Sublime Summer Space Savers: 6 Perfect Petite Patios

With the start of summer just around the corner folks are being bombarded with tips and ideas for their backyards. Most of us love spending the warmer months outdoors – but what do you do if you have really limited outdoor space? Sure, you’d hang a chandelier bird feeder with pride and invite all your friends to join you on your new extra large outdoor sofa, but just you don’t have room. Fear not. We’ve found six fun and easy ideas for your petite patios that’ll have you saying, “space schmace”. Check ‘em out below and get ready for summer.

Rugged Beauty – We’ve all accepted the idea of outdoor furniture being more than simply plastic chairs, right? Well, we’re encouraging homeowners to take this concept one step further and invest in outdoor rugs. They allow you to have more fun with your color scheme and create a cohesive look for your small space.

Playful Pallets – There’s lots to love when it comes to pallet furniture. It’s great for the environment, has such a fun and funky feel, and is fairly customizable. That last point has huge implications for your outdoor space. If you’ve got a little or uniquely shaped outdoor area, create furniture that’ll fit it perfectly.

Textured Treat – Add depth to your area without taking up too much room. Use blankets and pillows to create an inviting seating area, even though you don’t have space for a couch. The variety in fabrics and patterns will make things more luxurious.

Harmonious Hangout – You create the ideal space for hanging out when you make space for your stuff to hang. Maximizing vertical space can save you a lot in the long run.

Layered Love – Perfection is all in the details, and we’re loving this tiered herb garden. Not only do the herbs add gorgeous greenery to your balcony, they’ll make your cooking more delicious, and having them on a rack means you aren’t sacrificing too much space.

Beautiful Bed – Ok, we might never get up if we had this on our patio, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Just because you don’t have room for large furniture, doesn’t mean you have to get only teeny tiny pieces. We love the idea of the “half day bed”. It’s a nice, big, comfy piece – it’s just not as large as its counterparts.

We hope these balconies have inspired you to tackle your small space and make the most out of your outdoor decor. For more tips and ideas, make sure to connect with @HomeShows on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Have a small space you’ve styled nicely? Share a snap with us! We’d love to see what you’ve created.

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Less is More at the Edmonton Fall Home Show

Has anyone ever told you that less is more? Perhaps this phrase is hard to hear when you are trying to make your tiny apartment look like a spacious luxury home that fits more than your cat and a stack of Nicholas Sparks books. But trust us, even your small space can have big style - you just have to know where to start.

Janette Ewen, interior stylist and lifestyle expert, says it’s important to look at small spaces as opportunities rather than challenges. After many years of contributing to publications like House and Home and Chatelaine and appearing regularly on Cityline and HGTV, Janette knows a thing or two about how to make rooms go from drab to fab whether they’re big or small.

Four Tips for Decorating Small Spaces

1.      Pick patterns wisely. Janette says wallpaper, textiles, rugs and accessories can fill small spaces with life and character that can’t be achieved in larger rooms. If you think the only way to make your space seem larger is to go with minimal furniture and decor, you are wrong.

2.      Use lighting to your advantage. Maximize the natural light coming through the windows with chic and simple coverings, and consider an ornamental drape of you’d like something more luxurious (just make sure you only use one drape and tie it to one side to let natural light in).

3.      Bare walls, be gone. Your first instinct might be to paint the walls white to create the illusion of more space, but painting them with black matte paint will create visual space.

4.      Be Fearless. If you are afraid to take design risks, you will never see the results you want. Janette says it is important to just dive in and go for it no matter how unsure you might be about the outcome; you will never know if you don’t try.

Janette is a top authority for all things interior design, and she is sharing her wealth of knowledge with homeowners at this year's brand new Edmonton Fall Home Show. The home and garden event of the season takes over the Edmonton Expo Centre October 23-25, 2015.

Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 when you connect with us on Facebook! Treat a friend or family member to the show - we can't wait to see you there!

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Decorating Your Small Space For The Holidays

Just because you're in a small space doesn't mean you can't go all out for the holidays. Whether you want to spruce up your office, dorm room, or small apartment, we've got decorating ideas to help you make the most of your space and keep it full of holiday cheer. Check them out below and feel the Christmas spirit wherever you are - school, work, or in the comfort of your home.

