We are grateful for another guest post, 9 Sneaky Ways to Make Small Rooms Look Bigger, by Chloe Taylor. Please read her full bio below. Many thanks, Chloe!
Today, it’s nearly impossible for a working-class person to buy a house or an apartment that’s as large as a mansion. However, if you’re a smart person who knows how to make the best of what they own, you’ll be able to create an airy and spacious feeling in your home no matter how small it is. Here are 9 sneaky ways to make your small rooms look bigger.
#1 – Clear the Clutter
If you have a small house, it always needs to be neatly organized. Every small place will look a hundred times more cramped when filled with clutter! So, don’t clutter your space with all sorts of furniture and decoration. Make sure to clean up for five minutes every day. This is a small chore that you can do no matter how busy you are during the day.
#2 – Use Colors to Boost Light & Depth
Darker shades can make even the largest of spaces look small and claustrophobic, so if your goal is to open up your space and make it light and bright, choose light neutral colors. Dark colors, however can certainly be used for drama and interest. If you don’t like the simple aesthetics that light and neutral colors bring, you can easily add some interest with wallpaper accents to spruce up your space. The best thing about removable & reusable wallpaper is that it can be easily changed, especially when you choose to cover only a small accent wall. Try it! You’ll be positively surprised!
#3 – Hide Your Storage
Storage is an absolute must in any space, but it doesn’t have to take up your precious space! For instance, you can create additional seating by the window and used the under-seating storage for out-of-season clothing, electronic components and other things. You can also grab a few baskets for holding toys, blankets and books and neatly tuck them away when not in need. Perfect for handling clutter!
#4 – Ditch Curtains & Rugs
Overly lush curtains will just block the view and close up your space and create more space to dust. You will be unable to take in the view of the spacious outdoors and it will affect the way your indoor space looks. So, if you can, ditch curtains and leave your windows bare. For privacy, consider shutters or light cloth blinds. The same goes for rugs. If you go to Pinterest and go through all the small space designs, you’ll see very little rugs. If they do exist, they are small, simple and minimal.
#5 – Light Up the Space
Now that you ditched your curtains, you’ll be getting a lot of natural light with will make your space pleasant, open and practical. However, what do you do when the sun sets? You need some artificial lighting even if you live somewhere extra sunny like Australia! Luckily, you can always find a good electrician in Sydney to provide you with some evening light. You can also use Houzz to search reliable resources in your area. Walking through their prompts will help find the best match for your project.
From hanging pendants to recessed lighting, installation of any fixture is a breeze for a pro, you just need to find your perfect match of lighting. Very simple fixtures are the way to go since they will not clutter the space and block your view. So, consider a bare hanging light bulb (very industrial) or a two-in-one ceiling fan and lights.
#6 – Open the Space with the Right Furniture
When choosing furniture for your small room, think about proportion. Make sure the furniture piece isn’t brushing against the wall — if it does, it’s too big! You might also opt for pieces that are lower to the ground to open up the wall space above. In the bedroom, you can opt for a loft bed or even place your mattress directly on the floor! Also, industrial pieces are perfect for the living room since they are stylish and yet – a bit edgy. Or, if you’re more into something lush and ornate, 19th-century furniture is a good choice as well. If you can, choose something with exposed legs that will give your space an illusion of extra room.
#7 – Clear the Paths
The human natural instinct is to push all furniture piece to the edges to maximize the space. But if that setup makes you bump into things all the time, it will just make the space feel more claustrophobic and less comfortable. So, it’s often best to group pieces on one side of the room and leave the other one for undisturbed passage.
#8 – Mirrors in Every Room
Mirrors are an old design trick to make small rooms look bigger and more open. The best thing about mirrors is that they reflect light, but also let the outdoor view inside, tricking the eye into seeing more space than there is. Clever!
#9 – Go Vertical
No matter what it is, a tall shelf, a vertical shiplap, wallpaper or a thin hanging bulb, using one element that will emphasize your vertical space is all you need in your small home — to make your small rooms look bigger. It will give your space an element of movement, flow and openness.
As you can see, busting down walls and making new windows and additions is completely unnecessary when it comes to making your small space larger. These designer tricks are all you need to open up your home and give it some elbow space!
Many thanks to Chloe Taylor for another great article to feature on Slipcovers for your walls!
About the author:
Chloe is an interior design consultant from Adelaide, South Australia and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic and lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. Beside all this, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time.
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