Looks can be deceiving
Sometimes we all feel like we could do with more space, but when it comes to our homes, solid walls can be very uncompromising. However, there are some design tricks that can help to make even the smallest rooms in a home look and feel a lot bigger than they actually are.
Tricks of the trade
Thanks to a plethora of home design reality TV, we all know some tricks of the decorators’ trade. Small rooms should not be coloured in a dark shade, as deep reds, blacks and navy blues will all make a small room feel smaller. Instead, give a light and airy feel to a small space by using neutral colours, pastels and whites.
Consider the floor and ceiling as the room’s fifth and sixth walls. Never paint a ceiling anything other than white in a small room, as dark colours here will only make any occupant feel oppressed. On the floor, keep it looking clean and streamlined with real wood or laminate flooring, preferably of a light colour, such as birch and light oak. If laying carpets, again, choose a light colour to really help open up the room.
One major trick designers have is to use mirrors, strategically placed around the room. This gives a feeling of depth by almost tricking the eye, and of course, they reflect light and colour back into the room. There is no reason to stick to only one mirror, though. Line an entire wall with mirror tiles, which will create the illusion of practically doubling the room size.
Furniture
One way to make a room look bigger is to not task the eye with too much detail. This means de-cluttering the room, getting rid of unnecessary ornaments, and keeping furniture simple. There is a maxim to remember both for décor and furniture. Dark, matte surfaces will absorb light while light and shiny surfaces will reflect it, so whilst wood is a lovely material for a larger dining room, a glass dining table will open up a small room much more by reflecting light, and showing more of the floor area.
Lighting
We all know how actors and actresses can look years younger with the correct lighting, and lighting can be used just as effectively to make a room look larger.
Good lighting can enhance the furniture and fabrics in a room, and also help to create ambience. In a small room, especially one with a low ceiling, it is best to avoid making the main light too much of a feature. Better to install an up-light fixture, as this will bounce light upwards and create the illusion of raising the ceiling. It is worth making sure, however, that the ceiling is in pretty good shape, as a light of this kind will show up any imperfections, such as shoddy plastering or peeling paint.
To make a room look larger with lighting, quantity is key. Light every wall if possible with a soft beam, so that every corner of the room is illuminated. This helps to ‘push’ the walls outwards. If a room is small by being long and narrow, mainly light the short walls to make the room appear wider and to avoid too much attention being given to the long walls.
