A row of plates above the shuttered
floor-to-ceiling windows define
the wall without detracting from
the window's appeal.

The Specifics

Pull seating away from walls. Even in a narrow room, this enhances the sense of space because it creates depth. A small table tucked behind the sofa provides a spot for a lamp, one of three that now illuminate the room with cozy pools of light. To distribute light evenly around the room and avoid shadowy spots, use at least three lamps placed in a triangle. Also vary the heights of the lamps so the light is cast at different levels.

Lift the eye with dramatic verticals. This is another trick for increasing the perceived space in a room. Pulling the sofa forward opened space in the corner for the two end tables to stacked to form a column. This becomes a stage for a display that incorporates objects of different sizes and shapes. Go overscale for impact.

Create a focal point. The lamp and stacked tables frame the wall behind the sofa, so the space was filled with more verticals -- a print and a tole container with dried leaves urge the eye toward the ceiling, emphasizing a lofty sense of space. Tall flowers on the coffee table perform the same function.

 

Framing the door with accent
pieces draws the eye to the next
room, a trick to make both spaces
look larger.

Match accessories to the space. The fern-filled cone-shape baskets hanging above the sofa were too small for the space and were too far apart to relate well to each other. Donna moved them to the opposite wall, beside the door to the breakfast area. Here they form a column that suits the proportions of the wall. A small painted chest from elsewhere in the house moves into the corner to provide handy storage and a visual base for the baskets.

Use large-scale pieces for balance. A baker's rack from the breakfast area makes a better television stand than the wicker storage basket because it's large enough to anchor the corner and balance the sofa. Angled across the corner, the unit fits into the room without crowding, and the top shelf provides a spot for another lamp at a different level.

Unify the conversation area with a rug. Its green color picks up the green element in the cushion fabric and adds warmth to the terra-cotta floor.

Add color accents. A set of sunflower plates, lined up above the windows, reinforces the colors in the fabric and walls. They also take the eye to the ceiling, enlarging the sense of space.