9 SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE A SMALL ROOM LOOK BIGGEREugene Chrinian

SCALE DOWN.

Furnishing a smaller space is all about maintaining the right sense of proportion. Nothing makes a small room feel even smaller than a piece of furniture that’s too big for it. Look for pieces that are appropriately scaled to the size of your room—like slimmer sofas, or upright wingback chairs rather than overstuffed armchairs—and help create some breathing space and a feeling of roominess by leaving a little air between your furniture and the walls. Avoid heavier pieces that can quickly eat into a room’s useable space.

THINK LOW.

Pieces of furniture that sit lower to the ground leave more open space overhead, which can help create more of a sense of space in a small room. In the bedroom, for example, you should opt for a low-slung loft bed, or place your mattress directly on the floor. For the living room, midcentury modern pieces are a great choice, as they are both low to the ground and sleek.

Image courtesy PROMazzali | Flickr

CHOOSE FURNITURE WITH LEGS.

Any furniture that can maximize the sense of flow and movement in a room is helpful in creating the illusion of more space, and “leggy” furniture, which features lithe, exposed legs, opens up space below and around it as well as over it, and gives the sensation that it’s floating in midair. It also allows light to better flow through a room—another key element of making small spaces feel bigger.

USE MIRRORS.

The use of mirrors to create the illusion of more space is a well-known trick, but you may still be surprised by how effective it can be. By reflecting both light and a view, mirrors trick the eye into perceiving more space. So with a little clever positioning, a mirror or two can make your small room feel substantially larger, particularly if you place the mirror to reflect a window. A versatile design tool, mirrors are suitable for any room in the house, from kitchens to living rooms to bedrooms.

DON’T USE CURTAINS.

It’s true that in most cases, curtains or other window treatments are a must for windows, but you should avoid them in small rooms. This is because, even if they don’t cover the whole window, curtains stop the eye from taking in the full view outside, which can make an already-small room feel even more enclosed and cut-off. Clean and lightweight mesh or cloth blinds, which are visually neutral but still provide privacy, are a good compromise if you prefer not to have completely bare windows.

Image courtesy Mackenzie Kosut | Flickr

STICK TO WHITE.

The color white is a gift to small spaces. Its reflective, serene qualities bring a sense of calm and airy lightness to any room, and you can create even more openness by painting the walls and ceiling in the same shade, which draws the eye upward and makes the ceiling seem higher than it is. A white scheme also helps avoid a feeling of clutter. However, there’s no need for an all-white space to feel cold: just pair it with warmer elements, like wood flooring or furniture, or add some softness to it with textiles like a comforting wool throw.

EMPHASIZE THE VERTICAL.

If you can’t make your room any bigger horizontally, think vertically. Emphasizing and drawing attention to a small room’s vertical space can do wonders to create more openness. Choose one element, like a tall and narrow shelf, a sleek hanging light fixture, or some shiplap laid vertically against one wall, to instill a sense of upward movement in a small room and emphasize height over floor surface area.

LEAVE PATHWAYS OPEN.

It is often tempting in a small room to maximize what space there is by pushing all the furniture pieces to the edges of the room. However, this can actually make a small room feel claustrophobic if it means you’re always bumping into things when you’re trying to move around the room. Instead, you should group your furniture on one side of the room, leaving a clear pathway so that people can move through uninhibited. Again, it’s all about creating a good sense of flow. Image courtesy Eric Mueller| Flickr

KEEP IT SIMPLE.

This is probably the most important step to helping a small room feel bigger. Any room is going to feel small if it is cluttered or disorganized. You should be intentional about what you put into your small space, and you should remain disciplined about keeping it neat and tidy. Choose one special piece over a collection of several items, and avoid overwhelming colors or busy patterns. Simplicity is your greatest asset in making the most of a small space.