3 Techniques to Make a Small Room Appear More Spacious
Photo: © Iriana Shiyan - Shutterstock
You don't have to be a magician to turn a tiny, cramped space into an inviting room. There are several easy and inexpensive strategies you can use to work some magic on your home. Here are three of the most effective techniques for making small rooms seem bigger:
1. Cut Out Clutter
It's tough to make a small room look bigger if it's filled with clutter. The first thing to do when trying to create an illusion of openness is to get rid of everything but the essentials. Start with the furniture; the more pieces you have, the tinier the room will seem. Replacing three large chairs with a three-person couch will give you the same amount of seating but look less cluttered.
Even if your home lacks storage space, there are clever ways to keep clutter out of sight―mount attractive wall shelves for books and turn the unused space behind closet doors into storage space. Hide loose papers and small items inside pretty boxes.
2. Color Changes Everything
When working with color, there are two main things to keep in mind. First, solid colors create an illusion of size, while patterns―especially fussy, complicated patterns―make a space seem smaller. Second, light colors open up a room while dark colors seem to make the walls close in. The right colors can transform a claustrophobic living room or entrance hall into a spacious, warm area.
Look at the room you want to change. Where do you see dark colors or patterns? Perhaps you have a pretty floral print couch. You may be fond of it, but trading it in for a cream-colored sofa will go a long way to making the room seem bigger. And how about your walls and ceilings? Strip off that ornate wallpaper, or repaint that dark burgundy accent wall a cheerful, bright yellow.
3. Light It Up
Just as light colors create the impression of a large room, so does light itself help a tiny space seem bigger and more open. If a drastic change, such as taking out a non-weight bearing dividing wall, is too much, try some simple changes. Keep your curtains open whenever you can and make sure you don't have any furniture blocking the windows. Install more overhead lighting or place floor lamps in dark corners.
In addition to adding more light, you can increase the impact of light by adding reflective surfaces to the space. The most obvious is a large mirror―or several. Place your mirrors in such a way that they reflect a light source and increase the apparent size of the room.
