Six ways to make small spaces spacious

Everyone has at least one small space in their house that they find trouble decorating. But with features, such as recessed lighting, a glass table and light colours, you can make your room look bigger.

Make your stuffy living room or bedroom feel spacious and comfy with these easy design tricks, as compiled from lowes.com.



Light colours and clever contrasts: Cream hues and icy blues are a few of the best colour combinations that can create the illusion of a bigger living space. One brightly coloured wall in the room will make the space look open and airy, which helps maximise the effect created by natural light. Keep away from painting all the walks dark, as they will absorb light, making the room look smaller.



Trick the senses: Just like pinstripe pants make your legs seem longer, a striped floor will make a room appear larger. Opt for striped rugs in the lounge or bedroom. See-through furniture also helps creating the effect that a space is bigger than it is. Transparent glass tables will provide greater surface space without cluttering the room visually.



Mirrors can do wonders: Mirrors are an easy way to make a room appear larger. Mirrors reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night. They bounce light deep into the room, making it appear larger. Placing a mirror near a window to reflect the outdoors is also effective. You can also use mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel uncluttered.



Clear out clutter: This is the simplest and cheapest thing you can do to get your room look sprawling. Don’t place too many pieces of furniture in a small space. A couch may work better than a full-size sofa, depending on the size and shape of the room. Add two medium-sized chairs or two small wood chairs. Place the chairs closer to the wall and then pull them into the area when additional seating is needed.



Lower it down: If the furniture in your room is tall, it may make the ceiling seem lower than it actually is. Opt for low tables and ditch your high bed for a low day bed. Make sure there is plenty of space between your furniture as well.



Use art: Use dramatic art pieces to elevate the feel of your room. Use one large painting to adorn a wall instead of a number of small ones to add more visual space. Art pieces that are large and bold will help your space look less crowded and more extensive.

Compiled By: Umnia Shahid

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2014.

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