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10 Brilliant Ways to Make Small Spaces Appear Larger
Author: Julia Fairley Date Posted:10 October 2017
10 Brilliant Ways to Make Small Spaces Appear Larger
These optical tricks and space-saving solutions can help double the perceived proportions of even the smallest room
With the rise of compact apartment living, and the size of many homes shrinking dramatically, space now comes at a premium – particularly in our cities. But armed with these 10 visual tricks and design ideas, you’ll be able to style small spaces to make them appear larger than they really are. Here’s how.
1. Large windows, sheer coverings
Large windows are one of the most effective ways of creating the illusion of space. Why? Because instead of restricting your gaze to a room’s parameters, windows encourage your eye to travel beyond them. When you can visually take in extra space, it tricks the brain into including that space in the room’s footprint too.
Not every window frames a favourable vista, however, and some are simply not large enough to make a room feel spacious. This is where light, sheer window coverings can bring an added dimension to cosy quarters.
Compare the white and purple sections of these curtains and you’ll immediately see the difference. The darker, more opaque purple drapes emphasise the limits of this small space; while the white, translucent sheers embody an airy ambience. Ceiling mounting the curtains and letting them fall the full length to the floor serves to heighten the room.
Large windows are one of the most effective ways of creating the illusion of space. Why? Because instead of restricting your gaze to a room’s parameters, windows encourage your eye to travel beyond them. When you can visually take in extra space, it tricks the brain into including that space in the room’s footprint too.
Not every window frames a favourable vista, however, and some are simply not large enough to make a room feel spacious. This is where light, sheer window coverings can bring an added dimension to cosy quarters.
Compare the white and purple sections of these curtains and you’ll immediately see the difference. The darker, more opaque purple drapes emphasise the limits of this small space; while the white, translucent sheers embody an airy ambience. Ceiling mounting the curtains and letting them fall the full length to the floor serves to heighten the room.
2. Do a disappearing act
Transparent and translucent furniture works wonders if you want to optically free up extra space. We’re probably all familiar with Philippe Stark‘s polycarbonate Ghost Chairs designed for Kartell. These pieces, and others like them, instantly declutter a space by virtue of being almost invisible. If translucent furniture is not your cup of tea, try choosing streamlined or more petite pieces, and furniture with slim or tapered legs instead of bulkier items.
Tip: Notice the mirrored splashback in this Sydney kitchen? It increases the perceived dimensions of the room and prevents the combined cooking and dining areas from feeling cramped.
Transparent and translucent furniture works wonders if you want to optically free up extra space. We’re probably all familiar with Philippe Stark‘s polycarbonate Ghost Chairs designed for Kartell. These pieces, and others like them, instantly declutter a space by virtue of being almost invisible. If translucent furniture is not your cup of tea, try choosing streamlined or more petite pieces, and furniture with slim or tapered legs instead of bulkier items.
Tip: Notice the mirrored splashback in this Sydney kitchen? It increases the perceived dimensions of the room and prevents the combined cooking and dining areas from feeling cramped.
3. Mirror, mirror, on the wall
When cleverly positioned, a mirror can visually double a room’s proportions – or more, if it reflects a window. Take the bright bedroom in this South Melbourne family home: regardless of whether you would describe it as cosy or commodious, the oversized mirror mounted above the mantlepiece doubles the perceived depth of the room.
When using mirrors to visually enlarge your space, bigger is always better. Consider what it will reflect – you don’t want it showing off that pile of dirty laundry – and aim to mount it at eye level, flush against the wall instead of tilted on an angle.
Tip: Mirrored side tables, chests of drawers and furniture can help open up a small space too.
Browse mirrored furniture
When cleverly positioned, a mirror can visually double a room’s proportions – or more, if it reflects a window. Take the bright bedroom in this South Melbourne family home: regardless of whether you would describe it as cosy or commodious, the oversized mirror mounted above the mantlepiece doubles the perceived depth of the room.
When using mirrors to visually enlarge your space, bigger is always better. Consider what it will reflect – you don’t want it showing off that pile of dirty laundry – and aim to mount it at eye level, flush against the wall instead of tilted on an angle.
Tip: Mirrored side tables, chests of drawers and furniture can help open up a small space too.
Browse mirrored furniture
4. White it out
While dark colours visually ‘shrink’ a space, absorb light and can make it feel enclosed, light hues optically enlarge rooms, reflect light and infuse them with an atmosphere of openness. Dark colours still have an important place, but not en masse if you’re trying to make your interior look bigger.
White has recently received a bad rap for being unimaginative and overused. But white interiors need not be boring, which this bathroom with floor-to-ceiling Bookshelf wallpaper proves. By using a wall-hung toilet instead of a floor-mounted model, the designer also freed up extra floor space and, in cramped quarters, every bit counts.
Tip: Over the all-white interiors trend? Colour still has its place in small spaces – bright pops of colour can liven up a room without making it feel enclosed.
While dark colours visually ‘shrink’ a space, absorb light and can make it feel enclosed, light hues optically enlarge rooms, reflect light and infuse them with an atmosphere of openness. Dark colours still have an important place, but not en masse if you’re trying to make your interior look bigger.
White has recently received a bad rap for being unimaginative and overused. But white interiors need not be boring, which this bathroom with floor-to-ceiling Bookshelf wallpaper proves. By using a wall-hung toilet instead of a floor-mounted model, the designer also freed up extra floor space and, in cramped quarters, every bit counts.
Tip: Over the all-white interiors trend? Colour still has its place in small spaces – bright pops of colour can liven up a room without making it feel enclosed.
5. Choose circular tables
To seat up to six people, round tables usually take up less room than rectangular ones. Because they don’t have corners they also help to increase the flow in a room, which is particularly important in small spaces.
