9 Tips For Making Your Small Living Space Feel Bigger

We’d all like to live in two-bedroom mansions where each room is at least 50 square feet and the ceilings are twice the height of a tall man, but living in inner cities can sometimes mean compromising on space. However, there are some tricks you can try to make your teensy room feel more like a palace.

Here are a few simple tips for making your small spaces feel bigger. Because sometimes, feeling bigger is all it takes to transform your home:

1. Mirror, mirror, on the wall…

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. If you don’t, fake it. It might seem like a cliché, but hanging a mirror can make a huge difference to a room, especially if the room itself is lit well. It gives the illusion of more light, and depth. And if your mirror is sparkling, all the better! Try using a mirror opposite a window to reflect the outdoors, or opt for mirrored cabinet doors in a small bathroom.

2. Lighter shade of pale

In a small room, bold colours are not your friend. They may reflect your bubbly personality, but they will also instantly shrink your room by half. Aim for light colours that will reflect light back into the room and make the walls recede – off whites if possible, or at the very least pastels. If you prefer wallpaper, choose a fairly plain design. Anything too busy will work the same way as a dark colour would.

3. Store it and Tidy up

The number one easiest way that you can make your living space seem bigger is by tidying up. Clutter is a small room’s worst enemy – you need to aim for a minimalist look to make the place feel airy. Try some multi-purpose or easily-hidden storage, like a coffee table that doubles as a bookshelf, or boxes that will slide under your bed. Use your space wisely and make it work for you.

4. Into the fold

Another great way to save on space is to get furniture that can be folded away. Sofa-beds work particularly well in spare rooms. You probably wouldn’t want to unfold your bed every night, and sofa-beds usually aren’t sturdy enough for every-day use, but they’re great to use occasionally. Plus, they can double up as spare seating when you have extra guests.

5. Lighten up

Remember we said that bold colours and busy patterns are the enemy of a small room? It won’t surprise you to discover that the same is true for darkness. Let as much natural light as possible into your room – get a curtain rail that is wider than your window so that you can pull the curtains right back, and don’t bother with net curtains. Keep your windows sparkling clean, too – you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes!

6. Legs 11

Opt for furniture that is raised on legs. Being able to see the space underneath your furniture will trick the eye into thinking the room is bigger than it actually is. Plus, in a pinch you can use the space for storage, saving space elsewhere.

7. The glass is half full

Our instinct is often to fill a shelf with all the knick knacks, books and ornaments we can find, so as to express our personality. Resist this urge. Leaving a shelf half empty will create a feeling of space and make your room look airy.

8. Open door policy

If possible, get sliding doors installed to free up some more space, or if the room in question isn’t one that requires privacy, consider taking the door off its hinges altogether. This will instantly make the room appear larger, as it will make it feel as if the two connecting rooms are joined as one.

9. Stick to your palette

Choosing a colour scheme to work with when decorating connecting rooms is a great idea, as it will again trick the eye into thinking that the two rooms are one. Try to keep the flooring the same throughout if possible, too. This essentially removes room divisions and makes the space feel more open-plan.

 

About The Author
This post was contributed by Loren Thorburn. Loren works for SofaSofa, who sell sofa-beds and comfy chairs, ideally for making your small space a little more luxurious. Loren loves interior design and reading trashy novels!