Sometimes a home can feel cramped, even when you love everything about it. Before you start thinking about knocking down walls or taking on an expensive renovation, try a few simple changes that can make the rooms you already have feel more open.
You don’t need a huge budget or professional decorating skills for most of these ideas. Moving furniture, changing your window treatments, or clearing away some clutter can make a noticeable difference.
Paint With Light Shades
Light colors can make a room feel brighter and more open by reflecting more natural and artificial light. Whites, creams, and soft grays are easy choices, while darker shades can make a small room feel more enclosed.
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Add Mirrors to Multiply Space
A well-placed mirror can reflect light and give the room a greater sense of depth. Try placing a large mirror opposite a window to bounce natural light back into the room.
Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture
Furniture that serves multiple purposes can save space without making a room feel empty. An ottoman with storage or a coffee table that can double as a workspace can help you keep clutter under control.
Hang Curtains High and Wide
Mounting curtain rods close to the ceiling can make your windows and walls appear taller. Extending the rod past the sides of the window can also make the window look wider and bring more attention to the available light.
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Use Stripes to Stretch the Space
Stripes can change how the size and shape of a room appear to the eye, according to Country Living. A striped rug or wallpaper can help make a room look longer or wider, depending on the direction of the pattern.
Choose Furniture With Legs
Bulky furniture that sits directly on the floor can make a room feel heavy and crowded. Sofas, chairs, and shelving with exposed legs leave some floor visible, which can make the room feel more open.
Declutter and Simplify
A room with fewer things in it will usually feel more spacious, even though the actual square footage hasn’t changed. Happy Organized Life recommends clearing out items you don’t need and keeping the things you use where they’re easy to put away.
Use Glass or Lucite Furniture
Transparent furniture gives you the function of a table or chair without adding much visual weight to the room. Glass or Lucite pieces can be especially useful in smaller spaces where solid furniture may make things feel crowded.
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Stick to a Single Color Scheme
Using different shades of a single color can create a smoother, more cohesive look throughout a room. Forbes notes that a coordinated color palette can help create a more unified space, while too many contrasting colors can break it up visually.
Add Vertical Storage
Make use of your walls by adding tall bookcases, wall-mounted shelves, or hanging storage. Keeping belongings off the floor gives you more usable space and draws the eye upward.
Use Large-Scale Art Sparingly
One large piece of artwork can give a room a clear focal point without filling the walls with small frames. Choose a piece that works with the room’s colors and give it enough empty wall space to stand out.
Choose Simple Window Coverings
Heavy curtains and bulky blinds can block sunlight and make windows feel smaller. Light curtains or simple shades can let more daylight into the room without adding visual weight.
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Let in the Light
Keep windows as clear as possible so natural light can reach more of the room. Move large furniture away from windows and clear off crowded sills to make the most of the daylight you already have.
Install Floating Shelves
Floating shelves give you storage without taking up floor space. They can hold books, plants, and everyday items while keeping countertops, tables, and floors less crowded.
Keep Furniture Low
Low-profile sofas, beds, and other furniture can leave more open space between the furniture and ceiling. That extra wall space can make the room feel taller and less boxed in.
Use Light Rugs on Dark Floors
A light-colored rug can break up a dark floor and bring more brightness into the room. Choose a size that fits the furniture rather than using a tiny rug that makes the seating area feel disconnected.
Reflect With Shiny Surfaces
Glossy finishes, mirrors, and small metallic accents can bounce light around a room. A reflective coffee table or a few polished accessories can add brightness without taking up much space.
