Great suggestions for how how to make the best of the “smaller-than-you-wish-they-were” areas in your home. (compliments of Better Homes and Gardens) Read on and you may find a perfect solution to YOUR problem!

Problem: Too much furniture in an itty-bitty space.

Solution: Tweak arrangements when entertaining large groups of people: Your primary arrangement in a small room should suit your day-to-day needs, but try bringing in chairs from elsewhere and pushing ottomans to the side when hosting large groups. While this arrangement seats only four, the small space isn’t overrun by furniture, and people can easily maneuver around the chairs and love seat during family movie night or an evening by the fire. That also means there is space enough to pull up extra chairs (at the corners of the love seat and next to the fireplace) when guests are in tow.

Problem: You love dark colors but have small spaces.

Solution: Implement dark colors alongside brights. Peacock blue is enlivened by vivid red  accents and crisp white. Using the accent color in smaller, but more frequent, doses lets blue be the star but balances dark with bright.

Problem: Small bedroom that lacks drama.

Solution: Add luxe details. Chandeliers needn’t be limited to sweeping spaces. A crystal baubled light fixture is a pretty crown for a small bedroom — just be sure to select a fixture that is to scale and doesn’t feel too big for the room. Hang drapes at the ceiling and beyond the window frame to give the suggestion that there is a wall of windows rather than one small one.

Problem: Boring bathrooms and unexpected small spaces

Solution: Enliven a small bathroom with fun pattern and color on the walls and floor. It adds a happy twist to a utilitarian space. Since it’s a small room, you won’t need to buy as much wallpaper or flooring, a cost-saving perk of a small-space makeover.

Problem: A small but open room.

Solution: Divide and conquer. Plot the room into zones, creating boundaries with furniture and area rugs. Here, a love seat separates the bar and kitchen from the sitting area. To keep a small and open space from feeling dwarfed, avoid tall pieces of furniture so that the sight line extends across the space. Tall pieces, such as bookcases, can be tucked into corners. By using shorter pieces and arranging furniture to set up zones, you will retain an open quality while bringing order to each part of the room.

Problem:Boring small spaces.

Solution: A light, neutral palette will make a small room feel airy and bright but also runs the risk of reaching into dull territory. Nix the blahs with interesting accents. Here, a strip of molding enlivens the taupe walls, as does a slight paint color shift above and below the trim. Textures also play out well in a small space. This living room relies on the tactile variations of a smooth ceramic stool; nubby sisal rug; and soft, comfy, canvas-slipcovered love seat.

Problem: Shoebox living room that sees a lot of entertaining.

Solution: Utilize flexible furniture that can be easily tucked away or moved. Garden stools can be grouped in the middle of the room to create a coffee table effect but can almost effortlessly be moved next to a sofa so guests have a place to perch their drinks within reach. Being able to relocate furniture in the center of a room also provides more walking space for droves of guests.

Problem: Close quarters.

Solution: Clear furniture. Acrylic chairs and a glass-top table add little visual weight to this small dining space. If your style is more traditional, opt for chairs with open backs and a glass-top table with a less modern, yet minimal, base.