1. Create unity

Making less do more is the name of the game with small spaces that play more than one role, such as the common bedroom/living room or bedroom/office combos. The goal is to create visual continuity, for a calming, unified feel despite the room’s multiple purposes. Make sure your different pieces of furniture match well together by choosing, say, a bed and a desk in the same wood colour, or bedding that’s the exact same colour as your couch.

2. Think vertically

Small square footage means you have to bank on every kind of space you have, and that means creating a sense of height. Display your decor on narrow, floor-to-ceiling shelving to make maximum impact with a small footprint. Hang plants and swag lighting from the ceiling, to draw the eye upwards and keep the floor clear. And one of our favourite tricks: hang curtains way higher than the actual top of your windows — it’s crazy how that plays a trick on the eye to create a sense of expanse.

3. Be bold

For a cramped space, you’d think we’d recommend many small pieces of art to add maximum personality — but it’s just the opposite. Decorate your walls with two or three extra-large scale framed art prints or works on canvas that really make a bold statement about your taste without feeling fragmented. Think of different levels — maybe one work is hung at eye level, while another leans on the floor — to create bold visual interest that focuses the attention.

4. Make it bright

Calm, even-toned rooms make a room instantly feel bigger and brighter, so instead of colour drenching, try white drenching: paint everything in your favourite white, from the ceiling trim to the window frames to the fireplace, letting your art and decor objects do all the colourful talking. And go for shiny: opt for white lacquered surfaces and glossy tiles, and — the oldest trick in the book — mirrors, to help bounce light and make for a generally airier feel.