the kale leaves together between your fingers, until they just start to wilt. The way to tell if you’ve hit the right point, as it is with most things, is to taste. Massage the leaves to the point where they feel more crispy than rubbery.

• Ingredients

  • BUTTERNUT SQUASH:

  • 3 cups cubed butternut squash

  • olive oil

  • salt and pepper

  • QUINOA:

  • 1 cup quinoa

  • 2 cups vegetable broth

  • SALAD:

  • 1 large bunch of curly or lacinto kale leaves (chopped & massaged)

  • 1 cup pomegranate arils

  • ½ cup pepitas

  • DRESSING

  • ¼ cup orange juice

  • 2 tsp dijon mustard

  • 2 cloves of chopped/smushed garlic

  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons agave syrup

  • 3 tablespoons oil

  • salt and pepper

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Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and place the cubed butternut squash on a baking sheet. Drizzle the squash with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the butternut squash for about 30 minutes until fork tender, flipping the cubes over half way through. Remove from the oven when cooked and set aside.

2. While the butternut squash roasts cook the the quinoa by placing 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of vegetable broth in a medium sized sauce pan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to a low and simmer until quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, still covered, and let the quinoa sit for 5 minutes. Then fluff the quinoa with a fork and let cool.

3. While the butternut squash roasts in the oven and the quinoa simmers, prepare the salad and dressing. Place the chopped kale into a large bowl, drizzle on 1 tablespoon olive oil, and massage the kale* with your hands until it softens.

4. Pour all of the dressing ingredients into a small jar and mix.

5. To assemble the salad, pour ½ of the dressing onto the quinoa and stir well. Add in the chopped and massaged kale leaves , pepitas, butternut sqaush stir gently to combine.

6. Serve with another drizzle of dressing.

Notes

*For added sweetness add some yellow raisins

*For added saltiness and a punch of flavor enhancement add some Parmesan cheese shavings.

Enjoy!