Five Tips To Make A Small Room Feel Bigger

Simple tips to get started when a living area in your home has much to be desired!   Below are five tips that are simple but effective changes you can implement to make a room appear more spacious.

1. Choose a light shade of paint

An effective and relatively low budget way to make a room feel bigger is to paint it a light colour; think pastels and white washes. While dark shades can create a cosier atmosphere, they can also absorb light making a room feel small. On the other hand, pale colours reflect light and enhance the effects of natural lighting in a small room which creates spaciousness.

If you are renting and looking to paint a room, speak with your property manager first as you will need to obtain the landlord’s permission.

2. Let the natural light in

If you’re unable to paint, you can alternatively hang some sheer or light coloured curtains to create that vast, airy feel. By doing this, more natural light will be able to filter through the room, making it feel bigger.

Sheer curtains also provide you with a glimpse of the outdoor landscape, bringing the outside in and giving the illusion of more space.

3. Add a mirror

Mirrors reflect light and enhance the brightness of a room, making it feel more expensive than it really is. Strategically place your mirror across from a window to ensure it picks up the natural light and bounces it around the walls.

This key piece can also double as an art feature and add a practical touch to your room. However, be sure to check with your property manager before hanging any mirrors or alternatively, rest your mirror against a wall or on a table.

4. Hide away items & Reduce clutter

Nothing makes a room feel smaller than clutter.

Neatly pack away items on shelving or utilise space-saving furniture such as coffee tables with draws, ottomans with hidden compartments and storage chests that can double as seating. Multiuse items can also reduce the amount of furniture required in the room, creating more space for you.

You should consider furniture that can be folded, stacked or stowed away to reduce clutter for the majority of the time and only be brought out when required.

5. Go big

Rather than filling your space with lots of tiny decorative items and pieces of furniture, consider bigger pieces such as a statement couch or a couple of large vases to decorate a table or empty corner.

Lots of small items can create clutter and make a room feel cramped, as mentioned above. Whereas large statement pieces reduce the need for multiple items, giving you more area to work with. Just be sure to measure out what will fit in your room before making an expensive purchase!

If you’re renting, chat to your property manager before performing any DIY changes to the property and ensure you gain the landlord’s permission.