If you enjoy entertaining a bigger crowd but are limited by compact quarters, an extendable dining table is probably your best option as you can collapse it when you’re home alone and elongate it when company calls.
If more than six souls regularly congregate at your home for a feed, a larger rectangular dining table, or even an oval-shaped one, usually takes up less space than a vast round table. It’s also easier to squeeze in an extra chair or two around tables that rest on pedestal bases rather than legs.
How to Choose the Right Dining Table
To seat up to six people, round tables usually take up less room than rectangular ones. Because they don’t have corners they also help to increase the flow in a room, which is particularly important in small spaces.
If you enjoy entertaining a bigger crowd but are limited by compact quarters, an extendable dining table is probably your best option as you can collapse it when you’re home alone and elongate it when company calls.
If more than six souls regularly congregate at your home for a feed, a larger rectangular dining table, or even an oval-shaped one, usually takes up less space than a vast round table. It’s also easier to squeeze in an extra chair or two around tables that rest on pedestal bases rather than legs.
How to Choose the Right Dining Table
6. Double-duty furniture
Every millimetre counts in tight spaces, so it makes sense to invest in one piece of furniture with a dual use instead of cluttering a room with two items. See this timber coffee table? It serves as a practical resting spot for mugs and food as well as a storage place for magazines, meaning the modest-sized living space doesn’t need to be crowded with book shelves.
The chunky knitted floor pillows also provide extra seating when needed, and can be moved to the home’s sleeping quarters to jazz up the bed when not in use.
Tip: Try applying the double-duty rule to all rooms if you’re tight on space, especially the kitchen and its many appliances.
Every millimetre counts in tight spaces, so it makes sense to invest in one piece of furniture with a dual use instead of cluttering a room with two items. See this timber coffee table? It serves as a practical resting spot for mugs and food as well as a storage place for magazines, meaning the modest-sized living space doesn’t need to be crowded with book shelves.
The chunky knitted floor pillows also provide extra seating when needed, and can be moved to the home’s sleeping quarters to jazz up the bed when not in use.
Tip: Try applying the double-duty rule to all rooms if you’re tight on space, especially the kitchen and its many appliances.
7. Replace a couch with armchairs
Very little beats flopping onto the couch after a long day, though if you have more than one sofa and barely enough room to walk around it you might consider swapping your second perch for a pair of armchairs instead.
Two armchairs generally take up less space than a two-seater sofa and can be more easily angled to suit the proportions of a room. The upholstered wingback chairs in this Melbourne living room are voluminous and welcoming, yet take up less room than a sofa would. Your gaze can also penetrate the space between the chairs, which would otherwise be blocked by a couch, and what the eye sees (in this case free space), the brain believes.
Tip: Try inching your furniture away from the walls – the small amount of space in between is suggestive of roominess.
Very little beats flopping onto the couch after a long day, though if you have more than one sofa and barely enough room to walk around it you might consider swapping your second perch for a pair of armchairs instead.
Two armchairs generally take up less space than a two-seater sofa and can be more easily angled to suit the proportions of a room. The upholstered wingback chairs in this Melbourne living room are voluminous and welcoming, yet take up less room than a sofa would. Your gaze can also penetrate the space between the chairs, which would otherwise be blocked by a couch, and what the eye sees (in this case free space), the brain believes.
Tip: Try inching your furniture away from the walls – the small amount of space in between is suggestive of roominess.
8. Keep a low profile
Low-lying pieces of furniture can also help a room feel more spacious. This loft-style living room fills a modest square metreage, but the double-height ceilings bequeath it with a feeling of vastness. The low shelf, coffee table and window sills play up the room’s verticality instead of emphasising its smaller horizontal footprint.
Creative Ways to Include an Extra Room
Low-lying pieces of furniture can also help a room feel more spacious. This loft-style living room fills a modest square metreage, but the double-height ceilings bequeath it with a feeling of vastness. The low shelf, coffee table and window sills play up the room’s verticality instead of emphasising its smaller horizontal footprint.
Creative Ways to Include an Extra Room
9. Downsize your rug
The first rule when it comes to the size of rug you need is obvious – match its dimensions to your room. Ideally, there should be space between your sofa and your rug in a small living room, and if you have any chairs or other furniture positioned around the rug’s perimeter, try to move them off the edge of your rug or consider using a smaller floor covering. It’s amazing how such a subtle change can make a big difference when it comes to making a room look larger than it really is.
The first rule when it comes to the size of rug you need is obvious – match its dimensions to your room. Ideally, there should be space between your sofa and your rug in a small living room, and if you have any chairs or other furniture positioned around the rug’s perimeter, try to move them off the edge of your rug or consider using a smaller floor covering. It’s amazing how such a subtle change can make a big difference when it comes to making a room look larger than it really is.
10. Declutter
Less is definitely more when it comes to creating the illusion of a bigger home – this means it’s time to get ruthless with those items you rarely use that crowd your precious space. The key to decluttering is to determine which items you want to keep, which you want to donate or throw out and which you are undecided about.
If you haven’t used an object in a year and it lacks sentimental value, you can probably live without it. Next, try to find a home for everything so knick-knacks aren’t cluttering your home. Clear surfaces are easier to clean and, when you stand back and behold all that extra room, you’ll thank yourself.
Less is definitely more when it comes to creating the illusion of a bigger home – this means it’s time to get ruthless with those items you rarely use that crowd your precious space. The key to decluttering is to determine which items you want to keep, which you want to donate or throw out and which you are undecided about.
If you haven’t used an object in a year and it lacks sentimental value, you can probably live without it. Next, try to find a home for everything so knick-knacks aren’t cluttering your home. Clear surfaces are easier to clean and, when you stand back and behold all that extra room, you’ll thank yourself.
