'Small Space, Big-Time Solutions'

“Small is beautiful,” I find myself saying when others like to tease me about my tiny 5’1 frame.

In fact, the phrase “small is beautiful” tends to apply to most of my life: my miniscule cell phone, my appetite for bite-size foods and desserts, my fondness of small dogs like min pins and terriers, and my love of major cities.

Unlike others that dream of owning an expansive house or stretching their legs out on acres of land, I never dreamed of much more than a cozy luxury apartment close to friends and family with all the amenities and location, location, location.

For now, I’m satisfied with my 800-square foot space located just outside the city. Decorating can be a challenge, though. Just as I, petite as I am, must concern myself with proportion, fit and color when tackling my wardrobe, the same rules apply to decorating a small space.

Mirrors widen this space instantly

Take the time to reflect

Using mirrors to make spaces appear larger is a classic decorating tactic. The mirrors not only create depth with the trompe-l’oeil of its reflection, but mirrors also invite natural and artificial light to bounce light deep into the room. Mirrors over vanities, wardrobe-length mirrors and large wall mirrors make for good investments when trying to accentuate a small room.

Small furniture doesn't overwhelm this small room

Scale it down

The last thing you would want to do is purchase a hefty-size piece of furniture for a small room with low ceilings. Everyone will have that oversized couch confused for Alice in Alice in Wonderland when the character drinks a mysterious elixir and grows to gargantuan size.

Look for furnishings in scaled-down proportions: open back chairs, a small love seat or sofa, a slim rocker, a wrought-iron or open headboard for the bed. Make sure to keep the eye level view obstructed. And if you opt for taller furniture, do remember to place it on the far side of the wall, opposite the room’s entrance.

Positioning furniture at an angle makes this small room look larger

Take it from another angle

Now that you have the furniture in the right size and fit, it’s time to position it. The longest line in any given room is its diagonal. When furniture is placed at a 45 degree angle or less, the eye focuses more on the longer diagonal line that you have created instead of noticing the shortness of the length of the wall.

The angling of the furniture does not have to be too well-thought out. Play with the space and use the empty corners for some additional storage space.

And you will have yourself saying “small is beautiful” in no time.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of www.casasugar.com; www.apartmenttherapy.com; www.lovelyundergrad.com

'Rising Temps, Falling Prices'

The first sign of spring can make you act in ways you might not normally: You go out for a double scoop of ice cream, spend all Saturday afternoon at a pub drinking and downing nacho chips, or exchange your morning espresso for an iced Starbuck’s coffee instead.

Yesterday, as temperatures climbed to 89 degrees and I could feel all of New York City sweltering from the sudden heat, my abnormal behavior included shopping.

And just as I began to scour online for some much-needed spring clothes (too hot to walk outside!), I began uncovering mid-season sales, 48-hour flash sales and all sorts of noteworthy promotions.

Don’t miss these two sales:

1. Outnet.com

Ever wondered what it might be like to head into a dollar store and find all of your favorite designer brands: Alexander McQueen, Brian Atwood, Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs and Givenchy?

Well, now you can!

Register at outnet.com before April 11 and get exclusive access to Outnet’s one-day designer sale where everything in the sale is $1! The designer sale marks the Outnet's first anniversary, which is a natural off-price 'sister store' to the in-season online retailer Net-a-porter.com. The site regularly holds flash sales, pop-up sales and the ‘Going, Going, Gone Sale’ where the price drops as time passes – typically with designer merchandise from past seasons.

Mark your calendars. It’s going to be a long day next week.

2. Decorinnovation.com

When it comes to home furnishings, Décor Innovation knows how to host a sale where every customer wins at checkout.

The site, best known for its eco-friendly blackout curtains and its faux fur throws (I have two), has a ‘Spend some, get some’ promotion where for every $100 you spend, you get $5 off your final purchase.

Browse through the site and you will find that the blackout curtains are already marked 40% off its retail price. Faux fur throw are discounted at 15% off its original price. But there’s more: an extra 10% off with promocode BLACK for curtains and SAFARI for throws – to be discounted from your order on the billing page. Sale ends May 1.

And don’t forget that certain key items like Sherpa faux fur throw is ‘Buy one, get one free’ and the basic solid grommet curtains comes with a set of free voile curtains with your purchase!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of outnet.com; decorinnovation.com

'Trendspotting'

Going Tribal in Harper's Bazaar

From a sartorial sojourn in the desert, to a mixed-media-project turned-necklace, the season’s latest trends experiment with different textures, new prints and unexpected color combinations.

Read the Small Print

Whether it’s polka dots paired with stripes, or animal prints worn with tye dye – it’s a lesson in how opposites attract. The mismatching appeal lies in the fact that the end result (when executed properly) appears so effortless, so casual and cool.

Start small by investing in a bold print with a surprising drape: this BCBG silk dress at Saks Fifth Avenue ($378) features a colorful print with a series of draped panels that fall at an asymmetrical hem. Opt for subtle prints in light colors like yellow and pink in classic shapes for the office. Play it safe with an all neutral pairing of prints and create instant contrast with a colored accessory.

BCBG Print Dress at Saks Fifth Avenue

But for the more daring: Take a print and wear it in two bold colors. Go for a never-before-seen animal with tye dye print like the Diane Von Furstenberg sheath dress seen earlier this season. Only make sure that the tone always suggests the same – edgy prints for an edge, feminine prints for softness, understated prints for a modest look.

Desert Tribe

Venture to the African savannah or tough it out in the urban jungle with earthy tones, light fabrics and natural accents.

The colors are warm and rich: military greens, khaki, browns, reds and oranges. The warm shades balance out any strong graphic prints. Fabrics like linen and cotton gauze keep you cool, and denim in faded washes keep you comfortable. Look out for cargo pants, harem pants, denim vests and safari jackets.

Miguel Ases earrings

Accessories and jewelry often incorporate natural stones and animal skins. This Native American-inspired set of dangle earrings by Miguel Ases ($168 above), for example, uses coral with glass beads and leather for added visual appeal. A cross-body bag might come with fringe. A Panama hat comprised of woven straw would be perfect for a day at the beach.

Mixed Media

Take a closer look at a Dannijo necklace and you will find a piece of jewelry made up of not one, but several different elements: examples are metal, wood, beads, satin and lace. This isn’t an arts and craft project, but a good example of the direction in which most jewelry designers are now again heading.

Mixed media at Dannjio

For the bohemian, jewelry takes a recognizable animal motif (elephant, snake, bird) and might include a bracelet using chains, beading, enamel and metal fashioned in the likeness of that animal. An appliqué- heavy bib necklace might use lace, velvet and beading for a romantic allure.

That single strand necklace with tiny pendant? Too simple. Too dull. Not enough creativity!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of trend-fashion-beauty.blogspot.comsaksfifthave.com; shopbop.com; dannijo.com