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Alcoves, and other small spaces, can be a challenge to decorate. Yet, with a little ingenuity you will find that small spaces don't have to be so difficult. The trick is to view these spaces as extensions of the larger room from which they derive, and to envision them as an accent piece for the larger room.

When decorating a small space, you need to follow the same basic steps as you would when decorating a larger area such as a bedroom.

• Ask yourself, "How do you want to use the alcove?" Do you want it to become a functional space or merely as architectural element?

• Your next step is to draw out, to scale, a floor plan of the area that you are going to decorate. Don't forget to sketch in doorways, windows, and the flow of traffic through, or into, the area.

• When working on a larger space, it is helpful to make little paper cutouts of the furniture you are thinking of using. You would then position these cutouts on your floor plan to get an idea of how these items would fit into the room. With smaller spaces, you may wish to skip this step, especially if you already have the pieces of furniture that you are thinking of using. In such a small space, you can simply place the item in the area, and see how it looks.

• Once you have decided on the type of furnishings you wish to place in the alcove, you can begin to work out a color scheme for that area. For a dramatic look, try painting the alcove in a contrasting color to the rest of the room.

Alcoves can be used for just about anything your imagination can conceive. They are ideal nooks in which to install built-in closets or bookcase. They can be used to accent a work of art, or with the addition of a folding door - a place to hide junk.

• Dinning Room: An alcove is the perfect spot for a built-in hutch, on which to display and store your best china.

• A Formal Dinning Room or Parlor: A small alcove can be used to highlight a work of art or flower arrangement. An ornate pedestal is the perfect compliment for a statue or formal flower arrangement. A painting situated in an alcove can be further highlighted with the judicious use of recessed lights, targeted on the work.

• Family or Living Room: Using custom-made cabinets, an alcove or other small space can make an ideal media center. It can also be turned into a mini library, for either books or tapes with the addition of a few shelves.

• Entry Way: As a functional spot, an alcove is an ideal place to install a coat, hat, or umbrella rack. For added interest, use an antique or art deco rack. An alcove can also be used to welcome quests to your home by situating flowers or a work of art in the space, and framing the item with swag curtains.

A large mirror is also a useful accent piece for an entry way alcove. Large ornate mirrors can often be found, at very reasonable prices, in thrift stores and at yard sales. As an added bonus, the addition of a mirror will make the alcove look bigger and will help diffuse light over a wider area.

• Larger Alcoves: If you happen to have a larger alcove, these small rooms make ideal breakfast nooks, reading rooms, or an ideal place for a small office. They can also be made into an ideal lover's retreat with the addition curtains, which can be used to close off the room, and a love seat.

When decorating a small area, you can choose to match the color scheme found in the room off of which the alcove derives, or you can construct a unique color scheme for the space. When doing so, it is important to make sure that the new color does not clash with the color scheme of the main room.

• Paining the alcove in a color similar to that of the main room will make the alcove appear to be larger.
• Darker colors will make the alcove seem more intimate, although smaller.
• A contrasting color, to the main room, will serve to highlight the presence of the alcove.