Making Small Rooms Look Larger

Folks you may have noticed that it’s been very quiet around here of late.  Things have just been extremely hectic in both my professional and personal life and I’ve had little or no time to update this blog.  Thankfully the wonderful internet is helping me out and Jane Blanchard of Modernize.com has kindly offered to help fill the void with a wonderful guest post on ways to make a small room look larger.  I hope you enjoy and I promise you I will be back blogging with full steam in the very near future!

Like Harry Potter, many homeowners feel like they live in a cramped cupboard under the stairs. Thankfully, there are oodles of ways to make a small room look bigger – and they don’t involve magic. With a little paint and sweat equity, any small space can be rescued.

Go Forth, and Clutter No More

According to the National Soap and Detergent Association – yes, such an association actually exists – getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in the ordinary home. Homeowners have more no-longer-used or impulse buy leftovers than they know what to do with. Donating furniture or re-gifting Precious Moments knickknacks is the easiest, healthiest way to free up space.

Think for Every Corner

SOURCE: Zillow Digs

In a small space, what hangs on the wall is more important than what rests on the floor. As grandmother said, “Every room has eight corners.” A dramatic painting or pot n’ pan rack can add height and drama to a small footprint. Install a floor-to-ceiling bookcase, or, as a cheaper alternative, hang floating shelves in bathrooms, bedrooms and home offices.

Let There Be Light!

SOURCE: Zillow Digs

Placing an interior window at the end of a hallway, cutting in a skylight in a family room, or installing recessed lighting in a small kitchen can work wonders. When possible, use natural lighting or dispersed lamp lighting. When hanging window drapes, hang them from the ceiling rather than the top of the window to add height.

Purchase Multifunctional Furniture

Forget the La-Z Boy recliners! Small homes demand multifunctional furniture. Choose corner desks with hutches, translucent Lucite tables, and loveseat sofas with exposed legs. Invest in folding accent tables and under-stair cabinetry storage. Interior designer Christine Brun recommends, “Go big or don’t bother!” – her verbatim instructions on choosing an oversize wall mirror.

Go Light and Shiny

SOURCE: Zillow Digs

Dark colors shrink a room; light colors expand it. Paint using whites, pastels and cool colors. Limit warm and dark hues to visual focal points, like a picture frame or nightstand. Paint small rooms using a monochromatic color scheme, and choose a satin or semi-gloss sheen rather than matte or eggshell.

Arrange Micro Spaces

One room is not necessarily one space. Built-in window seats, alcoves and bump outs delineate micro spaces, cozy areas to read a book or strum the guitar. If an alcove addition is outside the budget, use rugs and angled furniture to delineate micro spaces.

Create an Optical Illusion

SOURCE: Zillow Digs

“Stripes are a nice, graphic design element that can bring movement and pattern to a room,” says interior designer Angela Free. Most homeowners use stripes when tiling a bathroom backsplash, but don’t stop there! Striped wood paneling or striped bamboo floors add visual energy and elegance as well as the illusion of space.

For more home inspiration and other tips and tricks, please visit Modernize.com.