Cozy. The word may bring to mind images of curling up on wool area rugs in front of a crackling fire, but instead it’s a word real estate pros often choose to use when it comes to describing rooms that are on the small side. And while “cozy” might correctly define a lot of these diminutive dwellings, many of us don’t have a clue when it comes to decorating these small spaces.

How do you keep the place from feeling closed in? What are my options for area rugs and other flooring? And where the heck is all that furniture supposed to go? Fear not, reader, because we’ve got five easy-to-follow tips that will have any small space in your home proving once and for all that size really doesn’t matter.

First, get organized

Those of us who live in small spaces can’t afford to have a lot of clutter lying around. Clutter will instantly zap your room of any feeling of spaciousness it might have had and – if you’re like me – just leave you feeling frustrated. A tall bookshelf, preferably in the same color as your wall (more on why that’s important below), will help organize not just books and magazines but DVDs, CD’s, and favorite photos and knick knacks. Instead of a traditional coffee table, opt for a large chest that can quickly hide children’s’ toys, blankets, pillows, and anything else that tends to collect on the floor.

Pick a color, any (lighter) color

Wall color is key when it comes to keeping a small room from feeling claustrophobic. Dark or deep-hued tones of any color will instantly make the room look and feel smaller because darker colors absorb light. Choose a lighter shade in a color you love and paint to your heart’s content. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean you have to stick with white or beige – pale yellow, soft baby blue, or even a very light orange will all still look good and reflect as much natural light as possible. If you still love that dark color or the idea of just one color bores you, move your desire for bold to the floor with blue area rugs or red area rugs.

From the floor up

The good news when it comes to small rooms is that your floor-covering options are virtually endless. Even those on a budget can enjoy the focal point of decorative area rugs that might otherwise look lost in a larger space. Be sure to choose light, neutral rug and flooring colors that will give the visual feel of openness. Creams and icy blues in any type of rug shape or weave will help reflect light while, again, darker colors absorb the light and thus make it feel smaller. If you need to divide up your space into a number of purposeful areas – as many apartment dwellers often have to – you can also utilize area rugs to give each space its own separate feeling.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall

As the saying goes, “it’s all done with mirrors”. Mirrors are often the magician’s hidden helper when it comes to pulling off an optical illusion. You can put this same idea to use in your home by using a mirror or mirrors to help your room appear to have more depth.  The mirror’s reflection naturally redirects light around the room, giving the appearance of more space. Place a mirror with a slim frame near a window to instantly open up your space by reflecting both the view and natural light. Opt for mirrored closest or cabinet doors to turn dead space into a room-widening focal point. Even a mirrored table top will help make spaces with furniture feel uncluttered.

Furnish with care

Speaking of furniture, there are a multitude of tricks you can use to keep your furniture from overtaking your small space. Furniture in the same or similar colors to your walls will help give the illusion of more space. Just be sure to choose furnishings that work with the scale of the room. For example, a large antique bureau might overwhelm a small bedroom while a pair of bed-height dressers feel more at home on either side of the bed. If you can’t spring for new furniture, work with what you’ve got by pushing your pieces against the walls to give as much walking space as possible.

We all have them: items that we’ve picked up over the years in our travels, been given as gifts, or treasure from a friend or relative. From heirloom-quality traditional area rugs to dime store items with sentimental value, it can sometimes become overwhelming trying to find a way to display them all in your home. Pile up a few too many and you run the risk of creating clutter or at worst looking like you’re running your very own gift shop.

Keepsakes, souvenirs, and decorative area rugs can become nice focal points that fit into any décor if you know how to handle them. We’ve come up with a few inexpensive ways you can take yours from being dust-catchers to becoming eye-catching tributes to the life you lead.

Children’s artwork, birth announcements, post cards

Create your own magnetic bulletin board from sheet metal, a frame and some cardboard. Grab an old unused frame (or visit a craft store or consignment shop to pick up one cheap) and measure it. Next, hit the hardware store for a piece of sheet metal to fit the size you measured. Place the sheet metal in your frame and place the cardboard on the side that will face the wall – this will help it lay flat. Flip over and begin displaying your photos, post cards, children’s art – basically anything that can be help up with a magnet — and you’ve created your own work of art in no time.

