The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Creating the illusion of space in a smaller room
Many people live in compact homes and would love a bit more space. If moving or extending aren’t an option, could you make your home look and feel bigger?
“There are a multitude of clever tricks to create the illusion of space in a smaller room, and they don’t have to break the bank,” says Sarah Lloyd, interiors and paint expert for Valspar.
Here, Lloyd and fellow interior designers outline cheap and easy ways to make rooms look bigger…
USE LIGHT COLOURS
“Lighter shades of paint will help reflect light around your home and make it feel larger,” says Ryan McDonough, interior designer at myjobquote. co.uk
“Whites, creams, and pale greys work well for this. Sticking to just one shade in each room will also help to enhance the space.”
Darker paint can highlight outlines and shadows, drawing the eye into the corners of a room and giving the impression of a smaller space, explains Lloyd.
INCLUDE POPS OF COLOUR
You don’t necessarily have to shy away from colour altogether, however.
“Pops of colour against a lighter, neutral base can create a more aesthetically pleasing room, without making the space look overcrowded,” says Chris Dance, director and head of design at InHouse Inspired Room Design.
GO FOR FEATURE STRIPES
Painting stripes on a feature wall is an interesting way to change the perception of a space, says Lloyd. “Vertical stripes in soft colours make ceilings look higher, and horizontal stripes make rooms appear wider, so they’re great for compact spaces.”
SCALE BACK FURNITURE
ON
Nothing makes a room seem smaller than having all your furniture against the walls, Lloyd warns.
“Leaving space either side of sofas and cabinets creates a lovely sense of roominess,” she advises.
And if you’re buying new furniture, go for slimmer, less chunky designs.
FIX THE TV TO THE WALL
Lloyd suggests: “Installing a television on the wall looks modern and prevents taking up any precious floor space.”
SAME FLOORING THROUGHOUT
McDonough says you can create flow by using the same flooring throughout your home.
“This will make a big difference in how large your home feels,” he promises. “Laying flooring boards is a great idea, and adding rugs can help create a cosier feel.”
USE MIRRORS
McDonough says mirrors help reflect sunlight around the room.
“A couple of large leaning mirrors against a wall can make a big difference in how big the room seems,” he explains.
Dance suggests hanging a large feature mirror above a fireplace, or on a wall that’s perpendicular to a light source.
CLEAR CLUTTER
A small kitchen, for example, will benefit from clear countertops and surfaces.
Dance suggests: “Add a few carefully chosen ornaments or pieces of artwork to draw the eye towards clear surfaces.
“Adding more décor may seem counter-intuitive, but it works because the space won’t be too overloaded with visual stimuli if everything else is neatly tidied away.”