There's something universally appealing about spaciousness. Even the most avid huggers among us will still appreciate a bit of personal space. And while not all of us need to live in a mansion to feel content, you'd probably have a hard time finding someone that wouldn't want their room to feel more spacious. A spacious room is calming, well-balanced, and achievable for all. Here's how you do it.
Declutter.
The more stuff there is in a room, the smaller it appears. If you simply can't get rid of certain things, find creative storage solutions that can be hidden. Maximize (or increase) your use of drawers and go vertical with shelves rather than stockpiling more stuff on the floor.
Be minimal.
Your first instinct might be to opt for small furniture, but a better solution is to just be minimal with the amount of furniture you have in the first place. A room with only a few big pieces of furniture will look bigger than a room filled with small pieces of furniture.
Be functional.
Look for furniture that can be used in multiple ways or change its shape. For example, a bed frame with drawers or a table that can be extended.
Stick with light colors or even transparency.
Go for a light and bright color scheme, or no colors at all (aka glass or lucite furniture). It will create the illusion of openness.
Use optical illusions.
Create length and height by using tall items like floor to ceiling bookshelves and curtains. Make sure your curtains are light in color and fabric. This creates a long vertical line, which will make your ceiling appear higher. Mirrors are also great tools, as the reflection will make the room appear bigger.
Leave some empty space.
Storage can be an issue in a smaller space, but try to leave some room for, well, nothing. A few gaps on your bookshelf and on your tables will do wonders.
Match your furniture to your walls.
When items are the same color, they tend to blend into each other, again giving the illusion of more space.
Use large pieces of art.
Rather than hanging up several small pictures, make a statement with one large art piece. It will give your room a modern, gallery-like feel. It's ok to leave your other walls blank. With the right items and decor, you can make the smallest of spaces feel open and free.