Letters, ticket stubs, photos

Instead of letting old letters and ticket stubs collect dust in a box somewhere, why not frame them? Picture frames aren’t limited to just holding pictures, so dig through that drawer of letters, postcards, playbills and other sentimental items and get to framing. You can frame just a few notes that make you smile or create a collage. Celebrate your romance by framing a pic of you and your partner alongside an old love letter or plane ticket. Immortalize you favorite beach with a photo of the sun setting over the water next to a map or menu from your favorite local spot. You’ll smile every time you walk past one of these.

Old T-shirts

Whether you picked it up at frat house fundraiser or it forever declares your love for a certain band, we all have that one, special, worn-in t-shirt we don’t ever want to part with. The problem is that these shirts eventually fade or tear over time. Why not have those special shirts made into a quilt? It’s a great way to keep the shirt you love, but turn it into something more permanent. There are a number of companies online who will do this for you and you can then proudly display your quilt on your bed or as a wall hanging. However, if you’re good with a needle and thread, you can pull this off at home by carefully cutting out your favorite t’s message and turning it into an iron-on patch using a fusile web like Heat n’ Bond. You can then adhere the shirt onto a quilt background and finish the quilt as you normally would.

Knick knacks and things

Souvenir plates, spoons, shot glasses, seashells and thimbles are fun to bring home from your latest adventure, but they can easily end up collecting dust if not properly displayed. You can buy a display cabinet for any of the above or re-purpose another item for makeshift storage. A friend used an old typesetter’s shadow box to display her favorite shot glasses. Another friend we know filled the top portion of a glass-topped shadowbox table with sand to display seashells in an attractive display. Get creative with these small pieces and you’ll find your imagination is the only limit.

Family heirlooms and antiques

They’re no reason why grandma’s priceless oriental area rug or your great-uncle’s pocket watch should collect dust in storage. As long as you place them somewhere where they can’t be damaged, you can display them anywhere you’d like. Consider mounting an antique rug on a curtain rod as a gorgeous wall-hanging or even in place of a headboard. Smaller items can find a home on wall sconces or shelves, preferably near an old photo of whomever they once belonged to. It will make for a lasting tribute and a great conversation starter!

Man Caves are so 2005. What’s hot now? Mom Caves. You read that right: a place where a mom can break away from all responsibilities and just be herself. Whether it’s a literal cave, buried in the basement, or just a corner in the bedroom designated by cheap area rugs, mom deserves a place to escape.

Search for Mom Caves online and you’ll find some articles suggesting mom should retrofit an unused closet as her mom cave. No offense, but we think mom deserves better (and honestly, who has an unused closet?). So, if you’ve got an empty room, we’ve got five tips for making the most of your mom cave. From a spot to squeeze in a workout to a place to relax on soft chenille area rugs and sip a little vino in the company of good friends or good books, the sky’s the limit on crafting a mom-worthy hideaway. Read on to find out more!

A place to get organized

First off, we’d be delusional to believe that even though the space is supposed to belong only to mom that toys, sports equipment, sippy cups, and other kid-related paraphernalia won’t make it into mom’s hideout. It’s likely impossible to ban all kid stuff from the room, but you can try to control it. This is as simple as placing a bin or basket near the entryway. Mom can then do a quick sweep of the room and deposit anything that’s not hers into the bin to be dealt with later. Serious bonus points if you can teach your kids (or husband) to return the items in the bin to their proper places.

A place to pump it up

Create a space that’s workout friendly. Tops on the list of many mom cave needs and wants is a place to exercise. You don’t need to run out and drop hundreds of dollars on a treadmill, though. This can be as simple as a sports area rug, some free weights, a stability ball, and a TV with a few workout DVD’s. If you can, carve out this space near a window. The natural light will help mom feel more awake and energized and ready to go.

Chillax on a soft, shag area rug.

A place to chill

If Mom’s a reader, create a reading nook that will serve as a cozy spot to kick back and get lost in a bestseller. An overstuffed chair with a cozy chenille throw will work, but if it’s not in your budget, choose several large throw pillows and a sumptuous shag rug instead. Add a small bookshelf and a reading lamp to complete the atmosphere. And, if mom craves that coffee house experience but never gets the opportunity to enjoy it, add a single cup coffee maker into the mix!

A place to get things done

Crafts, laundry, scrapbooking, and the occasional holiday wrapping session are just a few of the many tasks that go hand-in-hand with mommy hood. Give her a great open space to get it all done by installing a waist-high table. You don’t need to hit the furniture store for one – pick up a laminate countertop remnant from a local kitchen contractor. Attach it to your wall from underneath with a few A-frame wall brackets sturdy enough to hold up your countertop. Add a barstool and some bright overhead task lighting. Finish it off by securing a few small boxes or baskets to your wall just above your new table to store essentials like pens, tape, scissors, and other small items.

