Small can be cozy, but sometimes, having more room—be it real or perceived—is essential. Whether you live in an apartment or condo, or a small house or bungalow, you don’t have to feel like you’re enclosed in a smaller space. You can make any room in your home look bigger by creating the illusion of a larger space using color. You just need the right paint and color scheme. Keep reading to find out how.
Let Light In
Use light to enlarge your space. Every room will look larger if it’s brightly lit, even if it’s artificial light. Using light with the right paint colors adds to the illusion of a bigger room. Natural light opens up a space. During the day, keep curtains and blinds open to let light in, especially if you have large windows.
If you don’t have a lot of natural light, try some creative lighting effects. Lamps can add specific color effects and focus attention on particular walls, corners or accents in the room. Recessed spot lighting is ideal for a small space. Torch lamps and wall sconces are great for bouncing light off of the ceiling and walls and back into the room.
Avoid Clutter
Cut back on extra furniture, accessories and anything else that unnecessarily takes up space. Keep floor space as clear as possible. You may want a couch when a love seat or chairs work best in the space. Chairs can be placed out of the way in corners or against the wall and then moved in when needed. Be creative. Instead of a coffee table, consider using ottomans that can be moved around or out of the way as needed. Glass end tables and coffee tables can help make the space seem less cluttered. Try using furniture with clean lines and avoid anything that looks overstuffed. Use accessories sparingly. One large piece of artwork is better than many small ones.
Helpful Tip
When choosing artwork, try to match its colors to the new paint colors on your walls so that you have a coherent color scheme. This allows the art to blend in and be less obtrusive.
Use Focal Points and Mirrors
Use a focal point in the room to draw the eye when you walk into the room, such as a fireplace in a living room, a dining table in the dining room or a bed in a bedroom. You can use a complementary paint color on your fireplace that goes with your room’s color scheme but makes it stand out. In dining rooms, use unobtrusive accessories or colorful place settings, on your table. In bedrooms, choose colorful bed linens or other accessories that make your bed stand out. Paint an accent wall to go with the focal point for an enhanced effect. A focal point makes a room feel focused and cohesive and draws attention away from any clutter, making the room feel like it has more space.
Adding strategically placed mirrors can also make a room feel larger. Hang mirrors opposite your focal point (or whatever works in your particular room) to give the illusion of depth. Mirrors also reflect light in the room making it feel brighter whether it’s during the day or night.
Don’t Forget the Floors
Remember that your floors also play a role in the perceived size of your rooms. Keep floors or floor coverings light in color to add to the illusion of more space. Lightly colored wood or light, neutral carpet colors make a room appear brighter and more open. Remove any over-sized rugs. They can make a room look smaller than it actually is.
Great work! Your small space has just been magnified. Enjoy!
