Decorating smaller homes with Tarina

Our amazing interior decorator Tarina of @oh.eight.oh.nine has created some beautiful display homes in the last 6 months for our team, two of which are built on narrow blocks of land. Inspired by maximising space without compromising design, here are her top tips on how to make the most of decorating in smaller spaces.

Tarina’s top tips:

• Have the track installed as high as possible, even if the window is not full height. If you have a cornice, wall-mount the track straight underneath it, and if you have shadow line ceilings then you can ceiling mount the track. By hanging the sheer curtains as high as possible, you create the illusion of an elevated ceiling and more spacious area.
• Run the track further than the window itself, so when you draw the curtains completely back, the full view outside is visible. This emphasises the scale of a window and it appears larger.
• If you require a block out aspect for privacy, select a block-out roller blind over a block-out curtain. The roller blind is much more slimline and fits within the windowsill to save space.
• Try to avoid having excess fabric and draping at floor level. In smaller homes we want to make the area feel more accessible and this will be achieved by having a sleek drop with either a serger stitch or weighted hem (that skims floor level.)

Tarina’s faves

Crisp white- warwick corfu snow

Ivory- warwick corfu moonlight

Light beige- warwick burano vanilla

Light grey- nettex Cannes cloud

Tarina’s top tips:

• An overall light, airy palette will ensure your home feels more spacious.
• Keep storage in the forefront of your mind. For example, instead of selecting a console table, try opting for a narrow buffet to allow for more closed-door storage.
• Furniture like sofas, coffee tables, bedside tables etc that have legs (and are elevated off of the floor) will create the illusion of more space.
• A thinner arm on your sofa will maximise seating.
• Elongated seat and back cushions on your sofa won’t look as busy. For example, both of the below sofas are 3 seat designs, but the second option looks much neater.
• A dining table with slim, tapered legs or a pedestal base will allow for more dining chairs without crowding.
• If your bedroom can house a bed-end-ottoman, one with a storage component it would be ideal to store extra linen, towels and seasonal clothes in. If space is limited and you can’t comfortably fit one in, then you can always look into a gas lift bed which allows for plenty of storage between the floor and mattress (inside the bedframe.)

Tarina’s top tips:

• A large, statement artwork is going to create a focal point within a room and be a deterrence from limited space.
• Wallpaper can be a great alternative to artwork. Choose a calming, soft wallpaper to create a master bedroom sanctuary, or a stronger pattern to inject a bolder feature.
• The use of vertical linear repetition in the form of wallpaper, artwork, tiles or lining boards will draw your eye upwards towards the ceiling and emphasise height, rather than the lack of width.
• Artwork featuring greenery like palms, florals, forest or desert scapes will add life into your home without needing as much decor. Utilise surfaces (kitchen/dining/living/shelves) to display a delicate arrangement of flora and plants.
• Wall shelves are a fantastic way to create interest on your walls without repeating artwork. Decorate with personal items, family photos, cascading plants or a stack of books and the wall will look not only full spatially, but full of personality too.
• Wall hooks provide a great option for storage without taking up extra floor space. Utilise a number of hooks in your entry to create a useable and beautiful drop zone.

• Pendant lights in a master bedroom are great because they allow for more usable surface space on your bedside tables, and they also make a beautiful feature in the room.
• Large mirrors will bounce around the natural sunlight available and can instantly brighten a dark wall. They also help emphasise the scale of a room by using reflection, making the area seem larger than it is.
• Floor lamps with multi/directional heads will light an area (or multiple areas) all from the one light source. They can be placed in the corner of a room to fill an empty space.
• Make sure you don’t obstruct any natural light source with bulky furniture pieces. Same goes for landscaping… Make sure you don’t plant any large trees in front of windows that will restrict sunlight.

If you’ve loved Tarina’s tips but still need a bit of inspo, you can stop by our Berkeley Display Home in Brabham which sits on a 10.5m block. Start imagining your new home!

Check it out

Berkeley

For all of Tarina’s tips and tricks on how to maximise your space. Head to her blog for more!

Decorating small homes