How To Make A Small Space Feel Biggersubmitted on 27 November 2018
Whether you have just bought your house or only recently moved into your rented home or whether you have lived there for many decades, something that can’t be changed is the size of the rooms – at least, not without some major work being done and an extension being added. That might be an option for you, but if it is not within your budget or you don’t have the space, or even if you simply don’t like the idea of all that work being done in your home, there are other ways to at least make the space feel bigger than it really is, even if that space itself remains exactly the same size. Here are some of the clever tricks that really work; try to incorporate some of them into your own home and you’ll be amazed at the difference they make.
Make The Most Of The Ceiling
If you live in a house with high ceilings, such as a Victorian or Edwardian property might have, then this step isn’t going to be necessary, and the rooms you live in may already feel larger because of those ceilings. If, however, you live in a different kind of house with ceilings of a standard height, you can give the impression that they are higher up, and therefore also give the impression of a larger room. The good news is that this trick is simple to do and inexpensive too.
All you need to do is use the same paint on the ceiling as you have done on the walls. This will give the impression that the walls and ceiling are one, and increase the ‘height’ of the room this way. If you don’t want to use paint, you can use wallpaper, although be careful of doing this with a pattern because a patterned ceiling can make the room close in again.
Use Light Colours
One of the simplest ways to add more colour to a room is to only use light colours like cream or beige, or even white. If white itself scares you a little because you are worried it can feel rather clinical, you can opt for white with a hint of pink or green. This softens the tone and still keeps everything light and bright. Dark colours give the effect of a smaller, more closed in room, so even if you love them, it’s best to only use them as accents in your soft furnishings, curtains, rugs, and in the ornaments and other items you have around the room. The walls (and ceiling) themselves should be as light as possible.
The Right Furniture
Choosing furniture for a small room will take a little time to think about. Firstly, the furniture needs to fit the room properly, as this can make a huge difference to how large or small the room looks on completion. If you choose large, over-sized, over-stuffed furniture, then the room will look smaller. Pieces that are too small, however, won’t make the room look larger as such because the main focus will be on how minimal the room is; and how uncomfortable it all looks because nothing fits.
Ideally, you should look for luxury furniture that is comfortable and sits neatly in the spaces that are left for it, without having to be pushed right up against the walls. If you can, you should pick furniture that lies closer to the ground, as this will (along with your painted ceilings) help to give the impression of height. Take measurements with you when you go shopping as then you can be sure that the furniture you like will definitely fit in your room. If not, no matter how much you love it, you’ll need to search elsewhere. Alternatively, you can find furniture that can be used in multiple ways such as a footstool that opens up to provide extra storage – you’ll save more space this way and not have to try to cram everything in, or compromise on the furniture you are purchasing.
Mirrors
If you place mirrors within smaller rooms they will definitely give the impression that the room is larger – they will make the room look a lot brighter too. This is because mirrors reflect light, so as long as you put them in a place where they can reflect as much of it as possible, the room will benefit from it. If possible, place the mirror where it can also reflect not only light and the bright spaces within the room but the outside space as well. The light will appear to be flowing through from the outside and back again, and will certainly make the room look a lot larger, even without any real additional space.
Rugs And Curtains
If you have the wrong rugs and curtains in your room, then they can make it all seem a lot smaller than it should. Rugs can be wonderful – they can really make a statement or be interesting and show off your personality – but remember that they automatically draw people’s eyes downward to the floor instead of asking them to look up. When this happens, they see less of the room, and it can feel smaller. Curtains have the same issue to a lesser extent, particularly if they are floor length ones, and if they are made of heavy material as the whole room will feel closed in and small. Thinner materials (perhaps with blackout material as a second layer to ensure that they still block out the light from outside at night when you need it to) and lighter colours are definitely the best idea. You can still have your rugs and lovely curtains, just make sure they make the room look great rather than small and dark.
Shelving
Shelving can be so important in a room as it offers additional storage and is a place to put delicate and much-loved items so that they can be seen rather than packed away. If you do want to put shelving in your room, then make sure it is made from light wood or painted a white or light colour. Also, placing it as high as possible will give the illusion of height.
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