Interior Design Rules You Should Break

Just because you live in a shoe-box studio doesn’t mean you should fill it with tiny furniture. Scale and proportion are important, and you don’t want a giant sofa or bed to eat up all the real estate, but using a few large pieces in a small space often creates the illusion of a bigger room.

In a small bedroom, you might choose a queen-size bed for comfort and an oversize headboard to create a sense of height. Then, opt for practical wall-mounted nightstands that don’t take up much space. Compensate for a large seating area in a small living room by skipping the coffee table and using nesting or occasional tables that can be moved around as needed, and add sconces instead of table or floor lamps.