1. Don't Forget Your Side Tables - For most of the year you probably leave these surfaces fairly free to make room for beverages and snacks, and because clutter is the enemy of small spaces. However, during the holiday season side or end tables are a prime spot for adding decorative touches.

Image via Finding Home

2. Deck Your Doorways - Hanging garland and lights around your doorway is a great way to decorate without losing any space. We think this is an especially creative and clever way to display holiday cards; think about how much space those take up!

Image via Nine & Sixteen Home

3. Hang Ornaments From Your Ceiling - We're not talking about your entire ceiling or encouraging you to hang a thousand decorations, but in places where space comes at a premium you've got to use what you can. Stringing some pretty ornaments from above can add a bit of Christmas whimsy to any space.

Image via HouseBeautiful

4. Dish It Out - Festive cups and other dishes are a simple yet great way to bring the holiday spirit into a room. They are especially handy if you're trying to decorate your office, where you might have some serious restrictions, both in terms of space and not being able to hang decorations on walls. Drink your morning coffee or afternoon tea from a reindeer mug, it'll perk you right up. And if you're like us and leave your mug on your desk all day it'll double as a decoration.

Image via Just A Girl

5. Use Hooks And Racks - Believe it or not your coat hooks and racks are the perfect spot to add a bit of holiday cheer to your space. You already use them to hang your jackets and scarves, why not try putting up a wreath, a few ornaments, or some garland?

Image via House To Home

6. Opt For A Little Tree - Do you remember that giant tree Chevy Chase got in Christmas Vacation? Don't get one of those. Be economic with your space and get a little tree instead. Now you might think to yourself, that looks more like a plant than a Christmas tree, but these guys are actually pretty cute and with the right decorations you won't miss the extra height. Put it on a tabletop or an old sleigh.

Image via At Home In Love

Do you decorate for the holidays in every space you can, like your office and your car? Or is it just something you do at home? Let us know how you deck the halls below.

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Small Space Solutions: 6 Tips For Living Large In A Little Home

Decorating a small space can be a big challenge. When spatial limitations have a huge impact on what you can and can't have in your home, it's easy to get discouraged and overwhelmed. Can you really use furnishings, paint, and lighting to create the illusion of size? And, more importantly, how can you incorporate your stuff, style, and self into your decor if your primary concern is saving space? Fear not cozy cave dwellers, we've got six quick tips to help you create a small space you'll really love. Whether you're moving into your first off-campus apartment, downsizing, or just looking to improve the little space you already occupy, these ideas will help you maximize your square footage and make less look like more.

1. Strategy - Be smart about the way you use your space. Go vertical where you can, opting for tall over wide bookshelves, end or side tables, and dressers. Hang pictures and curtains higher than you normally would to draw focus up. But remember not to let things get too cluttered.

Image via Apartment Therapy

2. Color - Living in a small home doesn't mean that you have to give up on bright color entirely. Everything doesn't have to be white or beige, but it should be monochromatic. Using a consistent color scheme is easy for the eyes to take in and makes your space look more expansive. Frequent changes in color interrupt the way we look at our surroundings and make spaces seem smaller by dividing them. You can incorporate some pops of color into your theme, but try and limit their frequency.

Image via The 36th Avenue

3. Transparency - Get creative when it comes to organizing your things. If you use floating shelves instead of a standard bookshelf, it can add depth and a sense of space. Traditional shelving can be bulky, but floating shelves let you see the floor, which makes the room seem larger.

Image via VintageRevivals

4. Versatility - Choose furniture that can be used differently depending on the situation, like pullout couches and folding tables. Don't get a dining room table and a desk; get a dining room table that doubles as a desk. Having a fluid space ultimately translates to having more space.

Image via Apartment Therapy

5. Mirrors - This is an old trick, but that doesn't make it less effective. Mirrors make your space look twice as big by reflecting it. Use them to your advantage wherever you can.

Image via House & Home

6. Lighting - Shadows are the enemy of a small space. They highlight the actual size of the room and draw attention to the large objects within it. Make sure to get the lighting you need so that your home is bright, no matter where the sun is.

Image via House & Home

Are you facing a design challenge? The experts at Marketplace Events home shows are there to give you the advice, inspiration, and tips you need to solve your decorating dilemmas. Grab tickets to the show nearest you (US shows & Canadian shows), and make your dream home a reality.

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