Joanne Abrahams knows how to make the most of a space. The owner of Rave Review Home Staging & Redesign, she’s an expert in making rooms look their absolute best, no matter the size. She staged this Bishop’s Landing condo (which sold in a day) with proportions, light and livability in mind. Here are some of the details she used to create the look.
1. “Lighter colour, and lighter-scale furniture works in a condo best,” says Abrahams of the surefire way to avoid overwhelming a narrow space with puffy, oversized pieces. “The side tables here are lower, but the lamps are pretty chunky. The lowness of them, and the coffee table allows the ceiling to feel higher. They’re white and the sofa is white, so there’s a unity there instead of a choppiness.”
2. Don’t be afraid to let it shine! “Reflective surfaces are so good in a small space. The floor— you can see how gleaming the floor is—but also all the metal,” says Abrahams, drawing attention to the chrome table legs and lamps that help to use light to open the space. She adds that mixing textures does a lot for making a space feel cozier—fluffy pillows, a small shaggy rug and upholstered chairs warm up the metallic details.
3. Though she sings the praises of white and light furniture and walls, Abrahams isn’t saying you should shy away from colour—bright accents and textures are what make a space feel homey and comfortable. “It really is better to have large-scale wall art,” she says. “When you have small pieces the eyes are drawn to them. Sometimes people think everything has to be small in a small space, but the large art makes the space look bigger.”