My house is very small no foyer straight into kitchen or living room the rooms are small to and would like to have ideas
by
Patricia B
+36
My house is very small no foyer straight into living room or kitchen. the rooms are small to and would like to have some ideas on decorating and all rooms are paneled
39 answers
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A big mirror can "double" the size of a room...at least it looks that way.
KMS Woodworks
on Mar 31, 2012
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KMS ~ as always, you have a vast amount of interesting knowledge that you share! Must comment on this though ~~ always check what a mirror will reflect ~~ in this case, a staircase ~~ hummmm....I wouldn't have necessary chosen a mirror for this application. But you certainly are correct noting how a large mirror can add visual space and, addtionally, light reflection.
Bonnie B
on Mar 31, 2012
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Small rooms should have smaller scale furnituire. Don't put an overstuffed sofa and chair into a tiny room, or the room will look smaller. Use furnishings that are on legs so that you don't break up an already small space. Glass top tables, etc., are all design tricks to keep small spaces from looking smaller once furnished. and KMS is correct...mirrors...in the back of bookcases, on the wall, mirrored tables, etc. will all help to keep the spaces looking as big as they can.
Leslie D
on Mar 31, 2012
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Bonnie...yes that mirror does reflect the stair there when you enter in from that dining room area. I just shot that pic last week in a 100 + year old home I've doing some work in (floors, plaster + misc.) That mirror is a bit over sized for that space in my book, but the HO's got it for only 200 bucks...not bad for beveled glass.
KMS Woodworks
on Apr 01, 2012
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Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
Patricia B
on Apr 01, 2012
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Add some pictures of your space. there are a lot of great designers on here with ideas to help. It's difficult when you can't see the issues.
Leslie D
on Apr 01, 2012
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Is the paneling dark? Light colors recede and make the space look larger.
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Apr 01, 2012
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The paneling is like a knoted pine color, not really dark.
Patricia B
on Apr 02, 2012
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The most inexpensive and high impact thing that you can do is to paint the walls and trim a light color. I had a small lake house once & waited years to do this because I did not want to cover the wood...why did I wait so long? It is a lot of prep work & not easy but it will change everything! The next advice is to stay organized and keep the furnishings and accessories simple. Glass top tables are wonderful as you can see the space through them and they give the illusion that the room is larger because they do not stop the eye.
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Apr 02, 2012
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I agree with Lee Anne. The best way to help a room to appear larger is to paint the paneling a lighter color or to remove the paneling and paint the drywall a lighter color so light can reflect off of it. Small scale furniture helps the room to appear larger too. This picture I am posting is a room make over that I did that will show you what a difference painting paneling can make.
Jan Britt Interiors
on Apr 02, 2012
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Jan Britt...getting rid of buckets of clutter can do wonders to....start there as getting rid of stuff is normally FREE...then you can take additional steps to lighten up.
KMS Woodworks
on Apr 02, 2012
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Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
Patricia B
on Apr 02, 2012
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Patricia, can you post a picture of the area. People on this site are wonderfully creative but have to see what they are working with to help.
Sherrie S
on Apr 02, 2012
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Rip the paneling down, tear out some walls, move the kitchen and make everything bigger (sorry, just trying to satisfy "more ideas")
Leslie D
on Apr 03, 2012
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I second the pic request...we need to see what we have to "work with"
KMS Woodworks
on Apr 03, 2012
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Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
Patricia B
on Apr 03, 2012
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Hey, Patricia ~~ are you able to post pictures? There are some wonderfully talented individuals on this website that would be able to offer you a world of design ideas. The more pictures the merrier ~~ ! Perhaps, if you don't have the capability, a friend or relative would be able to help?
