How to make your home feel bigger
If Australia’s obsession with gorgeous open-plan homes and white washed walls in tiny apartments is anything to go by, space (or the idea of space) sells. Having too much space at home is rarely cause for complaint, and many people actively try to think of ways to make their home feel bigger or more spacious. Short of knocking down walls or tacking on an extension, there’s nothing you can do to make your home physically larger. However, there are plenty of ways you can make your home feel bigger with some visual tricks.
Fill your home with light
The quickest and easiest way to make your home feel larger is by simply filling it with white or light colours. A warm white the bounces light around a room will make the space feel larger, while dark walls will absorb light and make your room feel smaller. Light, muted greens, yellows, beiges, blues and lilac can all have a similar effect in a room. If you really want the space to appear visually bigger, choose flooring in a blonde timber or light colour, too.
Pack away unnecessary mess and clutter
One of the quickest ways to make your home feel small and messy is by leaving clutter laying around the house. Invest in some good storage options, or choose furniture with concealed storage, such as beds with underneath drawers. Packing away toys, excess homewares and accessories, and keeping your tables and benchtop clean and tidy will immediately create a feeling of space.
Use rugs to visually extend a zone
Using a rug that is too small in a too-small room only makes the overall picture feel cramped. If you have a small living area that could use some definition or space, pick the largest rug that will work in the room and use it to zone out a space. The rug will visually extend the zone you’ve created.
Create a functional floorplan
While nice to have, not everyone has room for a large, central coffee table in their living room. If this is you, consider using smaller side tables to either side of the sofa, they’re just as functional, and you’ll have more space to move around. Similarly, if you have other rooms in your home that feel small or cramped, re-evaluate if you truly need every item of furniture packed in there. Should you decide it’s time to let go of some of your pieces, list them on gumtree and make a little extra cash on the side!
Decorative with scale in mind
It sounds counterintuitive but using small decorative items and laps in a small space makes the room feel even smaller! Instead, choose decorative items than are roughly bigger than a rock melon in size, and arrange them in groups of uneven numbers. It’s all about experimenting with size and scale. Just because a room is small doesn’t mean everything it it has to be small, especially not rugs, art, decorative items or lamps.
Create space in your bathroom
If you’ve got a tiny bathroom, one way to make the space appear less cramped is by using a clear shower curtain, or clear glass shower stall.
Use mirrors
A few well-placed mirrors can make all the difference in a small room. Put them in places where they will reflect a pretty view, such as opposite windows or a garden.
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