Eye-Popping Color

4. Concentrate on details.

Georgia homeowner Jane Coslick gives sage advice for many cottage dwellers. "Frame rooms with white," she says. "It opens up cramped spaces and makes colorful doors, paintings and fabrics pop."

Why it works:
Small spaces need color, too, but a bold hue on every wall can be a bit much in compact quarters. Instead of painting her entire kitchen a brilliant blue, Jane used it on her cabinet doors and drawer faces. By choosing white for her counters, ceiling, and cabinet casings and using a bright yellow on the floor and backsplash to complement the blue, Jane created a lively kitchen without making the small space feel too cluttered.