For those of you from other parts of the country (or other parts of the world) who have been looking at apartments here in Providence, you may have noticed that the flipside to the charm and character of our historic houses is they are also rather, (ahem) 'cozy '. If you haven't chosen your apartment yet, and are wondering whether a certain layout will feel roomy enough, or if the square footage of your new digs is cramping your style, consider the following top 5 apartment decorating tips to open things up a bit. 1. Paint Light Colors: Light colors are more reflective which maximizes the 'opening' quality of natural light. Making trims and moldings the same color or lighter than the wall color will further this effect. Use some dark accented furniture or wall hangings to create contrast for a crisp, sophisticated look.
2. Use Mirrors: Mirrors reflect light and create depth, day and night. Especially effective is placing them opposite windows.
3. Scale Furniture: Avoid stuffing rooms full of furniture. Keep things smaller with lighter designs such as open-backed chairs or headboards. Choose a love seat rather than a sofa and buy narrower, shorter bookshelves and dressers.
4. Angle Your Furniture: Since the longest straight line in a room is its diagonal, angling furniture can create a visual illusion of spacial extension. You don't have to put things at a full 45 degrees. If you can counter balance pieces of furniture, a modest angle will often work best.
5. Strategic Lighting: Create two or three areas of focus using spot or soft lighting. Lighting multiple areas creates dimension and spreads out visual interest with a net result of a more dynamic interior space that feels larger. Notice when you're looking at apartments that are still occupied whether the current tenants have utilized any of these design strategies. If not, flex your visualization skills and imagine how using some or all of these decorating tips can make room's look and feel more spacious. Featured Rental: 57 Spring St., Rehoboth, MA-$1300, 2 beds plus an Office 
Pastoral Paradise! First and second floor of a newer home in a pristine bucolic setting with water views of the pond from almost every room! Open kitchen/living room on first floor, BEAUTIFUL sunroom, and big kitchen w/lots of storage. Master bedroom suite w/deck and fabulous views of the pond and 147 acres of pastures beyond. All this and only a 20-minute drive to Providence! There are two rooms on the first floor in addition to the living room. One is a bedroom and the other for use as an office/den. The apartment is in perfect condition, spacious w/exquisite light, plenty of parking, laundry hook-up. Rare find! Click here to learn more.
