How to create a mood

One of the first decisions in creating a mood is the consideration of the size of the space. It can be made to feel either cozy or spacious.

You want spacious?

If so, you probably love the wide, open spaces and want to bring the outside in. Your personal decorating style could be described as light and airy. You may tend toward the transitional and contemporary end of the design spectrum. Here are ways to create that sense of spaciousness.

To create a sense of largeness in your room you should eliminate the shadows that tend to slice a room up into smaller spaces. Light the room with soft, even lighting avoiding ceiling lights as they bring the ceiling down. Diffused, ambient light will tend to enlarge the room.

Keep the colors soft and monochromatic. Use beige, cream, gray, or cool pastels on your walls and ceilings to make them recede. The ceiling should always be the lightest color in the room to create spaciousness.

Keep smoother textures on all your surfaces. Smoother textures generally reflect more light and make the room feel larger. Choose light-colored tiles or light-colored hardwood for the floor instead of carpeting. Reflective metal finishes and mirrors can also be used effectively.

Limit patterns in the room to create a more airy feeling. This keeps the eye moving as it travels across the room. Use pattern in accent pieces as in pillows or accessories.

Selection and placement of furniture is crucial in defining the space. Large pieces should be against the walls when possible. Furniture colors should be the same or similar to the color of the floor and walls. Choose styles that are elevated off the floor on legs and are made of materials that reflect or let light through. Most importantly, limit the number of furniture pieces to avoid over crowding.

You want it cozy?

You are probably a nester and enjoy being enveloped by your spaces. You describe your space as warm and inviting. Here is the way to create a more intimate space.

Create spaces within your room with directed light. Shadows will divide up spaces for you. Lighting from the ceiling will seem to lower it. Reading lamps or a down-shaded lamp will keep light within certain areas of the room. Incandescent should be used for its warm color instead of fluorescent or halogen lights.

Strong colors should be used for the walls and floors. This will tend to bring surfaces closer to one another. Dark floors or dark ceilings create a smaller, cozier space.

Heavy, soft textures add warmth to a space. Knitted or fur throws on a sofa or plush patterned carpet and draperies all add textural warmth to a room. Use rougher textures for the hard surfaces in the room – brick instead of tile, antique iron instead of chrome.

Pattern is one of the most important elements to add coziness to a room – oriental rugs, patterned wallcovering and upholstery fabrics, etc. The more patterns in a room, the smaller it will feel. Always remember the importance of combining the correct patterns, however. Be careful not to overdo it.

Choose dark finishes and fabrics to create the illusion that the pieces are larger than is actually the case. Heavy textures and patterns will make a sofa or chair cozier. Move pieces to define spaces within the room.