When working with a small space, making it feel open and airy can seem difficult. However, with some strategic decorating techniques, you can visually expand a petite room. Use these tricks to make a small room feel more spacious and comfortable.
Choose Light, Neutral Colors
Paint colors have a huge impact on how large a space appears. Lighter tones naturally make rooms feel more open. Neutral shades like off-white, beige and light gray reflect light and recede, creating a sense of more room. Avoid dark colors, which can make walls feel like they are closing in. White or neutral baseboards also lend height. Painting ceilings white helps extend the space upwards. Stick to a simple neutral color scheme for maximum room expansion.
Incorporate Mirrored Surfaces
Mirrored furnishings and decor brilliantly bounce light around, instantly making small rooms appear more expansive. Hang a large mirror opposite a window to double light and views. Use mirrored or glass tabletops to keep furniture light and airy. Add a mirrored backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom to make the space gleam. Place mirrors strategically around the room to add depth and make the area feel enlarged.
Keep Furniture to Scale
Oversized furniture overwhelms a petite room. Seek out smaller-scale furnishings that better fit the room’s proportions. Measure the space before purchasing to avoid items that are too bulky. Low-profile sofas and beds prevent hulking pieces from crowding the area. Round coffee tables take up less visual space than rectangles. Arrange furnishings in compact groupings, avoiding spreading pieces throughout. You can use interior design software to play around with furniture placement ideas.
Take Advantage of Multifunctional Pieces
Make the most of every inch with furniture and decor that serves multiple purposes. Opt for storage ottomans and side tables with shelves to tuck away clutter. Choose a desk that folds up when not in use. Use room dividers or screens that double as art displays. Take down bulky bookcases and hang floating shelves. Dual-purpose furnishings streamline small spaces.
Limit Visual Clutter
A crowded, disorderly room will always seem smaller. Reduce visual clutter by hiding everyday items in baskets, bins and closed cabinetry. Reduce furniture pieces to only essential items. Pare down excessive decorations. Keep surfaces like counters and shelves clear of non-essentials. Streamlining provides breathing room that makes a compact area feel tranquil.
Draw the Eye Upward
Leading the eye vertically distracts from a room’s limited square footage. Hang curtains high above windows to give the illusion of taller openings. Layer artwork salon-style to draw focus to walls. Suspend a statement light fixture as a focal point. Place narrow bookcases and floor lamps in corners. Add molding near the ceiling for height. Anything leading sightlines up expands the space.
Let in Natural Light
Abundant natural light makes any room shine brighter and larger. Maximize windows by hanging sheer curtains rather than heavy drapes. Keep window treatments high and width-maximizing. Add mirrors across from windows to reflect and amplify light. Supplement with table and floor lamps. Consider whitewashing darker windows. Illumination erases boundaries and opens up the area.
Work with Angles and Lines
Strategic furniture placement creates a sense of more space. Avoid lining everything up flush against the wall, which looks rigid. Float furniture away from the walls on angles. Place the bed on the diagonal in a bedroom. Use furnishings to create separate zones. Leading sightlines towards an open doorway draws the eye through the entire space.
Go for Open, Airy Storage
Bulky, closed storage like oversized dressers and cabinets eats up valuable space. Exchange those pieces for more airy storage options. Use woven baskets, rolling carts, shelving units and under-bed drawers. For closets, install shelves all the way to the ceiling and replace doors with curtains. Visually breezy storage takes up minimal area.
Use Multipurpose Rooms
Incorporate furnishings that allow you to modify the room’s purpose when needed. A Murphy bed folds into the wall for days and quickly opens for nights. Nesting tables provide dining seating then tuck away neatly. Look for coffee tables with lift-tops for workstations. Beanbag chairs can be moved anywhere. With clever transformations, one room gains multiple uses.
Budget-Friendly Décor Ideas
Here are some budget-friendly decor ideas to make a small room feel bigger:
- Use mirror decals on one wall to visually double the space. Decals are a lot cheaper than actual mirrors.
- Deploy space-saving design elements like over-the-door hooks and ceiling-mounted rods for plants/art.
- Use floor lamps and table lamps to make the space brighter instead of harsh overhead lighting.
With a little creativity, small spaces can feel expansive even on a tight budget!
By applying these decorating tricks that enhance light, space and flexibility, you can make even the tiniest home feel open, airy and filled with possibility.
