We all know that living in a small space can be quite challenging, particularly when it comes to balancing form and function while finding ways to make enough storage for our belongings.
Fear not because I’m going to walk you through 12 of my best design tips to make small spaces feel and look much bigger.
Use Multifunctional Furniture
When dealing with a small space try to ensure that each furniture piece has more than one function. All too often I see small living spaces filled with bulky pieces of furniture which only serve a singular function and this clearly isn’t a smart way to maximize the space.
Indeed, when you put too many bulky pieces in one space it quickly creates a cramped atmosphere. That’s why one of the most popular forms of multifunctional furniture is those which double as storage.
Roll-out storage systems under beds and storage cabinets that double as seating are just two examples of how multifunctional furniture can seemingly unlock extra space.
Even décor can help you with your small space woes – baskets and wicker bins are stylish storage solutions for things like blankets, cushions and other clutter.
And don’t forget multifunctional pieces which specifically target small spaces, including bookcases with fold-down tables, storage headboards for beds, sofas that convert to beds, and expandable dining tables when you need to entertain more people.
For the smallest of spaces, I highly recommend that every piece of furniture have at least two functions to help you open up the space as much as possible.
Paint Your Walls a Light Color
Another clever way to make a small space in your home look and feel bigger is to paint all the walls white or some other light color.
In case you were wondering why, dark walls absorb light which has the affect of making a room look smaller, whereas light walls are very reflective and allows natural light to bounce around, making the space feel open and airy.
Using white on all the walls can’t be recommended enough as it’s guaranteed to make any space look seamless and expansive.
Not only does it encourage your eyes to flow smoothly around the room, it will also leave a calm and serene energy, provided you use a warm undertone instead of something too cold.
For added effect, paint your skirtings and door trims a brighter shade than the walls so that the walls appear to recede, resulting in a greater sense of roominess.
By keeping the color palette to a minimum you will reduce visual clutter and simplify the space. In other words, the space will be seamless and feel larger.
You can build on this illusory effect by introducing furniture with light or neutral shades. If white walls are out of the equation, consider that pastel colors and neutral shades have similar reflective qualities.
Accent Walls
Paint is the gift that keeps on giving because it has under its sleeve yet another trick for making your living space feel and look at lot larger than it really is.
I’m talking about accent walls, and it works wonders for small spaces by drawing attention to one area of the space while allowing the rest of the room to breathe.
You can also do this with wallpaper, with the caveat of using large patterns over small ones as intricate wallpaper designs tend to make a space look cluttered.
And it’s not just walls that have to shoulder the burden of drawing attention – you can also create an accent by painting an architectural feature such as a door or fireplace.
Mirrors and Reflective Surfaces
A great way to fool the eye into believing there’s more space than what you actually have is by putting up mirrors. Just like how painting walls white enhances natural light, mirrors perform the same reflective trick but to an even greater extent!
When a mirror reflects, our eyes perceive the bouncing reflections as increased volume and this is what gives the impression of a larger-than-reality airy feel.
This effect can also be achieved through other shiny or reflective surfaces such as marble or glass tabletops and other items.
As for the placement of mirrors, the opposite side of a window never disappoints, as the light from the window will be reflected off the mirror with ease and to maximum effect.
And not to mention, by mirroring a window it will look as though your space is adorned with another window, which is a reassuring sight when you’re stuck within the confines of a small space.
If you’re dealing with a windowless space or the access to natural light is very limited, a window mirror is just the thing you need.
As the name suggests, a window mirror simulates a real window and this is often enough to relax the mind and make the space feel bigger than it is. Mount an arched window mirror on the wall and you’ll elevate the aesthetic of the space to boot.
You can also use tall or slender mirrors to your advantage if you’re after a greater sense of ceiling height, as they encourage the eye to travel upward.
For those of you who’re renting and are worried about mounting a mirror, consider resting an oversized mirror on the floor as a less permanent option.
Low Profile Furniture with Legs
To avoid weighing down your precious space, consider that smaller furniture leaves a bit of breathing room between each piece and in doing so makes a big difference to the sense of spaciousness.
Low profile furniture that has legs never fails to create a feeling of openness due to the extra space below each piece.
This type of streamlined furniture allows air and light to flow under and around it, adding to the illusion of more space, which is in stark contrast to furniture that sits directly on the ground.
