Small house? Stop fretting and start maximizing the space that you do have. Of course, everyone is different, everyone’s tastes are different, and of course, everyone’s budgets are different. That’s why different types and styles and sizes of properties are built in the first place so that everyone can find one that is just right for them. However, no matter how happy you might be in your smaller space, sometimes it is important to make it feel just that little bit bigger. Here are ways to make a small space feel bigger.
Use Clever Techniques
Of course, actually making the ceiling taller is not possible – unless you want to go to a lot of expense and disruption – but making it look taller is always a good idea. To do this, you can paint or even wallpaper the ceiling itself. When you do this, your eye will automatically be drawn upwards, giving the impression of a much higher ceiling than you really have. This leads to the feeling of more space within the room. If you can add low profile furniture to this illusion, the room will look even taller.
Favor Light Colors
A darker room will feel cozier, but cozy often means small, and if that’s not what you want then you need to look at other ways of using the décor to enhance the perceived size of the room. Even if your preference is for darker colors, if you want the room you are in to look larger, using lighter colors on the walls and floors will work for you.
You could go all out and paint everything white, which will help hugely since white has reflective properties. Make the walls and ceiling the same shade, and you will have created the illusion of much more space. If you’re worried that white is going to make your home look cold and uncomfortable, combine it with warmer wood tones or textures in your furniture and other home accessories such as picture frames.
Use Furniture That Fits to Make a Small Space Feel Bigger
When you are choosing furniture for your home, it needs to fit right so that the room you put it in doesn’t look out of proportion. Choosing small pieces of furniture will make a small space look bigger, it’s true, but it will also cause a problem when it comes to proportion, and that is not a comfortable feeling. Likewise, large pieces of furniture that have to be pushed right up against the edges of the room will make the space feel cramped, even if it is a good-sized room in reality. To make sure that the room looks the right size, try to ensure there is some space between your furniture and the walls, and other pieces of furniture.
Choosing more slimline furniture will is one of the easiest ways to make a small space feel bigger. When it comes to sofas, you’ll still have as much seating area on a slimmer couch than you would on a huge one that is mostly cushioned, so your comfort won’t be affected.
Pay Attention to Furniture Legs
Another tip to think about when you are picking your furniture is to choose items with legs, rather than something that would sit directly on the floor. These legs will allow air and light to flow around and between the furniture, creating a look of openness and space which really does help when the room is a small one.
Make the Most of Mirrors
Mirrors are magical when it comes to creating the illusion of space in a room. Since mirrors reflect light, they can open up a space by reflecting that light back into it. It’s not just the light they reflect either; if you place a mirror strategically so that it also reflects the outside view, you will automatically feel as though there is more space than there really is. (See Yarbough Design for some of the most beautiful mirrors!)
Don’t Forget About Drapes and Rug Choices
When you have heavy drapes hanging up at the window, you are blocking out light and the view – and that’s true even if those curtains don’t cover the entire window. If you can possibly do away with them, you’ll instantly create more space. Of course, curtains aren’t just there for decoration, so if you want more privacy, you can use shutters, or perhaps lightweight blinds that can be folded away when you’re not using it. Even a drawn curtain will still be seen and still hang heavily over the space that could be used to make your room look bigger, so if the only option for you is drapes, use a rod that extends a long way beyond the window so that you can expose all of it when the curtains are open.
Rugs pose a similar problem. They instantly make a room look smaller because they are covering a space that could be used to at least give the illusion of a larger room. If you do have to have a rug, it’s best to have one that is plain in color rather than patterned, and a light color if possible. If you are worried that these additions are starting to cost more than you thought, or you feel you cannot afford the expense immediately, you can always consider sorting a loan or credit card to help you out and pay it back over a specific length of time, you can have the furniture you want and stick to budget at the same time. You can read more here about this option.
Add Movement
Any kind of movement within a room will make it seem bigger. It could be vertical or horizontal, and the effect is the same. A water feature or mobile could provide this effect. Regarding elongating the room, with floorboards, for example, you can make it seem as though the room goes on for longer than it really does. You can use the floorboard design on the walls too, using planks of painted wood. The effect is lovely, and the room will look more spacious too.
Make A Clear Pathway
Having a clear pathway from one end of a room to another (particularly if there is a door at either end) will give the impression of flow, and this is hugely important when it comes to creating the illusion of more space. This might mean that you need to group your furniture to one side of the room so that there is a path down the other side, and although that might seem strange at first, it actually will work in practice.
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