Windsor Star

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Make your room feel bigger with these four tips

- CHRIS ARNOLD

Indoor optical illusions can alter the outlook on your home, making it seem as if you’re getting more square footage out of the same room you’ve been sitting in for years.

Implementi­ng these tricks during a remodel can completely change the way you look at and feel about the room you’ve upgraded. Home decor website freshome. com found four ways to finish a room that will give you a new perspectiv­e, all of which can be tested before you use a sledgehamm­er to open up the living room.

The easiest additions you can make that’ll cause the room to appear bigger are mirrors. These can make a room look larger just by reflecting whatever’s on the other side. Hanging a mirror on the wall farthest from the door will reflect the entire space right as people walk in, giving the illusion that the room could be twice as large.

Similarly, a tall mirror can make the ceiling look higher than it is. Just don’t trick yourself into trying to fit a three-metre Christmas tree under two-metre ceilings when the time comes.

For those with lower ceilings, proper light placement can give the illusion of more headspace. While our eyes are drawn to light, most lamps, overheads and wall lights either point up or down. Angling light towards the roof will keep you looking that way longer, giving the perception the ceiling is completely out of reach.

You’ve probably heard that black is slimming when it comes to fashion, well the same is true in home decor. Darker colours can make us feel as if the room is snugger than it actually is.

If you’ve got a room in the house that just feels a bit too spread out, painting it with a dark blue or grey could be the solution. Conversely, brighter colours make the room feel as if it’s bigger. Small bedrooms and bathrooms can really benefit from a splash of white.

Finally, don’t overcrowd the room when hauling in furniture. Having a couch that comfortabl­y fits five in a living room meant for two can make it feel as if you’ve been packed into a sardine can. If available, go for pieces that have exposed legs as they can make it feel as if the floor isn’t quite as covered and give the perception of added usable square footage.

 ?? PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOT­O ?? Dark colours make rooms feel smaller and more cosy, whereas light colours make rooms feel more spacious.
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOT­O Dark colours make rooms feel smaller and more cosy, whereas light colours make rooms feel more spacious.

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