No matter how generous your home’s square footage is, the chances are you will get that feeling that the walls are closing in on you. For whatever the reason, your rooms seem to appear smaller than they actually are. The good news is you don’t have to take that downsized feeling lying down. Whether you’re ready to do a little remodeling or just want to do something to help visually clear out that cramped room, there is always a way to make a room look bigger.
Here are some easy tips to help you make a room look bigger.
Glass
One trick to make a room look bigger is to lead the eye into another space beyond the room, this will create the impression of more space. Removing part of a wall and replacing it with glass panels will help you achieve this. Enlarging windows or even fitting new skylights will bring in light and provide a view beyond the room to the outside. Leaving your windows uncovered will trick your eyes into thinking that your room has depth. Hang a mirror, the bigger the better. Wall-to-wall mirrors may seem like a ’70s design leftover, but adding a mirrored wall will open up a small area. Placing a mirror near a window to reflect the outdoors is especially effective. You can also use mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel large and uncluttered.
Wallpaper
You'd think that a small room needs small detailing, such as tiny repeat patterns on a wallpaper. This is wrong. Larger prints will actually help expand the walls of your room. However, choose carefully. Keep the colour scheme simple, try use reflective paper if possible and don't put it on all four walls. One focal wall will do.
Lines
Vertical lines lead the eye up and down, making a room seem taller visually. Striped blinds or a striped wallpaper will achieve this. For a bedroom, a tall four-poster bed or the tall stem of a standard lamp will do the trick. Just like pinstripe pants make your legs seem longer, the lines if a wooden floor will make a room appear to go on for miles.
Colours
Use a light neutral on the walls as the eye will perceive the colour as receding. The lighter the shade is, the more open your space will appear, so stick to pale blues, grays, greens, yellows, and creams. Dark colors may seem design-friendly, but they make rooms look smaller. The reason: Light colors reflect and multiply light, while dark colors absorb it. If you love dark colours, add in a second on an adjoining wall, although natural light in the room is essential. The contrast will ensure you don't lose the corners of the room in shadows. Expand your room by painting the walls, trim, and detailing in different shades of one color, such as white, off-white, and beige. Or pair a bright white with a white that's tinted with yellow or blue so you can use the deeper hue on trim and detailing. If you have picture rails, make sure you always paint the space between the ceiling and the rail a lighter colour than the walls.
Accessories
Buy accessories with lots of texture or detailing, and try to choose some pieces with reflective qualities to bounce light around. In a small space, even your favorite items can quickly look like clutter unless you give them a little structure. Arranging knickknacks, books, and vases by color will make everything appear more streamlined.
Furniture
It’s easy to assume that you should decorate a small space with small furniture. This is not true. Give your furniture breathing room. Keeping furniture to a minimum in a small room will help it feel larger. Investing in furniture that serves many functions is a great way to streamline a room. For instance, swap a bedside table for a chest of drawers that'll do double duty as a nightstand. Tables provide endless surface space without cluttering a room visually. Take the easy route and keep the floor and the big pieces of furniture light and bright for a spacious atmosphere. Furniture that matches your wall color, within a shade or two will take up less visual space. Shoving your furniture against the wall will not automatically make your room look bigger. Sometimes a piece looks better at an angle or surrounded by space. If the furniture in your room is tall, this might make it seem as though the ceiling is lower than it actually is. Choose a sofa and chairs with open arms and exposed legs. A glass table, will keep the appearance of an open and free space. This allows light to filter under the furniture, making the room appear airier.
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