April, 2022
Small rooms are cozy and efficient, but can often feel cramped and difficult to keep organised. Luckily there are many ways to make a small room look bigger. Here are some clever small room ideas and tricks of the eye that can be easily incorporated into any small room.
It’s well known that light paint colours make a room look bigger and brighter. Light and bright walls are more reflective, making a space feel open and airy, which helps maximise natural light’s effect. Dark shades tend to absorb light, making rooms feel smaller.
So, what colours make a room look bigger? For an optimum effect, go with soft tones like off-white, light pastel colours, and always remember that brighter rooms feel bigger and more inviting.
Natural light opens up the interior of any room and makes it look larger. That’s great if you have natural light but if you don’t, don’t be discouraged. Add some creative effects using floor or side lamps. You’ll be amazed at how this small addition can make a big difference.
If you have access to natural light, bringing it into your home through large open windows, trying not to block too much of the natural light with blinds or shutters
Keep your room tidy and organised. Not only will it spark more joy, but nothing makes a small space feel more cramped than too much clutter. With things neatly arranged or out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open.
Minimalism also goes for your walls. Don’t cover your walls with a lot of pictures. One large painting works better than a group of small paintings when you’re thinking about how to make a room look bigger.
And try to keep the floor as clear as possible. Remove large rugs to create the illusion of more floor space.
Learn how to make a room look bigger through an established focal point — one area or feature that will draw the eye’s attention. In the dining room, that’s probably the table. In the bedroom, it’s the bed. Make that focal point the star of the room. Arrange the furniture so that focus is drawn to that area and keep the décor in the rest of the room to a minimum by limiting the number of accessories.
If you’ve ever wondered, “do mirrors make a room look bigger?” the answer is a resounding “YES.” Mirrors can make your room look larger and more open. Use a focal point and angle your mirrors toward it to give the illusion of depth. Mirrors also reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night. Placing a mirror opposite a window to reflect the world outside is especially effective.
Using the right furniture is a key way to make a room look bigger. For one, use multi-functional furniture, such as a chest that can be used as a coffee table, a sofa bed, or a bed with storage drawers. Expandable dining tables, folding tables and a nest of tables which can be tucked away when you don’t need them are also good choices.
Keep in mind that tall and bulky furniture can take up precious space. Choose a sofa and chairs with open arms and exposed legs. This allows light to filter under the furniture, making the room appear airier.
Scale your furniture to fit the size of the room. Place larger pieces of furniture against the walls to maximize the open space and make the room look bigger. Also, don’t block pathways. If furniture and accessories block the view into a room, it will look cramped.
The longest straight line in any room is the diagonal. When you place your furniture at an angle, it leads the eye along the longer wall which often leaves you with some additional storage space behind the piece.
HS Homes of Solihull is a small independent estate agent based in Shirley, Solihull. If you are interested to know what your home is worth, call us on 0121 430 4448. Alternatively, click here to book a free market appraisal.
