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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
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Sarah says
Great tips. Keeping the clutter out of a small room is key, the room always feels bigger when it’s clean.
I enjoy reading your blog and nominated you for a Liebster award. http://www.creativeramblingsblog.com/a-liebster-award/
Sarah
Creative Ramblings
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories says
these are great tips. clutter is my worst enemy but it’s a never ending battle. thanks for sharing.
Lizzy says
great ideas!! have a lot of necessities to cram into the self contained guestroom we are making. Will keep these in mind :)
Kelsey Ferguson says
I love these! We have a huge picture window in our tiny living space… now I’m thinking about finding a mirror for the opposite wall! What a great idea. :) Thanks for sharing these tips!
Christina @ Keeping Home says
Good tips. No wonder my space seems so crowded!
Louise says
Awesome tips!! but my main issue is my bathroom so the mirrors and colours I can do!!! got any other bathroom specific hints!! I’d LOVE to hear them (I suck at this kinda thing!!)
– @Idyllicdreamer
Becca @ The Earthlings Handbook says
We got a lot of storage without taking up a lot of visual space by installing shelves above the toilet, from shoulder height all the way up to the ceiling, across the full width of the toilet alcove (which is behind the wall at the end of the shower).
If you don’t mind having towel hooks instead of towel bars, hooks allow you to hang more towels in less space, and the towels appear smaller because they don’t form big rectangles.
If your bathroom is on the top floor, consider a skylight. We added one during our bathroom renovation, and it really makes the room feel bigger and airier, in addition to providing natural light not only in the bathroom but also in the hallway outside.
Louise says
Well we’re in a rented house so skylights and such are out of our reach till we own a place but the rest all sounds very doable!!! Thank so much for replying!!!
Erica {let why lead} says
Great tips! We live in a small space, too. My favorite is #3. Living in a small place has made me become a minimalist, through and through!
Lisa @ The Wellness Wife says
Great tips! Our retirement dream is to live in a cozy little house so we we minimize our expense. Who needs stuff? I don’t!