10 tips for making a small room feel larger
By Ellinor Ellefson
Interior Designer, Allied Member ASID, Elle Interiors LLC
As huge McMansion’s are becoming less popular and people are downsizing, new decorating challenges arise. Living on a smaller footprint is both better for the Earth and, maybe better for family togetherness as well. But even though more and more people choose to live in smaller houses, we don’t want our homes to feel cramped and tight. Here are my 10 top tips for how to make a small space feel larger:
1. Link adjacent spaces with the same color and flooring. If you change flooring material, it is usually good to stay within the same color family. Same with colors, stay within the same color family if you want to have different colors, NEVER do accent walls in bright colors in a smaller space. Use lighter colors for the walls.
2. Let as much natural light as possible into a room, this opens up the space and makes it feel larger.
3. Let window treatments be simple, and hang them at least 6-10” above the window. This will make the room feel taller.
4. Unclutter. Get rid of things you don’t use. Don’t get attached to things; if something doesn’t add to the look of the room, get rid of it.
5. Add mirrors. This will open up the space and add some sparkle and additional light.
6. Consider upholstery pieces on legs, sofa, chairs, etc. This will visually create a sense of light and space.
7. Avoid large busy prints; strive for smaller prints or solids.
8. If you have large windows, make sure that you can see the outside. Open up the blinds, and bring the outside colors inside.
9. Use multifunction furniture, such as ottomans that can store the daily clutter, be a coffee table, as well as a footrest, all at the same time.
10. Leave empty space, even in a small room. Don’t fill up every corner of the room, or every shelf in a book case.
By Ellinor Ellefson
Interior Designer, Allied Member ASID, Elle Interiors LLC
As huge McMansion’s are becoming less popular and people are downsizing, new decorating challenges arise. Living on a smaller footprint is both better for the Earth and, maybe better for family togetherness as well. But even though more and more people choose to live in smaller houses, we don’t want our homes to feel cramped and tight. Here are my 10 top tips for how to make a small space feel larger:
1. Link adjacent spaces with the same color and flooring. If you change flooring material, it is usually good to stay within the same color family. Same with colors, stay within the same color family if you want to have different colors, NEVER do accent walls in bright colors in a smaller space. Use lighter colors for the walls.
2. Let as much natural light as possible into a room, this opens up the space and makes it feel larger.
3. Let window treatments be simple, and hang them at least 6-10” above the window. This will make the room feel taller.
4. Unclutter. Get rid of things you don’t use. Don’t get attached to things; if something doesn’t add to the look of the room, get rid of it.
5. Add mirrors. This will open up the space and add some sparkle and additional light.
6. Consider upholstery pieces on legs, sofa, chairs, etc. This will visually create a sense of light and space.
7. Avoid large busy prints; strive for smaller prints or solids.
8. If you have large windows, make sure that you can see the outside. Open up the blinds, and bring the outside colors inside.
9. Use multifunction furniture, such as ottomans that can store the daily clutter, be a coffee table, as well as a footrest, all at the same time.
10. Leave empty space, even in a small room. Don’t fill up every corner of the room, or every shelf in a book case.
