No one wants to live in a room that feels too crowded or cramped. We want to feel like we have enough room to move around and relax comfortably without feeling claustrophobic. Unfortunately, we can’t always control the size of the room we have to work with. Many of us have smaller apartments or homes that come with tiny rooms. If you decorate a smaller room the same way you would a larger room, you’ll end up feeling closed in. However, there are a few simple things you can do to make any room feel a little bigger, even while staying within a budget.
1. Lower and Smaller Furniture
To start, you should think about the type of furniture you have in your room. The bigger the furniture you have, the more space it will take up in your room. To make the room feel bigger, you should look for smaller furniture options. For example, rather than getting a big, fluffy couch you can go with something that’s a bit sleeker and more minimal.
Another thing you can do with your furniture is find pieces that serve multiple functions. For instance, you can get a desk that also has shelves built-in, so you don’t need a separate bookshelf. Or you can get a coffee table that opens up so you don’t need a separate chest for your blankets and pillows. If you can find a way to combine two furniture pieces into one, you’ll save a lot of space.
Finally, get furniture that is lower to the ground. With lower furniture you’ll have more space between the top of the furniture and your ceilings, giving you more space. Keep this mind when you’re buying things like couches, bookcases, chairs and tables. Go as low as you can without making anything uncomfortable.
2. Window Coverings
Your windows play a large role in determining how big a room feels. Letting more light into your room with make it feel bigger, so don’t get any windows coverings that block out too much light. However, you likely still want some privacy, so you’ll want some kind of window covering. Instead of drapes made from a heavy fabric, go with something like Hunter Douglas vertical blinds made from a light fabric. The vertical blinds will draw your eye upwards, making the room feel taller. You can also hang the blinds closer to your ceiling to give the illusion of even more height.
3. Add in Mirrors
Sometimes to make a room feel bigger you need to trick the eyes a little. One way to do this is by adding in more mirrors. Mirrors make the room feel bigger without changing much at all. Some people prefer to just hang up mirrors on their walls, while others make the entire wall one big mirror. The choice is up to you and the style you’re going for. Here are some additional tips you can use for adding mirrors to your décor.
4. Ditch the Rugs
Floor rugs can make a room more comfortable, but it can also make the room feel more cramped. If you’re going to add a rug to your room, try to keep it small. Rugs that take up a lot of space just add to the feeling of clutter within the room, no matter how nice the rug is. A simple floor rug underneath your coffee table will likely do the trick to make the room feel more comfortable and bigger at the same time.
5. Choose Different Paint Colors
Finally, you should consider the color of your walls. Different colors will make the room feel smaller or larger, so you may want to change up the color. If your room is feeling too crowded, opt for a lighter color or even go full white if you can. This will reflect more light and make a room seem more spacious. You can also play with the design a bit and use two different colors. For instance, if you paint the bottom third of your room a dark color, and the top two-thirds a lighter color, this will draw the eyes up and make the room seem taller.
Don’t Settle for a Cramped Space
We all deserve to live in a room that feels spacious. And while you may not be able to knock down walls or raise up the ceilings, there are still a few tricks you can use to trick your eyes and make the room feel bigger. Play around with some of the ideas above and you should find that your room becomes just a little more comfortable to live in.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
