Smart ways to make a room look bigger

It's human nature to want more - more success for loved ones, more peace for ourselves, more hours in a day, more cheese on our pizzas and more space in our homes. While it might be hard to always get those extra minutes (or mozzarella bits), here are some quick tips to make your living space look larger than it is.

Elongate Your Windows
Install ceiling-to-floor curtains to instantly add height to any room. You can also make sure they're the same colour as your walls. Sticking to this one colour will make your space look bigger. Another trick is to opt for sheer drapes.

Use Mirrors on Dark Walls
Hanging mirrors on walls and spaces that are darker than the rest of the room allows you to bounce light from windows and create the illusion of more square footage. You can also use mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel larger.

Cut the Clutter
This is a given but if you already have a constrained space, avoid adding too many furniture pieces, colours, textures and materials all at once. For instance, don't crowd the wall with many smaller frames; opt instead for one large focal print or photo. Similarly, keep one piece of furniture as a feature that will draw the eye and keep the décor in the rest of the room to a minimum and limit the number of accessories. Use multipurpose furniture to keep the room organised and tidy.

Simpler Colours Equal Larger Spaces
You don't always have to choose light, neutral colours to add space in your room - one can choose a bright or deep tone for an accent wall that provides depth in a smaller room. But don't mix too many shades and keep the prints to a minimal - unified colours will visually expand a small room.

Negative Space Will Feel Positive
Every exposed wall or shelf doesn't need to be utilised for storage or housing accessories. Leaving some empty space will give your small room an airy look by resting the eye and mind.

Create Sections with Colours
Consider a striped floor rug, which will make your room appear like it goes on forever. Or paint the top one-third of your walls with another colour to add the illusion of taller ceilings and wall height. If you have one focal space or corner in the room, try and colour-coordinate your accessories and upholstery, which will make your space look more streamlined.
Finally, if you are looking to purchase new furniture, make sure you measure your room's dimensions before you set your heart on a bed that might be too big for your bedroom. Also, as a rule, aim to buy furniture with exposed legs to not lend a 'boxy' look to the space.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com