8 design tricks to make a small space feel big

Whether it’s a small bathroom, living room, or bedroom, making the right design choices can impact how big or small your space feels. Keep these 8 tips in mind to ensure that your small space feels large every time you walk in the room.

Choose light colors

While you’re browsing the sample color cards in the paint section, gravitate toward colors that are light. Brighten up your space with light colored paint to allow the room to feel open and airy. Lighter colored flooring also does the trick!

Strategize with drapery

Picking the right window treatments can dramatically affect how big or small your room seems. Hanging the curtain rod close to the ceiling, allowing the curtains to drop to the floor, allows for the illusion of taller ceilings and larger windows, directly affecting the appearance of the room.

Utilize multi-purpose items

A lack of square footage means less of a footprint for furniture and décor, so you have to get creative! Find items that serve dual purposes such as an ottoman with hidden storage or a coffee table that raises into a desk. Look for upholstered pieces that can provide extra seating for guests, or with a serving tray, a table top for drinks.

Follow the cantaloupe rule

A small space does not mean that you should decorate with small items. Decorative accents that are smaller than a cantaloupe actually make a room feel smaller. Seek larger items to fill the room like an oversized vase or dramatic art installation.

Implement glass or lucite

Clear furniture pieces such as chairs and tables add function to your room without taking up visual space. If your bathroom is smaller than average, consider a clear shower curtain or glass doors than lean towards transparency rather than opaque or frosted panes.

Strategically place mirrors

Large mirrors bounce light around the room, making your small space feel much larger than it actually is. Place a mirror across from a window to reflect natural light, giving the illusion that room continues beyond its boundaries.

Furnish thoughtfully

Fill your space with raised furniture rather than sofas or chairs that have skirted bases concealing the legs. When arranging your pieces, pull furniture off the wall. Placing bigger items at least a few inches away from the wall allows for a spacious feel when you look in the room.

Go with stripes

Just as vertical stripes are your best friend when it comes to clothing, the same rule applies when you are dressing up your room! Consider a striped runner, wallpaper pattern, or rug to elongate the room. Make sure that the stripes run the length of the longest part of the room and that you find the right size of rug so that your space doesn’t feel cramped.

Just because the footprint of your living space is small, doesn’t mean it can’t be functional with a spacious feel. Redecorate, repaint, and rearrange to transform your small area into a room that you can truly feel comfortable in and enjoy.