A place to entertain

With any luck, mom and her best buds will find some time in their busy schedules to hang out and relax in the mom cave. With that in mind, a place to entertain is a must. Create a space for this by placing a few couches or chairs in a small square around a coffee table or end tables.  Add in cozy throw pillows and a couple of sink-your-toes-in-and-relax shag area rugs. While the focus will be on conversation and catching up, place this area near a television if mom’s a movie buff. For a touch that will win wave reviews with even mom’s pickiest guest, add a wine fridge.

Having a fireplace is a definite perk for a homeowner. It makes for an automatic gathering place in the cold winter months where friends and family can find comfort curling up in front of it on wool area rugs and still catches the eye in summertime. Besides a television, there are few places in the home people are more drawn to than a fireplace.

With that in mind, if yours doesn’t feel like an attractive place to be unless there’s a warm fire roaring in it, then it’s probably time for an update. From lackluster mantle displays to brick work that makes your entire room feel stuck in the 1970’s, there’s a solution for every unattractive fireplace.

We’ve come up with four ways you can decorate, update, lighten and brighten your fireplace with a little know-how, a little cash, some floor area rugs and just a little paint. Keep reading to find out how!

A modern mantle masterpiece

A beautiful portrait or framed piece of art above your mantle always makes for a nice focal point and seems to tie your entire fireplace area together. If you’ve never gotten around to installing artwork there or the last time you changed it out was during a decade that started with “19”, it’s probably time for a change. Instead of spending an arm and a leg on a new print, you can transform an old framed print by removing the frame and covering the canvas with printed fabric. Simply find a pretty swath of fabric that you love and staple it to the frame of your canvas, making sure to pull it taut. You can then replace it above your mantle without a frame for a modern look.

Not so groovy, baby

If your fireplace has a brick surround, you might feel like you’re stuck with it and stuck in a time warp when lava lamps and bellbottoms were in vogue. Not that brick surrounds can’t be nice looking, but they make a room look dated and can seem like a design challenge if you want to lighten it up. The solution to that is as simple as painting the brick. Choose a color that will help brighten up the space and fits well with your décor.  Prep your brick by using sandpaper to remove any loose pieces of mortar. Vacuum it to remove any dust and follow up with a scrub with some hot soapy water. Allow it to dry, vacuum it just once more, and apply two to three coats of high-quality latex paint.

Balance seasonal displays

Decorating your mantle is just as important as making sure the rest of your fireplace has style. Since fireplaces have a tendency to draw visitors in, they’ll spend a lot of time looking at what’s directly at eye level. You can decorate yours with family photos, candles, and seasonal items. Whatever you choose, try and give your mantle a sense of balance if you have multiple items that you want to display. In other words, instead of just placing items on the mantle’s shelf in a random cluster, you could place one tall taper candle at each side and then arrange frames and other items according to size and style across your mantle. Just for fun, you may want to swap out the various items according to season – display a variety of small pumpkins in the fall and the change it out for stockings and greenery once the holidays roll around. Dress up the hearth in the summer time (or really any time it’s not in use) with a beautiful screen or a summery framed print.

Take care of your hearth

Finally, there are few scenes more welcoming than a cozy fireplace. Complete the look of yours and encourage guests to snuggle up around it with a great rug beside it on the floor. You can choose hand knotted area rugs, a classic oriental, or even a semi-circular rug that will fit up against the base of your hearth. Choose your rug in a color and style that complements the décor ideas you’ve decided to incorporate from this article. You can even it change it out with the seasons just like your other mantle pieces. Store a few throw pillows and thick blankets nearby for those winter nights when all you want to do is cuddle up near the fire and hide from the elements.

It probably only seems like yesterday that you brought your baby home. Now, before your very eyes it seems, that little person who once depended on you for everything now has a mind of his own and an opinion…on everything!

Make your child's room more inviting

So when it comes time to convert the crib to a bed and move the rocking chair into storage, don’t forget to update your toddler’s décor as well. It will be a while before you little one can express a desire for a kids area rug, a certain paint color or bedspread, but that doesn’t mean that her bedroom needs to feel like a nursery. You can create a fun space for her to sleep and play with minimal cost and effort.

