How many of us can honestly say that we’ve never looked around while sat in a room thinking “if only it didn’t feel so cramped”? Well, here are some handy hints as to how to make your rooms feel bigger than they actually are – exceeding their potential if you like. This article won’t go into de-cluttering as I hope that it goes without saying that the first step is to reduce the amount of ‘things’ occupying your space.
Get up against the wall!
It’s amazing how much of a difference simply moving your sofa or other piece of large furniture flush against a main wall can make. The clean lines that result combine with the reality of the extra open space to great effect.
Reflect on this great tip
Yes, you’ve guessed it – use mirrors! The choice of styles is endless and can be a fun way of making a statement while also making your room appear larger. Large ceiling to floor mirrors in between two big cabinets or bookcases can make a devastating impact on the size impression of a room.
Furniture that’s light on its feet
Small rooms will not benefit from chunky, old-world furniture. Instead make sure that dining chairs or tables made of light, fresh materials such as Perspex, acrylic and glass. If wood is to be used opt for lighter woods with thin legs and a low surface area.
Trick the eye
Large, bold black and white diagonal floor patterns (perhaps vinyl flooring) not only look impressive, but they send the eye on a dizzying journey that distracts it from the edges of the room, helping to confuse its idea of size. It can also help to make furniture appear smaller and less bulky.
It’ll be all white on the night
White rooms from ceiling to skirting boards always look bigger. It makes it harder to see where walls end and space begins. This effect can be helped by the use of recessed lights as well as (if you can) stepped ceilings and even a sky light.
Dark can work too
The same trick can be applied to darker shades, like grey so long as you stick to the same principle of ceiling to skirting board coverage in the same colour. This visual seamlessness can be enhanced by also painting doors and radiators in the same colour.
So, before you despair at the thought of accepting your lot there are some low cost options from home accessories Leicester to subtle, well chosen paint jobs that can give your house the illusion of space.