12 Ways to Make Small Spaces Look Bigger

Whether it’s out of wanting or necessity, many people live in small spaces. Sometimes the whole house or apartment is small. Other times, it’s just a room or two that aren’t very big. Either way, small-scaled living doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The good news is that there are some tricks of the trade that can be put to use in your home to make those small spaces look bigger. Let’s take a look at what some of those are.

1. Remove the clutter.

Too much clutter can be a huge distraction and make the space feel cramped. A good rule of thumb is that if it hasn’t been used in a year, then it probably isn’t needed. If it doesn’t add to the look of the room, then remove it. For personal keepsakes that you would like to hold on to, but not look at all the time, store them away. You can always rotate things every so many months (or years).

2. Use a softer color palette.

Lighter colors can give the illusion of more space. Soft neutrals such as white, cream, gray, and beige, as well as cool colors like blue and green, can make the walls visually recede. The goal is to make the space seem light and airy, so save those bolder, darker colors for items such as window treatments, throw pillows, and statement pieces of furniture.

3. Stick with solid colors and/or small patterns.

Solids and small patterns on furniture and window treatments unify the space and make it appear larger. Additional tip: window treatments similar to the color of your walls, will look best.

4. Avoid unnecessary details.

While certain embellishments, such as trim and tassels can improve the look of certain items within a home, they can sometimes be too much for small spaces to handle. If you do use trim of some sort, keep it simple like trim tape on window treatments or nailhead trim for furniture, rather than larger, more excessive details like ruffles.

5. Shoot for furniture on raised legs.

Not all of your furniture has to be off the ground, but having some on raised legs will create a sense of light and space, which is especially important when the room is smaller.

6. In adjacent spaces, be consistent with color and flooring.

Mismatched colors and flooring can make adjacent spaces look incredibly disconnected, which in turn, can make the space look smaller. To help it look spacious, keep your paint colors as well as your flooring colors in the same color family. This will trick the eye into thinking it’s one harmonious area, rather than several, smaller disjointed areas.

7. Provide adequate lighting.

If you have windows, let in as much natural light as you can. One way to do that is to let your windows go sans curtains, however, something like a shade or sheers would work. If natural light is minimal, make sure you add more lighting to your space. Overhead lights will work well, but there’s something extra nice about layering in other sources, such as lamps and wall sconces.

8. Use a large piece of furniture when possible.

If space allows, think big. One dominant piece of furniture can help get the space looking open and less cluttered than a space full of a lot of smaller pieces.

9. Purchase pieces that are multi-functional.

If you need the extra space, consider multi-functional pieces, such as a flip-top ottoman or a window bench with storage. Having pieces that serve double duty is a wonderful way to streamline a room.

10. Take advantage of vertical space.

Floor to ceiling built-ins are the way to go, but if that’s not an option, a bookcase or even floating shelves will help maximize your area. You want the eye to follow, so remember to go up, rather than out, when it comes to storage and shelving used for displaying.

11. Hang up mirrors.

Mirrors are great at reflecting light, so hanging them near windows is a great way to brighten up the space and make it appear larger than it is.

12. Darken your ceiling.

While that softer color palette works great on the walls, going for a dark ceiling creates depth. Include some beautiful light fixtures, and the eye will be drawn upward, creating the illusion of height.

When you’re ready to start shopping for fabrics and accessories to help maximize the space you have, we have what you need! Stop by one of our showrooms to view our inventory and get great deals on discount designer fabrics. You’re sure to find something for every home interior project, including gorgeous drapery fabrics to lightweight cottons and luxurious Dupioni Silks.