Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Home
  3. Home Decor Ideas
  4. 7 Small-Space Makeovers

7 Small-Space Makeovers

By Jennifer Kopf
Skip gallery slides
FB
Expose History
Credit: Julia Lynn
25 square feet? No problem! These transformations show it pays to go big in cramped quarters.
Start Slideshow

1 of 7

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Expose History

Expose History
Credit: Julia Lynn

Designer: Angie Hranowsky

Size: 50 square feet

Before: The kitchen was unorganized, outdated, and badly lit! All of the charm in this 1910 room was covered up with drywall, laminate cabinets, and vinyl flooring.

The Transformation: Moving the fridge allowed the sink wall to be opened up and the original brick wall and window to be exposed. "I combined timeless materials such as marble and stainless steel, installed new cabinetry, and refinished the old herringbone floors," Angie says.

Small-Space Advice: "Don't think small! Aim for originality."

1 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 7

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Amp Up Your Storage Space

Amp Up Your Storage Space
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Designer: Ty Larkins

Size: 65 square feet

Before: It was a plain drywall box with hardwood flooring. Let's be honest—don't all of our closets look like that?

The Transformation: "Aesthetically, I wanted to create an old-school gentleman's haberdashery that also felt fashion forward," Ty says. "To do so, I painted the entire space a dark chocolate brown and added classic detailing, such as vintage hardware on the built-in drawers to give them the look of a freestanding antique English chest."

Small-Space Advice: "Switch outdated knobs or pulls. It does wonders on old furniture."

2 of 7

3 of 7

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Be Bold with Wallpaper

Be Bold with Wallpaper
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Designer: Heather Garrett

Size: 96 square feet

Before: The builders' beige hallway had traditional plantation shutters, a chair rail, and an iron chandelier.

The Transformation: "I decided to make the chair rail an important part of a more modern scheme by painting it glossy black and pairing it with a graphic patterned wallpaper," Heather says. Paring down the accessories keeps all eyes on the pattern.

Small-Space Advice: "Remove your ceiling fan's light kit. They're so dated. Use lamps instead."

3 of 7

Advertisement

4 of 7

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Reclaim Attic Space

Reclaim Attic Space
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Designer: Paige Sumblin Schnell

Size: 28 square feet

Before: An unfinished attic area with a big window.

The Transformation: "I embraced the natural light and framed a view by floating a vintage table-turned-vanity in front and hanging a small round mirror over the window," says Paige. "Dark walls painted Gauntlet Gray by Sherwin-Williams are high contrast and lend interest."

Small-Space Advice: "Simple color schemes work best when space is limited. They feel more focused and organized."

4 of 7

5 of 7

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Play with Pattern

Play with Pattern
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Designer: Melissa Rufty

Size: 40 square feet

Before: A tired, all-white, utilitarian bath.

The Transformation: Magenta-and-orange toile wallpaper now envelops the room. "We enlivened it by painting the cabinetry, trim, and shutters a pinkish red [Mardi Gras by Benjamin Moore]," says Melissa.

Small-Space Advice: "Take the opportunity to splurge here; the quantity needed will be less."

5 of 7

6 of 7

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Layer on the Color

Layer on the Color
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Designer: Barrie Benson

Size: 40 square feet

Before: A very traditional powder bath with black-and-white tile, a built-in vanity, and white walls.

The Transformation: "We married a traditional marble pedestal sink and old, drippy, crystal sconces with a glossy peacock color. It's just south of modern—tasteful, fun, and a bit unexpected," says Barrie.

Small-Space Advice: "The color [Peacock Feathers by Benjamin Moore] got more intense with every layer. It took a million to get right."

6 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 7

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Try a Painted Floor

Try a Painted Floor
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Designer: Hooper Patterson

Size: 160 square feet

Before: A drab and dysfunctional laundry room.

The Transformation: "Because of built-ins, there wasn't a lot of wallspace, so I took a risk and brought pattern to the floor," Hooper says. "From there, I started layering in color on the door, window treatment, and corkboard. White hex tiles updated the backsplash."

Small-Space Advice: "Take risks. They'll pay off—I promise."

7 of 7

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Jennifer Kopf

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 7 Expose History
    2 of 7 Amp Up Your Storage Space
    3 of 7 Be Bold with Wallpaper
    4 of 7 Reclaim Attic Space
    5 of 7 Play with Pattern
    6 of 7 Layer on the Color
    7 of 7 Try a Painted Floor

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    7 Small-Space Makeovers
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.