Expand A Small Room Visually

 

Your home's small living space can be cozy and inviting, or it can be cramped and confining. If you have a small room, you have a few options. If you have the space, you can remove a wall and combine two small spaces into one. This takes a significant amount of time, money, and effort. A much faster option is to visually expand the room by using colors and other techniques to make it appear larger.

Clutter can make a room appear smaller and confined, so decluttering the room should be one of the first things you do. Go through the shelves and get rid of anything that isn't necessary. It is acceptable to leave some items for decoration, but the majority of the clutter should be removed. Simply doing so will help to make the room appear larger.

Choose light colors for your paint and décor. Light colors will visually enlarge the space. However, you do not have to paint everything white. Light yellow will brighten things up while also adding warmth to the room. If you are happy with the size of the room but have a low ceiling, painting it white will give the illusion of height.

Do not use heavy, opaque curtains as window coverings. Something lightweight will let in more light and make the room appear larger. If you have the funds for remodeling, you might consider installing larger windows to let in more light. Larger windows will also provide a better view of the outside of the house, making the space appear larger. If larger windows cannot be installed, try installing a couple of mirrors in the room to create the illusion of space.

When it comes to furnishing the room, smaller items should be used whenever possible. A large bookshelf will tend to crowd the space and make it appear smaller. Do not try to cram as much furniture as possible into the space. A few key pieces strategically placed will keep the furniture from overpowering the space. A couple of light-colored chairs will make the room appear larger, whereas heavy furniture, such as a large couch, will make the room appear smaller.

You want as much light as possible in the room to make it appear larger. If you have the ability to install lights, some recessed lighting in the ceiling or strategically placed wall sconces will provide enough light for the room on cloudy days or at night. If you are unable to install lights, some floor lamps in the corners of the room will help to brighten things up. Keep in mind that the brighter the room, the larger it will appear.

A claustrophobic environment does not have to be permanent in a small, cramped space. If you have the space, time, and money, you can certainly expand the room. If physically expanding the room is not an option, you can use visual tricks to make it appear larger than it is. You can also just call it cozy and learn to live with it.