NINE WAYS TO MAKE A SMALL ROOM LOOK BIGGER AND FEEL SPACIOUS

Small spaces in the home are becoming more common whether through choice or necessity. It doesn’t have to be a negative – there are plenty of ways to make a small room feel larger and yet retain a cosy and homely feel.

The good news is, you don’t have to completely redecorate to create some room. A few simple changes to your storage, layout and lighting can be just the ticket. Whether you are trying to sell your home, rent it out, or you just want to make it feel a little more spacious when you have guests, there are always ways to maximise a small space.

Below is a list of easy to implement top tips for creating more space in your home.

1. Reflect light and extend a room with mirrors

This is especially handy for a small bedroom where you’re likely to want a mirror anyway. Mirrors extend the room and create the illusion of space. You might also want to consider a round mirror, to break up areas full of square and rectangular shapes such as areas with rectangular cupboards and shelves.

2. Create more space with lighting

Natural light is one of the most cited ways to make your small space feel larger, but it is often difficult to find a way to increase it. If you can’t reconsider your choice of curtain or blinds, pay attention to your choice of light fixtures. Is there a dark corner that could be fixed with a well-placed floor lamp?

3. Keep to a light and well-coordinated colour scheme

Lighter colours create the illusion of space by making a room feel airy and light. If you have dark walls, you may be making your room seem even smaller, so think about your paint colours and see you if you can lighten up your space.

4. Use fabrics that blend together

In the same vein as selecting the right paint colours, opting for fabrics that help to create the illusion of space, rather than detract from it. Smaller prints or plain colours are recommended by stylecaster.com, who also note the importance of a unified colour scheme.

5. Extend your room with the right flooring

The same type of flooring running from one area to another can really help to create a sense of space. This is a particularly good trick for open plan rooms such as a combined dining and living room. A visible floor will immediately make a room seem more spacious, suggests The Spruce, who also recommend placing taller or larger items to the side and keeping space in the middle of the room reserved for shorter items such as low coffee tables.

6. Create height with floor to ceiling shelves and long curtains

Floor-to-ceiling shelving not only provides a large amount of ready-to-go storage but also heightens your space. Similarly, if you can hang long curtains from as high as possible and let them fall to the floor, you’ll immediately make the space between floor and ceiling look longer.

7. Open up the room with see-through furniture

In the living areas, consider glass table tops on coffee tables or side tables. In a small bathroom, replace a heavy shower curtain with a clear glass screen. See-through furniture creates the illusion of more space by not blocking the view and in the case of a small bathroom, could open up the whole room by making every corner visible at once.

8. Incorporate storage without adding extra items

Think about ways to create storage space without trying too hard. One really simple way to create extra storage in a small bedroom is to buy a bed with built-in storage or with space underneath. In a small living room space, consider tables with storage shelves in the base or built-in drawers to hide things away without requiring an additional piece of furniture.

9. Clear the clutter – small and large

The final and perhaps the most obvious option is to consider what you can live without. If you have items that you rarely use, do you really need them? Removing excess items is a sure fire way to make a space feel much less cramped. Once you’ve worked out what you really do need, you can work out how you’re going to store it. Don’t discount furniture when it comes to clutter. A few key bigger pieces can make a space seem more open than lots of small items dotted around the room.

With these hints and tips you’ll find extra room in your home in no time at all. See what simple changes you can implement today to enjoy your new found space.