Decorating a Small Space to Make it Look Larger

If you have a small room -- or even several small rooms -- you can’t wave a magic wand and make them look larger.  But there are some decorating tricks and techniques you can employ to give them the illusion of being larger.  Let’s look at some of the ways you can make “small” actually appear larger than it really is.

Some people go a bit too far in their attempts to personalise their décor and include every memento of every vacation in every nook and cranny of the room.  A multitude of pictures of every family member dot the walls and tables within the room.  Every family keepsake dating back several generations is proudly displayed somewhere, anywhere a spot for them can be found.  The result is inevitably clutter.  Clutter can make even a large room look small so its impact in a truly small room is devastating.  Get rid of it.  Distribute it throughout the rest of the house or if you must, create a den space and capture all the clutter therein.

A few large pieces of furniture will make the room seem smaller than many smaller pieces.  In addition, arrange the furniture for unobstructed walkways.  Nothing says “small” more than having to steer around the sofa to get from one room to another.

Do everything you can to light up the room.  For starters, if you have light blocking draperies, replace them with light colored, light-filtering blinds or shades.  Although the look of a solid mirrored wall may not appeal to you, consider a large mirror on one wall of the room.  The reflection goes a long way towards making the room appear larger.

Add floor lamps or table lamps to better illuminate the room.  An even better option, although more expensive, is adding track lighting or recessed can lighting.  Recessed lighting can be a major construction project but track lighting can easily be surface mounted to any ceiling using a central fixture in the middle of the room as a power source.

For a small lounge room or a small dining room, consider a coffee table or a dining table with a glass or plastic lexan top.  The ability to see through the material is another great way to create the illusion of a larger room.  Solid tops block light and the human eye stops dead on at their sight.  Glass and lexan allows both light and human perception to travel beyond the surface.

If you are fond of fabrics, sheers are better than solids and simple light designs like muted stripes or floral vines are better than heavy embroidered tapestry looks.

Finally, there is the ultimate in illusory effect – light paint colors.  If you like bold, dark colors you will just have to make the sacrifice if you truly want to make those small rooms appear larger.  A bright white room – walls, molding, trim, and ceiling – may seem stark, but it will definitely open up the room.  Keep your color in your accessories for the room.  If you simply can’t handle the all white hospital look, ultra light pastel shades will do the job satisfactorily.

Color experts tell us cool colors expand the look of a room more than warm colors, so the best pastels to consider are blues and greens.  So go ahead and make some magic with that small room!