The updates listed below require simple changes — nothing that requires pulling out the drop cloth and putting a new coat of paint on the walls. You can keep her pink area rugs or his blue area rugs. The truth is you really don’t need to change much of the color scheme; you just need to create more purpose-built space and add details that make it look like a child spends his time there, not a baby.

So, here they are in no particular order, some quick fixes to help your child’s room grow right along with him:

Add a canopy – Little girls will love the romantic touch of a canopy over the bed. Your little princess can have fun helping you add ribbons, feathers, tiny butterfly appliques – whatever her heart desires to dress it up. When she gets older, it can easily be removed if she wants something new. On the floor by the bed, oval area rugs help tie the look together.

Add or change decals – Your little one might be over bears and giraffes, but you can still add detail to his or her room with removable wall decals. Decals of trees that appear to climb up the corner of one wall seem to be a popular choice, but others can easily be ordered in pictures and shapes your child prefers. This is another easy change once your toddler grows older – simply peel it off when the time comes.

Make it a double – Toddler beds, especially those that convert from a crib, are nice but if yours doesn’t have the ability to “grow” any bigger, you’ll be searching for a new bed before you know it. If you have the space and you think your child will be ok with it, you can always try a double bed instead. It will grow with your child until he’s ready to leave the nest. And then he might just take it with him!

Add more storage – As children age, they seem to accumulate more belongings almost out of thin air. You can add stylish storage options for toys, books, bikes, and other kid gear without creating more clutter. Once it’s time to do away with the changing table, consider adding a large dresser or bureau that can hold both clothing and artwork or keepsakes. Look for other furniture with built-in storage like a low table with drawers or a bookshelf designed to also hold decorative storage baskets.

Upgrade the closet – Your new dresser won’t hold everything your little one needs, so put some thought into organizing or upgrading her closet. Install a closet organizer to create a place for everything. Then, hang clothing according to size or season for easy access with little packing and unpacking. Fold items that need not be hung on the organizers shelves. You can even use this as secondary storage for toys that aren’t being used.

Give him a place to sit – Your budding preschooler might be fine playing with crayons and books on the floor, but you can show him or her that learning is a priority by adding a desk or table. He’ll love to have a place to draw and you can sit down with him and show him how nice it is to have a desk of his own. If you want to invest in toddler size furniture, try to keep it cheap. Ask a friend with older children if they have a desk they’re looking to unload or search a consignment shop for a great little table and chairs.

After the financial fallout of the last few years, we’ve been told that it’s tough to get back the money you put into your home when it’s time to sell. It’s a buyer’s market and gone are the days when high-end updates like custom area rugs and granite countertops could be resold for at least their value or more.

However, that hasn’t meant that we’ve stopped wanting or needing to upgrade our living spaces. Whether you desire a new vanity or silk area rugs, upgrading your home’s features is both a financial and an emotional decision. What hasn’t changed is that when you choose to add certain upgrades to your home, the appraised value will increase. And while potential homeowner’s demands and needs have changed in the last few years, there are a few that still remain high on the list of upgrades buyers want.

Here are six ways you can upgrade the value of your home:

Energy efficient appliances – If we’ve learned anything in the last few years, it’s that money is among one of our most finite resources. A study by Kiplinger’s found that 88 percent of home buyers said energy efficient features were a “must have”. Investing in energy efficient appliances, like a new refrigerator, will not only be appealing to buyers but also save you money in energy costs. In terms of décor, be sure to balance the color of your appliances with the other colors in your kitchen. Stainless steel has been among the most popular appliance color choice in the last few years but black and white look just as good in the right setting.

Crown molding – Crown molding, in any room, is a simple touch that makes a room look finished. It’s got that architectural “wow factor” and it’s still a small detail that home buyers want. It may not add thousands of dollars to your resale price, but if other homes in your neighborhood have it and your home doesn’t, it might be one of those touches that make the difference in a sale. It’s tricky to do on your own, so if you want it, hire a professional carpenter.

Hardwood flooring – Experienced homebuyers never look at carpet. They know that they’ll likely rip it up and replace it within days of closing. Hardwood on the other hand almost always gets a second look. Even scuffed up and worn, it has lasting value that can be stained and refinished to suit the new homeowner’s needs. If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of installing hardwood, consider using bamboo or cork. Both types of hardwood are made from sustainable materials and stand up just as well to wear and tear as traditional hardwood.

