Small space décor ideas from 'Real Living'

MANILA, Philippines - Living in a small home need not be short on style. Turn your modest space into something chic and fab with tips from Real Living magazine’s July issue. Learn more ideas from Italian designer and architect Mario Maccarini as he shares his ten creative and practical solutions to small space dilemmas.

Here are four some of the ideas you can apply in your own home.

• Go with gray. Gray laminate on the cupboards provide a clean, sophisticated finish for the tiny kitchen. Add color accents in the form of a witty assortment of vintage soda pop or food posters.

Add pops of bold color. Armchairs in lipstick red add a dash to the dark bedroom.

Use vertical storage. A towering vertical bookshelf can keep reads off the floor.

Make your window highlight a space. Transform it into a display cabinet containing a collection of classic pieces. Light shines through the glass shelves, making it look like a reliquary.

Also featured in the anniversary issue of Real Living are 50 readers’ most popular queries these past nine years and the corresponding updated answers from design pros like Frenjick Quesada of Design HQ, Jean Paul dela Rosa of iiiDEAS, Kristine Neri-Magturo and Kimi Manuel of Abode & Co., and more.

For more small-space and budget tips, grab a copy of the July issue of Real Living, available in newsstands, bookstores, and supermarkets nationwide for P140. For more of Real Living online, visit www.realliving.com.ph and become a fan of Real Living on Facebook via facebook.com/realliving.ph.