Bonnie B
on Apr 03, 2012
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KMS: Such a deal ~~ !! Yes, $200 for a beveled mirror that size is highway robbery !! BUT....still would like to see it embellish another area of their home and reflect something of interest. :)
Bonnie B
on Apr 03, 2012
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Another "more ideas" (sorry, but this woman is obviously only interested in the # of replies she can get and we're all wasting our time). Here's my final idea...buy a house you actually like with bigger rooms and no paneling and sell yours to hobbits (they're small and like dark spaces). I've had a rough day and am now playing a game of "angry tag".
Leslie D
on Apr 03, 2012
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Leslie D, when KMS and other talented people realize they can't answer a question without a PIC and the person posting doesn't respond except to repeatedly "ask for more ideas" it is time to leave this posting. Sad but true.
Sherrie S
on Apr 03, 2012
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Leslie D, I agree with you. My comment is to help Patricia B.
Sherrie S
on Apr 03, 2012
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Excuse me I'm an older woman and am just learning the computer Sorry I don't know how to post pictures! But I think painting the paneling might be a good idea. Sorry I just wanted ideas and I'm on a fixed income so since my house IS paid for I don't think I want to sell it to hobbits and go in debt again!!
Patricia B
on Apr 03, 2012
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Thanks for the suggestions, but I was looking for something cheep I could do since I don't have a lot of money to spend on remodling. But maybe I can paint one room at a time. But one question how hard is it to paint over paneling, is it painted the same way as you paint regular walls or do you have to do extra to it.
Patricia B
on Apr 03, 2012
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OK, now I feel bad...so sorry, but all we kept hearing was "more ideas", and no other feedback. My apologies. My bad day just ended with me feeling even worse....so sorry, Patricia B!
Leslie D
on Apr 03, 2012
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Painting paneling is a little bit harder than painting drywall..the key to a good paint job is some sound prep. For paneling I would use some of the same techniques used for painting a cabinet. clean the surfaces with some TSP (trisodium phosphate) light sanding tack cloth wipe Prime paint
KMS Woodworks
on Apr 04, 2012
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Leslie D: Sorry for your bad day that turned worse :( Hope life's better today. Patricia B: I think that Jan Britt's pictures visually pronounce the positive effect of painting and decluttering ~~ much more lighter, brighter and up-to-date (Hobbits would only come for cocktails). Would this work for you?
Bonnie B
on Apr 04, 2012
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Patricia, when I painted my paneling, I wiped it with mineral spirits. Step 2, I painted it with Kilz primer. Step 3 I painted my color and ...wow what a difference it made.I so admire that you are debt free!! I am following that path also. I am following the Dave Ramsey plan and it requires that I do with out many things, but it is soooo worth it! We have always done our own renovations and I am the painter! LOL So good luck, you are in good company!
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Apr 04, 2012
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I have had to go on the cheap many time as we raised 8 children of our own and 6 orphaned children. When I needed to paint I would look for knock off colors at hardware stores ,colors that had been mistakes. They had some beautiful ones. Some carpet stores have expensive leftovers, if you go to where they are instaling their carpet they will give it to you for just hauling it off. Also, There are still Boy Scouts looking for service projects,My 5 boys earned many badges serving others, Painting, hanging sheet rock, gardening and choping wood,as did my daughters, in young women activities.Look for help Leslie D. People need to teach young people to serve outhers more now days.
Donna G
on Apr 10, 2012
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I ment the above post for Patrica B --- Sorry Leslie D. I'm old too. lol
Donna G
on Apr 10, 2012
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Patricia B, I want to apologize for my earlier comment. I am certain we can help you post a picture if you choose to do so in the future. I'm glad you are now getting some good ideas.
Sherrie S
on Apr 10, 2012
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To Donna G I have 7 children and 11 grand children I also used to take in foster children. Thinking about doing that again. I found out before I bought this home and was lining in my other house that the best paint to buy is Sears Easy Living scrubable wipes off great without taking the paint off. But I've never tried painting paneling before but thanks everyone for your suggestions and yes Sherrie S I would love to learn how to post pictures.
