Easy Tips to Make Your Small Room Feel Bigger
These days, apartment prices are hitting the roof owing to which the living spaces are getting smaller. If you want a large apartment, you need to be ready to pay through the nose. While there are many who celebrate the idea of living in a small home, there are others who turn tight spaces into stylish sanctuaries. If you’re someone with a small space, you can make it appear larger than it is by utilising some visual tricks. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a cosy apartment or a compact studio, optimising your space is indeed a fun process. After all, nobody likes a space that is cramped and borderline claustrophobic.
6 Visual Tricks to Make a Small Room Appear Larger
Paint the entire room the same colour preferably a lighter shade
Remember, your goal is to visually expand a room. Back in the day, it was common to paint the ceiling white and the walls a different colour. Well, skip that and instead paint the entire room one colour. Preferably use lighter colours that will reflect natural light and make the room appear larger. Maroon and forest green are a big no if you want to create an illusion of space. A neutral colour palette is effective in giving a more spacious feeling. Think cream, white, taupe, grey and off white. This considerably enhances the proportion of your space.
Think Minimalism
All the maximalists may not like this but there is only one way to go big that is embracing minimalism. You need to start by decluttering. Let go of unwanted items and pieces in your home. You can donate them or give it to someone who will make proper use of it. However, you don’t need to get rid of everything in your home. If there are certain cherished pieces, find a way to keep them out of sight. Remember, the bedroom is your safe space. To truly unwind, relax and get a goodnight’s sleep, keep the clutter away. Just by embracing a clutter-free lifestyle, you will start noticing a difference in the way your room looks and feels.
Strategically use mirrors
To add depth and make a room appear bigger than it is, strategically place your mirror. It’s literally an old chestnut of advice. A mirror that has been positioned well can make the room appear so much bigger. That is because they reflect and bounce light from the windows. It tricks the eye into the perception of increased space. A mirror can make a room look twice as large. You can even hang a mirror on a wall and add a unit underneath. This works as a dressing table as well in a room.
Choose the right scale
A common mistake people usually make is to fill a tiny room with tiny furniture. Well, it’s a real home, not a dollhouse. Just because you need to make a room look bigger that doesn’t mean you need to opt for a small sofa, a small mattress or a small chair. You need to be strategic and ensure every aspect is on the right scale. For instance, go ahead and pick a large mattress. However, if you’re doing so, you need to compensate by picking a soaring headboard, something that creates an illusion of ceiling height. A footboard isn’t necessary. It will make your bed look smaller.
Instead of having side tables or nightstands, go in for wall-mounted shelves. As far as furniture is also concerned, go in for vertical pieces. Bulky pieces are a complete no-no. You need to emphasize vertical lines with stripes, tall mirrors, long wardrobes, etc. Whilst doing all this ensures there is an illusion of movement.
Choose your furnishings wisely
While strategic choices in furniture are important, you need to carefully select furnishings as well. In a room that appears small, it might be tempting to place all your furniture against the wall. Well, don’t do that. Keep one or two pieces against the wall while the others can simply ‘float’. This adds vital air and breathing room to a space. Keep at least 18 inches of space between your floating piece and other furniture. With the right amount of space, you won’t end up running into things.
If you get a chance to keep a window open during the day, do so. Open spaces allow ample natural light to come in. Don’t cover your windows with heavy, blackout curtains. If your room aesthetic permits, go in for white sheer curtains. These can easily be closed when you need privacy and drawn aside when you want natural light to come in.
Choose the perfect layout
The layout of your room should be top priority. Consider the traffic flow as you physically walk about the room. As you move around, do you feel a sense of blockiness or is it an open feeling? Remember, function always comes before aesthetics. Choose a layout that not just looks good but offers ease of movement. The layout should be conducive to how your family lives.
The Way Forward
Remember, no space is too small to live in. Whether you’re remodelling a room or starting from scratch, follow our tips that will make the tiniest room appear bigger. An experienced interior designer with a BSc in interior designing can help you reimagine your space the way you want. Making a small room appear larger is an art and seeking help is the best way to make use of every square foot.