Shopping around for low profile furniture is easier than ever, what with a growing number of brands recognizing the need for smaller, apartment-style furniture that’s more suited to small spaces.
And remember the little things can go a long way in cutting down on space wastage, like opting for a side table instead of a coffee table and mounting a TV so you don’t need a clunky media console.
Round Shaped Furniture
There’s no question that using smaller, low profile furniture with legs will go a long way in opening up the space, but consider going one step further and introduce pieces which are round in shape.
Round coffee tables and dining tables are a good place to start because they take up considerable room, and what you’ll find is that the roundness will create a feeling of softness as there are no harsh or hard corners interrupting the flow of the space.
Leave enough space between furniture
knowing that every inch is a premium in small spaces, it goes without saying you should avoid cramming in too much furniture at all costs.
Do your best to ensure there is enough space between large furniture pieces -as a rule of thumb, aim for a gap wide enough to leave you with a walkway.
You can also try pulling your seating furniture away from the wall if the layout or space allows for it.
The space that’s left between the furniture and the walls will generate a strong sense of roominess. You can also take one-person couches and armchairs and angle them in the corners to achieve a similar effect.
Emphasize vertical elements
We already touched on mirrors with tall or slim dimensions being used to enhance one’s sense of ceiling height.
You’ll be happy to learn there are many other ways to perform this very same trick, such as using vertical wall paneling, floor to ceiling shelving, or even small details like a single low-hanging bare bulb.
Basically anything design-friendly that draws the eye upward will emphasize vertical space in a room. Likewise, things like horizontal wall paneling and furniture items that are longer than they are high will emphasize the horizontal space of a room.
Roller Blinds & Lightweight Curtains
Maximizing the amount of daylight coming to the room is without a doubt one of the best things you can do to make a small space look bigger.
Blinds are obviously great for this because they can be rolled up to expose the whole window. Curtains aren’t bad either but the way they bunch up at the end of the curtain rods leaves a cluttered feeling and blocks out some light.
Sticking with blinds, you’ll want them to be the same color as the wall to create a seamless look which again makes the room appear larger and much more expansive.
If for whatever reason you can’t do away with curtains then at least use lightweight breezy fabrics and hang them high – place the curtain bar close to the ceiling and let your curtains fall all the way to the floor to tap into that illusion of height.
Too many people put their curtain rods directly above the window which shortens and constricts the room. Worse still, some don’t make sure the rods extend beyond the edges of the window frame so the curtains can be fully drawn out and the full window exposed.
Layer Your Lighting
It’s all well and good having a small space that looks and feels spacious during the daytime when natural light is streaming in through the windows, but what about at night?
It turns out the best way to keep the feeling of space during nighttime is by layering your lighting.
Layering means using all types of lighting in your room – overhead, ambient, task and accent lighting.
To make your small space feel larger, lamps and other light light sources that don’t impose too much on the space are your best bet. For example, go with slender floor lamps with small bases or install recess lighting in the ceiling.
Sliding Doors
My final tip to aid your space-increasing efforts is to consider using sliding doors where possible i.e. if there’s enough wall space next to the doorway.
Compared to hinge doors, sliding doors save more floor space than people realize as they sit flush to the wall when open.
You should also be open to the idea of using pocket doors, which are doors that slide into a cavity that has been built into the wall, so essentially the door disappears when they’re open.
Keep It Organized
Keeping a small space organized and clean is one of the simplest ways to make it feel more open and spacious.
Unfortunately, nobody is perfect and I will be the first to admit my laziness occasionally gets the better of me and I end up falling behind my household chores as well as refraining from throwing things out that really need to be gone!
But the truth of the matter is that messy, cluttered spaces make the issue of limited space a whole lot worse. Unnecessary clutter lying around can really close up a space and make it feel smaller.
This doesn’t mean you have to take minimalism to the extreme – just be a little more intentional about what you own and where you choose to store it.
Maybe have specific cupboards and shelves where you will store certain things so you aren’t tempted to leave clutter lying around the place.
It’s also a good idea to schedule a periodic deep clean where you’ll throw out or donate items that you no longer need. For items you’re unsure about, put them in a transition box, and if you haven’t used them for a full month later then consider re-homing them.
Having too much decor or knickknacks lying around is a classic mistake in the fight against limited space.
We can all attest to how easy is it to become overly attached to the items we acquire throughout our lives. If a garage sale is off the table then definitely consider rotating your favorite pieces so that everything isn’t on display at the same time.