Patricia B
on Apr 11, 2012
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Patricia B - my first question is do you know how to put the picture on your computer - how to get it from the camera or cell phone to the computer? Will you be using the cell phone camera or a regular camera?
Sherrie S
on Apr 12, 2012
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regular digital canera, I know you take the little disk out of the camera and put it in the computer to save the pictures but thats as far as I know. Dont know how to share them. ;)
Patricia B
on Apr 13, 2012
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Patricia...once you have the picture "on" the computer you can click on the "add Photos" link below the text box you write in. Then you can "browse" to where the picture is stored on your computer and select it. The picture will be uploaded to the site here for every one to see.
KMS Woodworks
on Apr 14, 2012
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Patricia: You might even think of checking out Picasa's website. You can download pictures and save them all. Additionally, you can create albums and do all sorts of fun things! Let me know how you're doing.
Bonnie B
on Apr 14, 2012
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Free-standing screen will create a foyer for you, certainly less expensive that tearing out paneling, etc. I got 2 sets of antique doors, hinged them together & that has made a small foyer just inside my front door. Anything you could make screen out of & decorate would work well. I have hall tree inside the screen since I have no coat closet. Sorry, don't have a photo.
Evelyn McMullen
on Aug 10, 2015
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If you don't have the money to switch the paneling out for drywall. Then I would paint all of the paneling the same color. I would stay away from the builder grade neutral colors like cream, beige or tan. I am trying to stay away from the latest trend of gray. While I really like it, not everyone does. So the following colors are very pale colors that are not stark white or cream colors for the walls.. Palladin Blue I think Benjamin Moore has it. You can paint the trim and windows white 2 suggestions would be Benjamin Moore's White Dove (OC-17). Benjamin Moore's swiss coffee OC-45 If you keep the walls & trim very light colors w/ a hint of color. You will make the rooms appear bigger. These colors will also make any wood stained furniture pop off the walls especially the ones w/ a cherry finish. Then for the foyer I would take the ideas from other posters from above & go w/ it. You are not limited by doors...You can use shutters, ornate doors etc. You can paint them a bright color, stencil them, or whatever else you can come up w/...Check out pinterest for ideas.
Kayo Frazier
on Aug 13, 2015
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Paint the paneling, caulk between panels, sand, and caulk again if need be. A creamy white paint gives it enough warmth. Have fun.
Susan
on Aug 13, 2015
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I have the exact same problem. I have lived here since '96 and after years and years of debating (and being scared) I have finally decided to paint the paneling. So far I've only painted my bedroom but WOW, what a difference! I did not calk or sand. I washed the walls with water and a splash of ammonia, changing the cloth and solution as necessary until cloth came away clean. I waited overnight to be sure everything was dry. Then I used Zinsser Bullseye 123 primer (I tried Kilz but it did NOT work half as well as the Zinsser). I ended up doing 2 coats of primer, allowing it to dry between coats. You'll know when you don't need anymore primer as anything underneath will not bleed through when you have primed enough. The only reason I used 2 coats is because the first coat did not cover ever bit of paneling as I used thin coats. I never had any bleed through but my paneling is 1970's fake and has some sort of top coat that wouldn't allow anything to bleed through. Then I painted with a good quality paint, I went with Behr Premium Plus Ultra (Stain-blocking paint and primer in one) in Eggshell, the color is Urban Nature, a beautiful light green that looks fabulous especially with the high gloss white trim. For some reason when you paint paneling with flat paint it's way too flat and chalky looking that's why I chose Eggshell. Painted paneling looks so much better painted a lighter color than a dark color so keep that in mind when choosing your color. I then painted the trim in high gloss. I was so frightened the paint would peel or crack or not stick but I haven't had a problem at all. I just wish I had painted years ago! As far as having no foyer, I don't either. But I did add a table by the front door and kind of divided that area from the living room with furniture placement.
Pete Sakes
on Aug 22, 2015
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