5 Ways to Make Your Small Room Feel Spacious
Starting to feel like the walls are closing in on you? Yeah, we’ve been there.
But there’s good news! Instead of looking for a way out, you can find a way to thrive inside.
It might not seem like it right now, but there are a lot of different ways to make your small room look and feel more spacious.
With insights from local designer Sandra Hammer of Michael P. Design, here are five different ways to make your small room feel more spacious.
- Mirror mirror, on the wall.
What’s one of the simplest ways to make a small room feel more spacious? Mix in a mirror or two. First, find out how much wall space you’re working with. Then determine whether one large mirror or several small mirrors will do the trick.
“Use mirrors on walls—either large-scale or a grouping of mirrors,” Sandra says. “They will reflect light and make the room feel larger.”
Which option is right for you? Test out your options (with pieces of paper, tagboard, or actual mirrors if you’ve got them) and see which set-up makes you feel lighter, brighter, and happier.
Related: Tips for Finding the Perfect Mirror for Any Room from HGTV
- Show some leg.
Take a look around the room. What sort of furniture are you working with? Is there too much of it? Is it all so heavy? If you’re looking at dressers, side tables, or bookshelves that sit flat on the ground, you’re sacrificing critical breathing room.
“Utilize furniture with legs as opposed to all that heavy furniture that sits right on the ground,” says Sandra. “And if you can ditch any overstuffed or overweight accents, do it.”
Yes, “less” really is “more.” With your furniture propped up on legs, you’ll invite an open airiness that creates space for your small room to breathe.
Related: Make Your Living Room Look Bigger from The Spruce
- Lighting is everything.
Natural light is key, but what happens when the sun goes down? You’ll need your appliances to distribute light evenly.
“Have multiple lightweight lamps so your space is evenly lit at night,” Sandra says. “Dark corners or other absences of light will reduce your small space to an even smaller, darker, sadder room.”
When you can’t use mirrors to reflect natural light during the day, arrange your light fixtures accordingly. Instead of cluttering your small room with clunky lamps or heavy light posts, see if you can install or hang light fixtures from your ceiling.
Related: How to Use Lighting to Make a Room Look Bigger from Pooky
- Keep it breezy.
If your smaller-sized room has any windows, how are you dressing them? If they’re positioned in such a way that privacy is not an issue (i.e. they’re not staring straight into your neighbor’s living room), leave them unclothed in all their glory. If they must be covered, do what you can to create the illusion of height.
“Light fabrics for window treatments—think linen or sheer fabric—will make your small room feel more spacious,” explains Sandra. “Hang your fabrics from floor to ceiling to create length. If privacy isn’t an issue, ditch window treatments altogether.”
Remember, the brighter your room, the bigger it will look and feel.
Related: Curtain Ideas to Make a Room Look Bigger: Creative Curtains from eHow Home
- Think small.
If you wish your body were a little bit slimmer (and you shouldn’t, because you’re perfect the way you are), would you ever wear a shirt with horizontal stripes? Probably not. Your smaller-than-satisfactory space is no different.
“Accentuate your verticals,” Sandra advises. “Think shiplap hung vertically instead of horizontally. Creating a longer image from top to bottom will make your space seem taller than it actually is.”
What can you do to your walls or drapes to add vertical accents in your small room?
Related: Creative Ways To Make Your Small Bedroom Look Bigger from Hative
Are you looking for more tips and tricks on how to make your house a home? Check out our blog page. And if you’re in the market for any home improvement services anywhere in Western New York, contact us today!
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