If you are looking for ideas and inspiration that will allow you to live large in your small space, this book is a wonderful place to start. Organized by living spaces, each chapter includes fifty or so design ideas as well as gorgeous, full-color photographs.

Seldon, an award-winning interior designer, offers space-saving tips including:

-using wall-mounted lamps to provide light without taking up floor or table space;

-maximizing vertical space with floor-to-ceiling shelves, cabinets, or armoires;

-using under-bed storage for out-of-season clothing.

Seldon also notes that the perception of space can enhance the feeling of volume in small spaces. Examples include:

-laying tile on the diagonal to make a room look larger;

-minimizing color contrasts;

-adding depth with wallpaper that contains a textured pattern;

-choosing fabrics with medium-sized patterns (large prints can overwhelm small spaces).

Sprinkled throughout the text are case studies in which Seldon briefly recounts a challenging project and her resulting solution (accompanied by photographs).

From kitchens to kids’ rooms to home offices, 500 Ideas offers clever and elegant solutions to making the best use of your small space.

Reviewed by the teachers at Education Oasis