With people competing for real estate and cramped for space, many people would like more space at home.
Optimizing space has never been a bigger challenge. According to Statista, the average size of living rooms in the UK has been steadily shrinking since the 1970s, meaning homeowners seem to have less room to play with than before.
This leaves homeowners with a problem to solve – how do you make a space feel bigger than it is?
Conveniently, Tristan Lynch, CEO of home furnishings retailer Roseland Furniture, has shared several tips for decorating and arranging furniture to make rooms in your home feel larger.
To make the space feel bigger, the expert warns homeowners not to paint with more than one color. The color that’s “optimal” to make a room look bigger is white, says Tristan, because it’s more reflective than other colors.
She explains, “Using one color to paint a room, especially light colors, can help make it feel brighter and airier.”
“Painting both the walls and the ceiling white helps blur the boundaries of the room and gives it a larger appearance.”
To keep the room from looking “too cold and clinical,” she suggests choosing wooden furniture and patterned accessories like rugs and pillows to make the room feel warmer and add character.
You can also add colorful, exciting accessories like vases, artwork or plants to create a more personalized and fun space.
Tristan adds: “Decoring a small space can be difficult because you may have design ideas that don’t fit with the limited space of the home.
“Using and accentuating natural light in a room can make a huge difference. Light, airy rooms can feel larger than they are, while creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
“Studies show that clutter can make it difficult to focus and complete tasks, so creating an aesthetically pleasing and organized space creates an overall calmer and more enjoyable space to live in.”
Read more about Tristan’s tips.
Consider functional storage options
Small rooms can look cramped and too busy if you have a lot of your belongings. By choosing furniture that is also functional, you can save a lot of space in a small room.
Consider investing in ottoman furniture that can be used to store your belongings while also serving as a footrest or extra seating for guests. If you have a small bedroom with limited storage space, an ottoman bed can provide plenty of storage space, allowing you to store things you don’t use regularly.
Try to optimize the spaces in your home that can be used as storage space. For example, shelves can be installed in alcoves in the hallway or living room to store and display books, vases and other items that you cannot find space for.
Keep it simple
When making a small room look bigger, the trick is to keep it simple to avoid cluttering and overwhelming a small space.
Avoid small items and too many decorative items. Instead, focus on one piece of art on one wall. If you want to use wallpaper, apply it to one wall only and avoid overwhelming patterns and too many colors, as this can make the room feel cluttered and busy.
When choosing furniture, avoid sofas and chairs made of dark, heavy fabrics such as velvet and choose light tones with a natural finish such as linen. The trick with furniture is to make sure the legs of the sofa or chair are visible, as this gives the illusion of space and a feeling of airiness.
Use mirrors and reflective surfaces
Using reflective surfaces such as mirrors can make a room appear larger than it is. Try to place the mirror opposite the window or close to where it reflects the view directly from the window.
By reflecting more light into the space, you bring the outside in and brighten the space, creating the illusion of a larger, more open room.
Placing a floor mirror against a wall expands the space and reflects much more light. Don’t be afraid to go big with mirrors, even in a small room.
If you don’t want to use mirrors, reflective furniture like a mirrored coffee table can be a great way to bounce more light into a room, especially when placed where sunlight can hit it directly.
Take advantage of natural light
Natural lighting is the best way to make a room feel bigger than it is. Avoid curtains and Roman blinds; choose wooden blinds or transparent blinds to provide privacy and let in natural light.
Lamps are a sure way to create atmosphere and provide areas of light where it is most needed. Try installing wall lights that provide light both above and below to make your walls appear taller than they are.
