Often, small
rooms can be difficult to decorate. How do you effectively decorate a small
room without making it look cluttered, cramped and… well, small? Whether you
have a small living room you’re not quite sure what to do with or you’d like to
make your bedroom look more spacious and luxurious, knowing how to create the
illusion of extra space can be difficult.
Fortunately,
there are plenty of different ways you can make a room look bigger. While you
can’t physically create extra space in a room (unless you’re carrying out a
home extension, of course), you can trick the eye into believing there is more
space than there is - you just need to know how.
If you’re
looking for ways to make a small room look bigger, you’ve come to the right
place. Below, we’ve put together our top tips to create the illusion of extra
space in your home.
Use light colours
Light
colours are more reflective than dark ones and therefore they’re ideal for
small spaces. Light colours such as whites and creams can open up a room and
make it feel airy and light, creating the illusion of additional natural light.
When it comes to choosing the base colours of a small room, always opt for a
light colour scheme. While dark, warm colours can make a room feel cosy and
intimate, light, cool colours are ideal for opening up a space and making it
feel more airy.
To really
open up the space and create the illusion of a bigger room, paint the walls and
ceiling the same colour. This helps to blur the boundaries between the wall and
ceiling, drawing the eye upwards and making the ceiling seem higher than it is.
Make the most of the light
Again, the
lighter the room, the better. Where possible, make the most of natural
sunlight. Whether it’s a skylight or a standard window, keep curtains open
during the day to welcome in as much natural light as possible.
Any room looks bigger when it’s well-lit; if your small room doesn’t quite get
enough natural light to open up the space, the right artificial lighting can make
all the difference. Adding more lamps and lighting fixtures to a room will
brighten up the space and help make it look bigger.
Add mirrors
Again, if
you’re short of natural light or only have one window in a room, mirrors can be
used as an effective tool to open and create the illusion of a bigger space.
Not only do mirrors reflect light, but they also reflect the view too, tricking
the eye into perceiving more space.
Hanging
mirrors allows you to bounce light from windows, creating the illusion of greater
square footage. There are plenty of creative ways you can experiment with
mirrors; hanging a big mirror or standing an oversize framed mirror against a
wall can make a room look larger than it is and makes a stylish statement too.
Hang
tall
curtains
Hanging tall
curtains in a small room is one of the most effective tricks in the book. Tall
curtains automatically draw the eye upwards, creating the illusion of a bigger
space and making the ceilings look higher than they are.
Mount the
curtain rod close to the ceiling instead of at the window frame; this will
create the illusion of height and make the window look larger than it really
is. When it comes to your choice of curtains, you can also trick the eye into
perceiving more space with a pair of sheer, lightweight or vertically striped
curtains. Try to avoid curtains with heavily coloured horizontal patterns or
large floral prints as these can dominate a room and make the space seem more
cluttered. Instead, opt for light, airy designs and always hang them high.
Declutter your space
Even the
biggest of rooms will look smaller and more cramped if they’re packed full of
clutter and mess. If you want to make a small room look bigger, you’re going to
have to do some serious decluttering. To prevent a room from becoming
overcrowded, make sure you take the time to declutter regularly. Make a habit
of clearing out cabinets, wardrobes and cupboards roughly every six months to
keep on top of clutter and make sure you’re not storing unnecessary junk or
items you don’t use.
Invest in hidden storage
Utilising
hidden storage is a great way to keep a room minimalist and clutter-free. There
are plenty of creative hidden furniture options to explore that will hide your
clutter without eating into your space. Some of our favourite storage options
include built-in window seats with storage compartments underneath (storage
that doubles up as extra seating - what’s not to love?), hidden cupboards behind
shelves and beds with storage underneath.
Even a
cupboard organiser with different storage compartments can help you better
organise your cupboards and store away clutter.
Display big pieces of art
If you have
a small room and want to decorate it with art, it’s always best to opt for one
large piece of art rather than a collection of other smaller pieces. One large
piece of art often takes centre stage and acts as the focal point of the room,
so avoid making the space look too busy or crowded with lots of pictures or
artwork.
When it
comes to enhancing a space with artwork, we recommend opting for minimalist
wall wart. Choose a print that matches the colour scheme of your room and
complements the space; again, bright colours will reflect light better and help
to open up the space. Using vertical art that reaches the ceiling gives the
illusion of height, whereas horizontal wall art can give the illusion of
wideness to a small room.
Use multi-functional furniture
Furniture
can take up a lot of space. However, with the right pieces of multi-functional
furniture, you can save space and open out a room. For example, opt for a sofa
bed or a chest that can be used as a coffee table. If you’re short on space in
your dining room, invest in an expandable dining table so when the table is not
in use, you have more space.
Clear
furniture out of walkways and paths; each room should have a clear pathway with
no obstruction. This will help open up the space and make it feel larger.
The Curtain Agency: the leading curtain
suppliers in Scotland
If you’re
based in Scotland and in need of tall curtains for your home, look no further
than the specialists at The Curtain Agency. We have an incredible variety of
curtains at affordable prices; we always go above and beyond to ensure our
customers are supplied with ready-made curtains that will complement their
home.
At The Curtain Agency, we strive to be the best
supplier of extra tall curtains in Scotland, which is why we provide ready-made
curtains in Scotland that are guaranteed to improve the appearance of every
room in your home. For more information about us and our products,
visit our website.
