Creating the illusion of a larger space can be a game-changer, especially in small rooms or apartments. Even in smaller-sized rooms, you can still make it feel open, airy, and inviting. Here are some of our top tips for making your spaces feel bigger!
1. Lighter Paint Colors
Light colors make a room feel larger and more open. They reflect the light in the space and create a bright and airy atmosphere. Avoid darker & more saturated colors if your goal is open and airy. Darker colors make a space feel more enclosed and intimate which is great when you want your space to feel cozy, but not so much when you want to make your space feel bigger. Instead, stick with the whites, light neutrals, and lighter hues.
2. Emphasize Height
To make a space feel more expansive, we love to play with the verticality. What we mean by this is that we want to “trick the eye” and make the space seem taller due to vertical elements in the space that draw the eye up. We love a good vertical stripe wallpaper to do this. Look for light colorways that are subtle and beautiful. We don’t want something super patterned and busy; otherwise, it will have the opposite effect. Usually, we don’t recommend horizontal stripes as it tends to make the room feel shorter. In a way, horizontal stripes help to make a space appear wider, but usually, the shortest part of the wall is the height, which is why elongating the height of the space is the best way to make a room feel bigger. (For example, an 11′ X 14′ living room usually doesn’t have a ceiling height more than 8-9′).
One of our favorite tricks of all is adding floor-to-ceiling window treatments – and we mean floor to ceiling! Instead of hanging the curtain rod directly above your window frame, hang it as close to the ceiling line as possible (or as close to the crown molding if you have that). This may seem funny… but it truly works. It helps to make the space feel taller as a whole. It draws the eye up. Another thing about the window treatments though, is that you don’t want them to puddle at the bottom – rather, the curtains should lightly graze the floor.
3. Crown Molding
Crown molding is a perfect addition to make a room feel bigger. If you take a look at crown molding profiles, you will see that classic crown has a curve to it that helps soften the edge where walls meet the ceiling. This eliminates the “hard stop” that we see where walls meet the ceiling, especially when the wall or ceiling paint is a darker or more saturated color. To go even further, we have a special trick when it comes to crown molding… add in a small molding profile a couple of inches away from the edge of the crown on the ceiling and paint the space the same color as the crown. This elongates the profile even further.
4. Paint the 5th Wall
Go the extra mile and paint the ceiling! Don’t forget our first rule though… choose lighter hues; a darker color will only make the space feel shorter. We love using a super light, almost white color on the ceiling – especially blues and sunset tones, as it mimics the sky outside. A subtle wallpaper on the ceiling could be gorgeous as well!
5. Mirrors
Using Mirrors is a classic way to create the illusion of a bigger space. Mirrors reflect light and views and can make the room feel so much larger. The placement of a mirror can also be important. Placing a mirror on the opposite wall from a window helps to bounce natural light around the space. Also, any mirror that reflects a hallway or open area makes a space feel more open.
6. Proportional Furniture & Accessories
Choosing furniture that fits the scale of your space is crucial. Avoid cramming oversized pieces into a small room, as this can make it feel cluttered and cramped. Instead, select appropriately sized furniture that allows for comfortable movement and keeps the space balanced. Consider multi-functional pieces, such as a cocktail ottoman with storage to maximize the usability of your space. Another tip here is to avoid super heavy-looking accent pieces. What we mean by this is for things like a coffee table or entertainment center, steer away from super chunky, clunky pieces. We often recommend glass coffee tables and consoles as it creates the illusion of taking up less space (even if it is truly the same size as a wood piece you found). And to be clear, we are not saying to illuminate wood furniture all together, it’s just that you don’t want to use the heavier-looking, larger furniture all over the space. Balance it out.
7. Organization
Keeping a space clean and organized can make your room feel larger. While we love rooms full of knickknacks, books, and decorative items, too much can make a small space feel cluttered. For storing things like blankets, remotes, and kids’ toys, try using storage ottomans, side tables, or console tables. Choose ones that aren’t too bulky and offer features like drawers and open shelving—great for tucking away items while keeping the space open. Storage baskets on open shelves work wonderfully for toys and other items that don’t need to be visible all the time. Another good option for small spaces is custom built-ins, designed to fit your exact needs and maximize the available space. With a skilled designer and millworker, you can create storage solutions that fit your needs and your space perfectly.
By using these design tips, you can transform any room, making it feel larger and more inviting! Remember, the key is to use light, height, and proportion, among a few other clever design tricks, to make the most of your spaces.
Stay Inspired!
The MWI Team