The increase in the age of the average first-time buyers, as well as a great need for affordable housing, means that many of us are living in smaller than average houses or flats. Families often live in small spaces, making the most of what they’ve got, and few of us have a spare room or extra space for storage. However, a small home doesn’t have to look small. There are plenty of simple ways to open the space up and make your home look much larger than it actually is.
Storage
Any home looks small when it looks crowded. When every shelf is spilling over with stuff, when every side is covered in junk, and every table is piled high with books and papers, the space can look small and feel claustrophobic.
There are two ways to avoid this, making your rooms look larger. Firstly, declutter. Don’t keep anything that you don’t need, and make sure that you have a good declutter when you need to. Second, storage. When you are working with a small space, you might not have room for more shelving, sideboards and tables. So, think about the space you’ve got. Hang hooks over doors, add storage boxes underneath beds and sofas, and mount shelves to your walls to utilise the height.
Lighten Up
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Dark walls and accessories might seem romantic and dramatic. But, in a small space, they can make the walls feel close, and the room look smaller. To maximise the space and give the appearance of a much larger area, keep things light. Clean your windows and use wooden Venetian blinds instead of heavy curtains, paint the walls white and add more colour with your furnishings and accessories.
Flooring
You should also keep your floors light. A dark, thick carpet can set the tone for the whole room. Wooden flooring can make a fantastic alternative. Add colourful rugs if you prefer a softer texture under your feet.
Add Depth
Most of us have a colour scheme in our décor, however loosely we stick to it. To make the room seem larger, add depth to your colours. Think of two main colours, then add similar shades and accents to your furniture, soft furnishings and fixtures. Try to keep things light but use as many shades as you can. This will add depth to your rooms, without overpowering and overwhelming the eye.
Add Mirrors
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Mirrors are a fantastic way to trick the eye. Add mirrors to your walls, at eye level to give the appearance of a room stretching out in front of you. Other reflective surfaces such as stainless steel and brass can have a similar effect.
Legs
It’s a small thing, but large pieces of furniture like sofas, with legs showing can make a room seem much larger than those that are covered down to the floor. These pieces look smaller and being able to see more of the floor makes a room feel larger and more open. Clear furniture, such as glass coffee tables can have the same effect.
*This is a collaborative post*