Expert decorating tips for small spaces

Mountain Living’s May/June issue (on newsstands and online now) is all about giving small spaces a big dose of high-country style. Here, Abby Hetherington, the interior designer behind this lovely little loft (pictured) in Bozeman, Montana, shares her tips for making the most of tiny rooms: â¨â¨

Lighten up walls. In this small loft, the designer opted for white walls, which give the space brightness while making it a perfect backdrop for colorful accessories.

Crown the rooms. Painting the ceiling a darker hue than the neutral wall color gives the room depth and warmth, Hetherington says.â¨â¨

Carve out smaller spaces. Intimate sitting areas or quirky vignettes give a room depth and interest. Take a tip from Hetherington and use rugs to designate different areas within one room.â¨â¨

“Float” the furniture. Who says you have to push your sofa against the wall? Floating the furniture is another way to create separate functional areas in a large room.

â¨â¨Don’t over-decorate. It’s tempting to fill every nook and cranny with stuff, but in a small space, it becomes especially important to edit down your possessions to the things you really love. Have too many? Keep some in storage and then rotate the treasures on display, so you can enjoy your favorite things without overwhelming the space.

Text by Hilary Masell Oswald. Photos by Audrey Hall.

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THIS MONTANA LOFT—AND OTHER SMALL HOMES WITH BIG HIGH-COUNTRY STYLE—IN THE MAY/JUNE ISSUE OF MOUNTAIN LIVING.