There could be many reasons why you might be downsizing to a smaller home or a small condo. The kids have flown the coup, you’ve changed jobs or the worst-case scenario — lost your job.

Moving into a smaller place doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s a time to pack up the overflow and let go of your unused items. It’s a time to organize and clean out closets. And it’s also a time to make your new, smaller home livable, stylish and comfortable.

We talked with two designers, Marcia Moore from Marcia Moore Design, and Barb Slavkin of June Roesslein Interiors. Both agree that a small room can be designed to feel and look larger. Here are some tips:

• Carpeting: Try one large area rug. Don’t choose multiple area rugs, which can clutter a space.

• Lighting: A brighter room will always look larger than a darker room. The recessed lighting in this photo was placed to accent the framed artwork. It draws the eye to that part of the room, making the room look longer.

• Paint: Select an interesting color instead of beige, and use it on all four walls. If you want to step outside the box, paint the ceiling in the same color. This makes the room appear taller. Try coral, if you dare!

• Mirrors: Large framed mirrors in small spaces make the room appear larger. Place your mirror on the wall opposite a window to help amplify natural light.

• Modular seating: Smaller sectional seating is ideal for smaller living areas and can create a comfortable conversation area.

Other tips

• Artwork: Hang artwork in a group instead of scattering it throughout the room. Remember not to hang it too high, because it will make the wall look shorter.

• Family prints: Hang just a few family prints in one area; scale it down for a small space. It’s better to have too little than too much. If you want to use an entire wall filled with family photos, keep them close and in the same type of frames.

• Ottomans: Center an ottoman between two chairs for a reading area. It’s functional and serves as extra seating.

• Furniture: Don’t put too many pieces of small furniture in the room. Stick with two to four substantial items.

• Declutter: Keep the clutter out. It will overtake a small room, and everything else you’ve done won’t matter.

• Flooring: Choose a light color for flooring, especially if you decorate with bold colors.

• Cabinets: Removing upper cabinets in a kitchen, especially one whole wall, will create a larger space.