Just because you have small rooms in your home that doesn’t mean you have to compromise. With certain design tricks, you can make the space feel bigger and more spacious. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of tips which will inspire you to make a small room feel bigger.
- Keep space between furniture and walls
If you push your furniture against the wall, then everything will look like cramped. It’s like you’re trying to make the most of all the space that you have. But by placing your furniture a few inches away, the room will feel bigger. This happens because of the way light falls around the furniture and how your eye perceives the space being used.
Additionally, bigger items can make your room seem spacious, just be careful not to go too big.
- Make use of hidden storage
Decorate your space with multi-functional furniture such as a sofa with a hidden storage space or an ottoman that opens for extra storage. This saves you having to include furniture that is only functional as storage, like bookcases and shelves.
If you feel like a DIY challenge, just try turning a vintage steamer trunk into a functional and stylish coffee table. Alternatively, you can try adding a hidden storage space to your existing coffee table.
- Use mirrors to reflect both light and the view
The best way to make your small room feel bigger is placing mirrors across from the window. This not only reflects the light, opening the space up, but also the view. It can feel like your room has doubled in size this way.
An easy way to achieve this effect is to add mirrors onto sliding closets. Alternatively, you can purchase a floor-to-ceiling mirror and position it strategically.
- Color code your shelves
If a group of small items is arranged intentionally, it will give your space a streamlined feeling. This can create movement, which makes the room open. This technique can be easily done with books or collections of DVDs. However, you can try it with whatever you like, like knick-knacks or even pot plants.
- Use white or pale shades
If you don’t want to use mirrors, you can use light colors to reflect light. Try using light colors or white on floors or walls. This can make your room feel airy and bigger.
- Use stripes to extend the space
A vertically striped rug will make your room look longer, just like how vertically striped clothing can make someone look taller. Alternatively, you can use horizontal stripes to make a room look wider.
You can even use stripes on walls to make the room seem taller or wider. The end result is that your room seems more spacious as your eye naturally follows the movement of the stripes.
- Furniture should be low to the ground
You can pair vertical stripes with furniture that sits low to the ground. This helps to increase a sense of vertical space, leading to a room that feels more open. Try changing the legs on chairs or even placing your mattress on the floor. There are also vintage styles of furniture that are made to sit low.
- Choose plain upholstery
Upholstery should be plain and a solid color rather than a busy pattern to make your room look bigger. Patterns can make a space feel cluttered, whereas solid colors make the space feel more open. Plain upholstery also preserves the clean lines of furniture and makes the room look clean and tidy.
- Hang curtains that go from the ceiling to the floor
Hanging curtains that go from the ceiling and sweep down to the floor gives you the illusion of height. Ensure that the track reaches right across the room, so the wall can look like a waterfall of fabric.
- Use floating furniture
To give a sense of scale and height to the space, floor-to-ceiling shelves are best. They work in the same way as long curtains or vertical stripes. Consider adding a combination of open and closed shelves with floating furniture to vary the look. You can add these shelves in an unexpected way like along hallway, under a sofa arm or over a doorway.
- Use statement furniture and sliding doors
Consider have one large couch instead of multiple smaller pieces for seating. This will decrease the sense of clutter and will make the room look bigger. Moreover, ensure that you are not using a contrasting material as it will breakup the line of sight and disrupt the feeling of movement and space in the room.
- Go monochromatic
Choose a paint scheme using one color with various textures and shades. This can make a space feel bigger by making the space feel more united. You can consider choosing colors such as yellow, light grey, pale blue, white, cream or ivory. Remember, lighter colors will give the feel of an open and airy room.
Conclusion
Just because you have a small room doesn’t mean it has to feel small. Use the above tips to make the space feel bigger and stylish all at once.
Not only should you focus on your room, but also pay special attention to renovating a small kitchen. This guide offers easy tips to help you create a spacious feel even in limited spaces.
