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Maria Killam

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How to Make a Small Space Feel Bigger

9/03/2026

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Hi, I'm Maria

I’m the creator of the Killam Colour System® and pioneered virtual colour consulting in 2010, long before online design advice became an industry. After guiding more than 10,000 colour projects and training thousands of design professionals, I teach homeowners and designers how to choose colour, finishes and furnishings that work together beautifully.

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When my nephew Luukas moved into his third apartment in seven years, I took one look at the photos and wondered if there was even enough room for a sofa.

The kitchen is enormous. It genuinely belongs in a house. But that left only a relatively small area in front of the kitchen to function as his living room, dining room and office. And because he rents, I wasn’t interested in filling the apartment with big, heavy furniture he’ll eventually have to move again.

So this makeover became a very good lesson in small-space decorating: you don’t necessarily need less furniture. You need the right furniture, at the right scale, doing the right job.

And because this is the third apartment I’ve decorated for Luukas, I’m also taking you back through his previous two homes. You’ll see the same art, the same IKEA pieces and even the same $20 botanical poster reappear in completely different ways.

Because a new home does not mean you have to start over.

Sometimes you need $400 worth of finishing touches. Sometimes you need a new sofa and a big area rug. The magic is knowing what stays, what goes, what moves, and what you need to add to make the new space work.

Watch the transformation.

Related posts:

If You Keep Rearranging Your Furniture, Watch This

What’s Next After the Cognac Sofa?

The 7 Best Ways to Decorate Around the TV

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  1. Kathy Zalewski says:

    I love your style and your home is stunning! Im in FL and your sryke has inspired me, thank you for your timeless design!

Hi, I'm Maria

I’m the creator of the Killam Colour System® and pioneered virtual colour consulting in 2010, long before online design advice became an industry. After guiding more than 10,000 colour projects and training thousands of design professionals, I teach homeowners and designers how to choose colour, finishes and furnishings that work together beautifully.

eDesign

Timeless

Neutral Undertones

Colour Trends

Bathrooms

Kitchens

Decorating Advice

know what works
and why

Life’s too short to live in a home you don’t love, and it’s too expensive to start from scratch when you don’t have to.

 Let me help you make confident colour decisions for every project in your home.

About Maria

Maria Killam pioneered virtual colour consulting in 2010, long before the industry caught on. She's trained thousands of design professionals since, guided more than 10,000 virtual colour and design projects, and is the creator of The Killam Colour System® and the Understanding Undertones® Neutral Colour Wheel.

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