There are many tips and tricks to decorating and designing a small room so that it will appear larger than it really is. Take into account that perception is everything and dimensions are just numbers. When decorating, think about the wall colors, décor and furniture.
Dark colors can make a room look smaller, but this doesn’t mean you should avoid splashing a bit of color on the walls. Lighter colors will actually expand a space. If you have a hallway outside of a small room, paint the hallway a deep color. As guests enter the brighter living space, it will appear more spacious. Give jewel-tone colors a try, and paint the trim white. This color scheme is usually a safe bet for all small areas. Also, decide which wall holds your room’s focal point. Peg this wall as the “accent wall,” and make it pop. When painting the ceiling, choose a lighter color than the surrounding walls.
If you have small or short rooms, think of sprucing up the space with vertical décor. This will allow the eye to move upwards, lengthening the walls. Wall shelves are also a great tool to save floor space. Mirrors and glass doors are another trick to expanding a living space through décor. Allow natural light to flow through your room by keeping your curtains and blinds open. This is your best use of lighting to expand a room’s presence. When choosing flooring, keep the floors similar throughout a space. A mixture of carpet, wood and tile will “chop up” a room and make it look smaller.
A solid rule-of-thumb to stick by when choosing furniture is to ensure that 1/3rd of a room can handle foot traffic. Pick a few pieces of simple furniture but only cover up 2/3rds of a room with your decor. This will maintain its coziness. When laying out your chosen furniture, place the larger pieces against the wall to avoid breaking up the area.
Keeping in mind these tips and tricks can make any small room appear big. Maintain the tidiness of the room, and you’ll be ready to host company in no time.
Dark colors can make a room look smaller, but this doesn’t mean you should avoid splashing a bit of color on the walls. Lighter colors will actually expand a space. If you have a hallway outside of a small room, paint the hallway a deep color. As guests enter the brighter living space, it will appear more spacious. Give jewel-tone colors a try, and paint the trim white. This color scheme is usually a safe bet for all small areas. Also, decide which wall holds your room’s focal point. Peg this wall as the “accent wall,” and make it pop. When painting the ceiling, choose a lighter color than the surrounding walls.
If you have small or short rooms, think of sprucing up the space with vertical décor. This will allow the eye to move upwards, lengthening the walls. Wall shelves are also a great tool to save floor space. Mirrors and glass doors are another trick to expanding a living space through décor. Allow natural light to flow through your room by keeping your curtains and blinds open. This is your best use of lighting to expand a room’s presence. When choosing flooring, keep the floors similar throughout a space. A mixture of carpet, wood and tile will “chop up” a room and make it look smaller.
A solid rule-of-thumb to stick by when choosing furniture is to ensure that 1/3rd of a room can handle foot traffic. Pick a few pieces of simple furniture but only cover up 2/3rds of a room with your decor. This will maintain its coziness. When laying out your chosen furniture, place the larger pieces against the wall to avoid breaking up the area.
Keeping in mind these tips and tricks can make any small room appear big. Maintain the tidiness of the room, and you’ll be ready to host company in no time.