We all dream of a spacious, airy home where everything feels open and inviting, but if you’re working with a smaller space – or even just a room that feels a bit cramped – it can seem like that dream is completely out of reach. It doesn’t have to be that way though, and the good news is that you don’t need to knock down any walls or move into a bigger place to make your home feel larger. With that in mind, keep reading to find out how you can create the illusion of space and turn your home into the light, breezy sanctuary you’ve always wanted – the dream is within your grasp.
Bring In More Light
When you think about it, the fact is that nothing makes a space feel smaller than poor lighting – it’s all about perspective and opening things up. After all, dark, shadowy corners can essentially (if not literally) shrink a room instantly, making it feel much smaller than it really is (which isn’t ideal in a larger space, let alone a smaller one). That’s why it’s wise to start by maximizing your light wherever you can.
One thing you can definitely do is open up your curtains or blinds (and blinds are actually better for letting in light) and let in as much natural light as possible. If you’re dealing with small or fewer windows, don’t worry because you can add strategically placed mirrors that can bounce light around the room, instantly brightening things up. If that’s not enough, or if you really want to make sure you’re making the most of the natural light you can get, add some lamps, wall sconces, or even string light – they’ll brighten it all up but also make the space feel fantastically inviting at the same time.
Use Glass To Your Advantage
There are many materials you can use in your home to make things lighter, brighter and, ultimately, bigger, but one of the best and something you really need to invest in as much as you can (as much as it makes sense to) is glass. Suppose you’re designing something or changing something in your home. In that case, glass elements can really help, and having glass tabletops, shelves, or even doors can make things visually ‘disappear’ – and if you can see them less, the space is going to feel bigger and less cluttered.
One fantastic idea that is also rather unusual is to install glass banisters. These are a brilliant idea because they look wonderful, they’re unique, and they’re absolutely modern (although they’ll work in an older home too – mainly because they blend in so well). Plus, they give you a great uninterrupted flow that helps to make your home feel bigger.
Have A Good Color Palette
It’s no wonder that designers spend so much time learning about and thinking about colors – there’s a lot to understand, and once you know how certain colors work by themselves and with one another to make a space look and feel a certain way, you’ll realize that it makes sense to think about colors too and make sure you’ve chosen wisely to make the most of the space you’ve got. In the end, the right colors can do wonders for opening up a space – light, neutral tones like whites, soft greys, and beiges are classic choices that reflect light and make things feel really airy, so they’re the ideal base for any room.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t add some color to the room as well (and in fact, if you contrast it well with the lighter tones you’ve chosen, you can make the room not only look good but feel good too) as long as you don’t overdo it. Some pops of color here and there in your furniture or accessories, or perhaps a feature wall if that’s something you like the idea of, can really work well.
Make Use Of Every Inch
Although you might not like your smaller space all that much, it might be better than you think – smaller spaces often have quirky nooks and crannies that go unused, and although that can feel awkward, they don’t have to be because you can turn them into functional areas like a window seat, a built-in desk, or even extra shelving in an awkward corner. All of that (and other ideas) can help you get more out of your space so that what used to be a small room becomes larger automatically.
Custom solutions are ideal, but even off-the-shelf options can work wonders when they’re chosen and thought-out carefully, and they can often be better for your budget, so that might be the best way to go.