Recently, interior design has been trending towards smaller spaces. Fortunately, there are tricks you can use to make your small space look and feel bigger, while avoiding renovation regrets. By using a monochromatic palette, including the trim in your paint job, and making the most of furniture with built-in storage, you can give even the smallest space a lot more breathing room.
If you live in a small space, you know that it can be a challenge to make it feel big and airy. But with a few simple remodeling and decorating ideas, you can easily transform those cramped quarters into a comfortable, inviting home.
At Home Pros is a great platform to support you in all of your remodeling efforts. Our experts can help you find the licensed, insured remodeling professionals in your area, for the job that’s smooth and hassle-free. In the meantime, here are a few of our top remodeling ideas to make your small space feel bigger:
1. Use light colors and bright lighting
Light colors and bright lighting can help to make a small space feel larger and more open. Choose light-colored walls, ceilings and floors, and if you can, bring in as much natural light as possible by installing large windows or skylights. You can also add artificial light by using light fixtures with multiple bulbs or by installing track lighting.
One thing to avoid is sticking with one light source, like an overhead light. Balance your lighting by spreading out your lamps across the space, illuminating the small spaces and corners and making your limited space seem like more.
2. Opt for a monochromatic palette
Painting everything, even your ceilings, the same color is a great way to make a tiny space look larger and more inviting. Combined with light colors and bright lighting, using one color for all of your surfaces stretches the area and tricks the eye.
Some designers steer away from dark colors, but some brave types maintain that painting small rooms all one dark color makes an envelope of color and creates the illusion of the vastness of space.
3. Add mirrors
Mirrors can reflect light and make a space feel larger. Any type of reflective surface will bounce light back and give the illusion of more space.
Hang mirrors on walls, doors, or even furniture to give yourself feet of space in every direction. If you can’t find a floor-length mirror, try a series of mirrors you already have hung together for a similarly expansive effect without the hassle of finding a new mirror.
4. Include the trim
If you’re not painting everything but opting for the more traditional white ceiling look, then you should make sure to include the trim when you’re painting the walls. This gives an illusion of sky-high ceilings, making your smaller spaces look significantly larger.
5. Add plants
Plants can add life and color to a small space. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can find a plant to match your temperament. The different textures of plants, their inviting aromas and blooms, as well as their therapeutic benefits, make them a welcome addition.
If you’re working within a small space, balance the size of the plants with your area, and opt for vertical options, like hanging or draped plants. You also need to consider your light requirements, so choose plants that are easy to care for and that don’t require a lot of sunlight.
6. Hang artwork
Artwork can add personality and interest to a small space, but you have to make sure that it is an even balance between the surface area of artwork and the surface area of wall space. Try to keep it as even as possible by choosing artwork that is small in size and that doesn’t take up too much visual space.
That said, every rule — fashion, interior design, or otherwise — is meant to be broken. Oversized art in only one or two hues can expand space magically. Too many colors can create visual clutter, so if you do go for larger artwork, pick some with simple palettes.
7. Use statement furniture and great rugs
When choosing furniture for a small space, it’s important to choose a few key pieces that are both functional and stylish. Furniture that is multi-functional is ideal, so look for pieces like sofa beds, beds with extra drawers underneath, or storage in an entryway bench where you and your family can stash shoes.
Rugs define spaces and can make a small space feel more cozy. Select rugs for your small rooms that are the right size for your space and that complement your overall décor. You don’t have to shy away from bright colors or interesting patterns, but if you’re working in a confined space, choose one or the other, but not both.
8. Take advantage of storage
Ottomans with a hidden place to put blankets or pillows, built-in bookcases, and other hidden storage areas are your best friends when it comes to making a small space look roomy. Take advantage of any and all built-in storage options that your living space affords you. Vertical storage is also a fantastic idea when it comes to increasing the visual impact of small spaces.
Clutter can make a small space feel even smaller. Get rid of any unnecessary furniture or belongings, and organize the things you do have.
Use storage solutions like shelves, cabinets and drawers to keep everything neat and tidy. Open shelving can help to keep a small space feeling light and airy. Choose shelves that are made of glass or a light-colored wood, and avoid using too much clutter on them.
9. Add a pop of color
Carefully placed color can add interest and personality to a small space. Choose a color that you love and add it to your space through pillows, artwork, or even a vase of flowers. You can also choose specific areas, like the backs of built-in bookcases, backsplashes in your kitchen, or a statement wall, to make a great contrast with the rest of your room — and it requires minimal DIY work.
Like reflective surfaces, you don’t need a lot of bright hues to create visual interest. Especially if you use color consistency, you can use one tone as a through-line, and accent your small spaces with hues of this tone.
10. Use furniture with exposed legs
If you have a lot of tablecloths, dust ruffles, or other fussy pieces, you may want to include them in your bigger spaces, as using them in a small space will only clutter the visual planes to make it seem smaller. Furniture with exposed legs won’t break the gaze but lets you see through them, so it seems as if there is more space, even if there isn’t.
Above all, make it yours!
The most important thing is to personalize your space and make it feel like your own. There are plenty of remodeling resources to help build a list of ideas, but ultimately it’s essential to make sure the list is made up of things that you love and that make you happy. A friend’s artwork, a brightly colored wall, or a sofa in your favorite color (with exposed legs) can make a small place suddenly seem bigger and more like yours.
With a few simple changes, you can easily transform your small space into one that feels more open. If you’d like to make some more substantial changes and need an expert in your area, contact At Home Pros. We can help make the journey from fledgling idea to completed project as simple and as successful as possible.
These are just a few of the remodeling ideas that you can use to make your small space feel bigger. With a little creativity and effort, you can easily take a cramped space and make it both functional and stylish.