Rugs – A great rug is always a good investment. Whether you choose to make that investment oversized area rugs or smaller round area rugs, you’ll add depth and richness to your décor when potential buyers come to take a look around. It will warm up the look of hardwood, break up spaces, and add visual interest in a large room. In other words, it helps the place look more expensive, thereby adding to the perceived value to buyers. When you prepare to sell your home, you can choose to add the value of the rug to your home’s price or just roll it up and take it with you.

New backsplash – If don’t have the time or money to update your kitchen, a new backsplash is like an inexpensive bandage that will help make the whole room look new and fresh. It’s a great way to swap out one type of décor for another with minimal work. A true grout-and-tile job – which will likely require hiring a pro – will help you get the most for your money out of this update, but peel-and-stick tiles can fake it and still pull off the same look.

New fixtures – From adding a new sink or toilet to just changing out your plumbing fixtures, updating and upgrading faucets and handles will instantly add a modern touch. That modern touch translates to helping your kitchen or bath look like it was recently remodeled (even if it wasn’t). Even more appealing to buyers are low-flow faucet aerators that reduce water usage by up to 30 percent.

It’s that time of year when winter feels like it might just hang around forever. Warm days and long walks in the park still seem a lifetime away. Believe it or not, those days will be here before we know it and what better way to start welcoming them than by adding a little springtime to your home’s décor?

Buy Yourself some Flowers

What says spring better than flowers? Do yourself (and your living room and kitchen and dining room) a favor and fill a few vases with some early spring flowers in bright, sunny tones.

Tulips are always an early favorite and are usually available in a variety of colors. These breezy buds don’t have to look like an Easter basket, though: choose colors that complement your décor and arrange handfuls of them in clear vases around your home. Resist the urge to add lots of greenery, and be sure to let the stems show for a clean, elegant look.

Can’t afford the real thing or just hate the maintenance that comes with fresh flowers? Hit up your local craft store to find an armful of silk flowers. The good news here is you’ll have a lot to choose from like bright blue hydrangeas or colorful Gerbera daises. Use the same concept suggested for the real thing and no one will be any the wiser.

Bring the Outside In

While you’re busy bringing a little of the outdoors inside, why not incorporate a piece outdoor furniture into your sitting room’s repertoire? Bring inside a piece normally found outdoors like wicker rocker or a teak end table. Add a pillow or other items that make it look like it fits in the room and soon you’ll have a slightly rustic, eye-catching object that makes the room feel seasonal.  Don’t forget to add outdoor area rugs!

Create a centerpiece using other outside items like seashells or rocks from your garden. These found objects will look great mixed in with a few candles and will help pull together your room’s current look and the springtime feel brought on by your outdoor furniture.

Ditch the Drab and Dark

This is also a great time to play with or freshen up your home’s textiles. Starting in the living room, change out deep or bold-colored throw pillows for bright pops of teal, florals, or preppy madras prints.

The same goes for area rugs. Roll up anything dark that’s been a recent place to wipe off snowy boots and bring in lighter tones. Since spring makes us all feel a little giddy, seize the opportunity to have fun with your throw rugs and try something new like this funky blue paisley pattern.

Couristan Recife Paisley Scroll White and Blue Area Rug

If you use slipcovers, nothing will change the look of a room like swapping out wintertime darks for brighter or more neutral tones. Not only will the change literally “air-out” your furniture, but it will also give you a lot more freedom to play with the other colors in your room.

In the bedroom, put away the fluffy down comforters you spent winter’s darkest hours hiding under and swap them out for shabby chic quilts and chenille throws. Trade in dark linens and sheets for bright florals and patterns. Remember those flowers we talked about earlier? They’d look great on your night table!

And don’t forget those window treatments. What’s spent a whole season covering up the dark and dreary can be taken down and put away until summer fades. For now, let your sheers filter all that glorious sunlight or add a pair of lightweight panels in a breezy print.

Defrost your Entryway

Finally, once you’ve spruced up the inside, head out to give your entryway a once over. There will be plenty of time as the weather warms to tackle all of your outdoor garden projects. The aim for now is to get your front and back doorways looking a little more springtime ready.

Wash down your walls and door’s exterior. Touch up any paint that winter’s harsh winds have done a number on. Clean off your exterior lighting and repair screens that have become worn or gotten off track. Add a simple wreath or sign to your door and you’re done.