I don’t know about you but I like to inhabit spacious areas. Smaller rooms, narrow hallways and clutter sucks all the positive energy out of me. Not to mention,  being a Claustrophobic, cramped space is not my happy place. I find it hard to breathe and keep calm. If you are looking for tips to widen the area of your quarters without actually knocking down any walls or signing up for major reno, congratulations! I am sharing some ideas today.

 

 

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Whether you’re keen to sell your home this year or just want to make each room look and feel better, there’s nothing quite as frustrating as having a small space in your home that always seems less roomy. However, if you don’t have the funds to extend a room out or knock down walls, or if it’s impossible to change a space’s total footprint because of other reasons, there are still steps you can take when it comes to your interior design choices which will make a petite room feel bigger. Read on for ten tips you can follow to make any room look bigger.

 

10 Ways to Make a Petite Room Feel Bigger

 

Minimize Items

 

The first step is to minimize the number of items you display in a small room. Declutter ASAP so you don’t have lots of things unnecessarily taking up room (and visual space) within a petite area. Don’t let yourself fill up every exposed shelf or inch of floor space in the room; leaving some parts of a space empty gives it a more airy, open and larger feel. 

Go piece by piece through the room, and ask yourself if you would buy something again if starting over, or if you or any of your family members have used the item recently. If not, consider selling, donating or recycling the goods. Alternatively, you might be able to simply move things to another, bigger room.

 

Use the Right Furniture for Space

 

Next, use the right furniture for your small space. Keep things simple by selecting a small number of larger, quality pieces for the room, rather than lots of different small ones. Streamlining furniture is a good way to make a space seem larger.

 

 

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In addition, look for couches and armchairs which are raised on legs, rather than sitting straight on the ground. This creates a better sense of space and light. Try to match your furniture to the color on the walls, too, or at least stick with the same color palette. This helps the room to feel larger because there is more of a seamless look.

 

Add More Light

 

It’s important to add as much light to a small room as you can. The more light there is, the bigger a space will seem. Look for ways to let in more natural light, in particular. For example, you may be able to have extra windows put in (check out these Jersey window replacement and installation services for inspiration), or add some skylights to the ceiling.

 

 

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Light, Neutral Colors are Your Friend

 

When you decide on the colors you’ll use in a small room, it’s wise to opt for shades which are light and neutral. Dark hues always make a petite space feel smaller, which is the last thing you want. Instead, obtain the optical illusion of more space by fitting out the room in a color palette of bright whites, barely-there grays, calming creams, or the like.

 

Use Clear Items and Mirrors

 

Another way to get the appearance of a bigger, brighter room is to buy furniture and accessories made from glass or Lucite. While these are very fashionable right now, they’ll also take up less visual space and thereby help the area to seem larger. Mirrors are also beneficial as they reflect light well and trick the eye into thinking there’s more space than there actually is.

 

Steer Clear of Patterns in Your Décor

 

When choosing your furniture, wallpaper, and other décor for a small room, try to steer clear of patterns. It’s better to select plainer upholstery and finishings, rather than stripes, prints, plaids and the like, as these can just make a room seem busier and less expansive.

 

Don’t Use Bulky Window Coverings

 

Don’t use bulky window coverings in a small space, either. Where possible leave windows uncovered, as this lets in more light and create a sense of space depth. If you do feel like you need some drapes or blinds for privacy, opt for sheer curtains or roman shades or blinds in the same color palette as the walls.

 

Color Code Your Accessories

 

If you have numerous accessories in a small room, such as knickknacks in a living space or books or office supplies in a study, it’s best to try to color code these as much as possible. This makes everything look more streamlined and space larger, in turn. A great way to make a room look bigger!

 

Draw the Eyes Upward

 

To make the ceilings in a little room seem higher, it’s a good idea to use interior design secrets which draw the eye upward. For example, paint or wallpaper right to the ceiling, or add floor-to-ceiling bookcases or high shelves.

 

Keep Furniture Away from the Walls

 

Lastly, keep furniture away from the walls when you’re setting up things in a less-than-ideally-sized area. Once you pull furniture away from the wall you will create the illusion of spaciousness. Even just a few inches can make a difference.

 

As you can see, most of these tips are light on your wallet. Pretty cost effective to implement. All you need is some creativity and Viola! you have got yourself some much-needed space! Without structurally changing anything in your house, it’s possible to expand the look and feel of your room with these ideas.

 

Now enjoy your personal oasis like never before 🙂

 

xoxo Mama