ASK
PRISCILLA
Conquering space,
whether there’s too
much or too little

By PRISCILLA KOHUTEK

It seems as though we are never satisfied with the space we have — it’s either too big or too small, ceilings are too tall or too low — something or other is always too much or not enough. Therefore, dear readers, I’m dedicating this column to queries relating to some of your space dilemmas.

Q. The master bedroom in our new house is a huge, cavernous space, and we don’t have nearly enough furniture to fill it. We need some recovery time to adjust the finances and have to make do with what we have right now. Any ideas you have for decorating this albatross will be appreciated.

A. Start by giving the room a cozier feeling with a rich, somewhat dark shade of paint on the walls and ceiling. Colors such as antique gold, intense caramel and hunter green enhance most wood finishes and emphasize the importance of your furniture. As a result, it appears to be bigger and takes up more space.

Angle the bed — I trust that it’s a king. This is a great look that fills an enormous amount of space, especially if you have to accommodate bedside tables. Pack the empty corner behind the bed with large artificial plants, even a tree or two — don’t even think about going natural. Real plants would be difficult to access and way too hard to care for. Set a low-wattage up light among the plants for effect.

Tip: Be aware that halogen bulbs get very hot and have been known to start fires when placed close to flammable objects.

If a corner arrangement won’t work for you or if you prefer a more traditional placement, use larger bedside pieces instead of normal nightstands or small tables. Put a chest, a cabinet or a bookcase next to the bed on one side and a pedestal table or an inexpensive skirted plywood table on the other side.

A piece of furniture placed at the foot of the bed is good, too. A bench, a love seat or a trunk will work.

Make a sitting area by borrowing a couple of armchairs from another room and placing a small, skirted plywood table between them. No extra armchairs? Not a problem. I once made up a very cool arrangement by slipcovering a couple of extra dining room chairs and adding a small chest-cum-coffee table, laden with magazines and a pretty coffee cup and saucer for decoration.

If you don’t have a fireplace in the bedroom, “install” one. It’s easy. Do a fabulous fake with a great old mantel that you can paint with a faux treatment. Add electric logs and a fireplace screen and you’re good to go. Or forget the electric logs and pile up some real ones for effect. You can create a wonderful focal point with an attractive display on the mantel and a large painting, a tapestry or an interesting grouping hung above it.

Use area rugs and lots of fabric with a large pattern or an oversized plaid. Strong colors, especially various shades of red, take up space.

Cover the walls with artwork, photos and groupings. Hang some attractive shelving to hold books and tiny minilamps that decorate and establish light points.

As the budget permits, you can slowly “grow” your bedroom furniture by adding to what you already have. Unless you totally hate it, there is no need to start over. Incorporating unmatched pieces will give your room an acquired look while you gain the reputation of a furniture collector.

Tip: It’s too hot in south Texas for a wood-burning fireplace in the bedroom — so go faux and save yourself a bunch of money. If you live in the Hill Country and need a bit of warmth once or twice a year, choose ventless electric logs.

Q. I have a very small one-room studio apartment. It’s a long rectangle, plus bath. I love to have friends over for dinner, so I don’t want my place to look like a bedroom with a makeshift kitchen in the corner. How can I make the most out of my tiny home?

A. I can think of a couple of possibilities. The first option is a micro-kitchen at one end of the apartment and a living room area at the other end with a Murphy bed installed conveniently near the bathroom. Murphy beds are built-in, pull-down beds that were created by William Murphy around the turn of the 20th century. He and his wife also enjoyed entertaining, but they lived in a one-room apartment where the bed took up most of the space. So Mr. Murphy came up with this wonderful invention that has endured and steadily improved over its long existence. And guess what? People all over the world are still living in one-room apartments.

These beds are available in many styles and configurations to suit all kinds of décor and various situations.

On the other hand, if you want your bed to play a more important role in your décor, position it in the same spot next to the bathroom and install tracks in the ceiling for curtains. You can screen off the bed for privacy and create the effect of a romantic canopy at the same time by strategically placing the tracks around the bed.

Whatever arrangement you decide on for your “bedroom,” the kitchen on the wall at the opposite end should be as inconspicuous as possible. The refrigerator and dish washer should be paneled to match the cabinets. Use glass doors on the cabinets and take them all the way to the ceiling — you will need every inch of storage space. Small kitchen sinks and narrow ranges, dishwashers and refrigerators are made especially for micro-kitchens.

A table that folds in half can divide the kitchen from the living room. When the tabletop is folded up, it serves as a prep area that quickly converts to a dining table.

A monochromatic color scheme works best in these tiny spaces. A light, dusty blue is a great choice for pushing out those walls and raising the ceiling. Layered neutrals are good, too.

Don’t forget the personal touch of photos and a few of your favorite things, plus candles, fresh flowers and greenery. When your personality shines through, even the smallest spaces look and feel like home.

Tip: Neutrals come in many different colors these days — it no longer means a variety of boring beiges. Lavender-tinted whites, mauves and the palest apricots are also among those colors that are now called neutrals.

Q. We are empty nesters who decided to downsize. What seemed like a good idea is turning into a nightmare. Our furniture is too big for the new house, and we have too many things with too few storage possibilities. How can we make this work? I’m getting desperate!

A. Big furniture in small rooms is OK and can create quite a cozy mood. Just cut down the number of pieces to prevent congestion — you don’t want to fight your way through a maze of furniture.

Maximize the storage space you have. Go up when you can’t go out.

Bathrooms: Put a shelf on the wall above the sink and below the mirror. Get one with a little rail so items won’t fall off. Hang a shallow cabinet over the toilet.

Bedrooms: Install shelves around and over the bed for a built-in look. This provides lots of space for books, lamps and collectables and eliminates the need for bedside tables. While you may not want this look in the master bedroom, it’s a good treatment for guest rooms. Check out containers that stow under the bed. Some are even on wheels.

Kitchen: Take cabinets all the way to the ceiling. Ignore the complaint about not being able to reach that high — unless you play for the Spurs, you can’t get to the top shelf of standard- height cabinets anyway.

Declutter. It’s amazing how much stuff we have that hasn’t been used in ages. The golden rule is if you haven’t needed it or worn it in a year’s time, get rid of it. Be brutal about the culling process. If you have to stop and think about it, pitch it. You will know straightaway when something is indispensable.

Rent a small, climate-controlled storage unit for those precious pieces and special treasurers that you can’t bear to part with. If you’ve been saving things for the kids, who have abandoned the nest, pack it up and send it to them. Let them worry about where they’re going to stash the stuff.

Until next time, happy decorating.

Priscilla Kohutek, internationally published home decorating columnist and author, draws from her own experience and the advice of experts to answer your questions. Send your queries to her via e-mail at Priscilla@askpriscilla.com or mail them to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, 8603 Botts Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217.