7 common interior design mistakes to avoid when decorating a small room – and what to do instead

Decorating a room with a small footprint can be a challenge. While it requires big decisions on paint colours, furniture and lighting, less space doesn’t have to mean boring, white interiors. You can still design a cosy space using dark colours, statement furniture and bold prints without it feeling cramped, as long as you do it the right way.

With the help of Jane Rockett and Lucy St George, self-proclaimed maximalists and co-founders of online interiors emporium Rockett St George, which recently launched its first homeware collection with Next, we compiled a list of the most common mistakes to avoid when decorating a small room – and what to do instead.

1 . Using only light colours

It’s often said it’s best to only use light colours such as whites, soft greys and pastels in smaller spaces, but this is a myth. ‘You can use darker colours, just be mindful about which ones and how,’ says interiors expert Jane Rockett.

Reds, for example, are best avoided in the bedroom – ‘when I painted my bedroom a dark red, I was going for a sensual look but what I got was very little sleep’ says Rockett – but they work perfectly in a dining room as they stimulate conversation and debate.

Rockett recommends using dark jewel colours to add a sense of grandeur and style to a smaller space, and using accents of colours – ‘a vibrant green velvet armchair, for instance, or a luxury throw in chocolate or burgundy’ – to add contrast and depth.

Jewel tones add a sense of grandeur to a smaller space

2. Underestimating the power of lighting

Letting in as much natural light as possible is the key to making a small room feel bigger. Rockett suggests taking down the heavy curtains and allowing the daylight to flood in. ‘Instead, opt for Roman blinds or even shutters that you can adjust for light and privacy without adding too much bulk to your windows.’

Another tip from Rockett is to use table and floor lamps to ‘layer light’. This will create a flattering and atmospheric glow that can be dialled up or down, depending on the time of day or how functional you need the space to be.

If you have ceiling or wall lights,’ she adds, ‘install a dimmer switch so you can take the mood from brisk and business-like to warm and romantic in seconds.’

3. Pushing the furniture back against the walls

‘It’s tempting to push all your furniture up against the walls to create the illusion of space, but placing it in the middle of the room is actually a much more effective way to do this,’ says Lucy St George. ‘It creates a sense of openness and movement – of flow – that’s much more pleasing to the eye than feeling that everything is stuffed into every available corner.’

She recommends choosing furniture with legs, as opposed to styles that sit flush to the floor, as this will help to create an impression of a larger room because you can see the space underneath. And while they might not be to everyone’s taste, mirrored furniture bounces light around the room, which will add an air of spaciousness, too.

4. Not maximising storage

Keeping clutter to a minimum is important in a small space. That being said, Rockett believes you shouldn’t have to store everything away in cupboards or sideboards. Bespoke shelving is one of her favourite tricks for displaying all your prettiest trinkets, as well as adding interest and accents of colour to a room.

‘The key is to think vertical. You don’t have to keep everything at eye level,’ she adds. ‘And don’t forget to use your furniture. Storing magazines, board games or coffee table books in a footstool or ottoman is a tried and tested storage solution.’

Think vertical – don’t have to keep everything at eye level

5. Arranging seating around the TV (or ‘negative’ seating)

‘Not only does this send the signal that the TV is always more interesting than your friends or family, it also creates “dead space” in the areas behind your seating because it makes it hard to use it for anything,’ says St George. ‘Instead, try mounting the TV on the wall, so it only becomes a feature of the room when you want it to, and let the conversation flow.’

6. Sometimes less is more

The design duo might be maximalists, but when it comes to decorating smaller spaces such as bedrooms, they agree a more curated approach is preferred.

‘A bedroom should be a sanctuary, so we encourage our customers to choose just a few of their favourite pieces to create a restful atmosphere,’ says Rockett. ‘It’s important to keep the floor clear, as too many items can make a space feel cramped.’

Rather than bold, busy rugs, she recommends opting for solid colours or subtle patterns, and saving those statement-making prints for accents like cushions or smaller decor items to maintain a sense of balance and calm.

7. Laying tiles or flooring the wrong way

This seems like a no-brainer but laying rectangular tiles or panels of wooden flooring along the width of the room rather than the length, will make the space look very squat and square.

‘I did this in an already small bathroom, so I know from experience it’s a mistake you only make once,’ says St George. ‘Make sure to lay flooring along the longest points of the room to maintain the natural flow of the space and accentuate the length of the space.’