Ideas to Make a Small Room Look Bigger

Ideas to Make a Small Room Look Bigger

Do dark or light floors make a room look bigger? If you're looking to make a small room look larger, there are several decorating tricks that you can use, especially if you're unable to add more space to your home. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make your home appear larger – there are inexpensive ways to decorate it to give it a more spacious feel. We hope that this Ideas to Make a Small Room Look Bigger post inspires you. 

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How to Make a Room Look Bigger with Paint

Using the right colors of paint can make a small room appear larger. Soft, warm colors create the illusion of a larger space. Neutral colors such as cream, beige, and eggshell also make rooms appear bigger. If you find these colors dull, you can try vertical stripes in coordinating shades of these colors. Adding chocolate-colored pinstripes can give the room more depth. Remember to paint the ceiling a lighter shade of the lightest color used on the walls. By painting the ceiling and adding vertical stripes, the ceiling will appear higher. Choose the best colors to make a room look bigger.

Furniture

When choosing furniture, it's important to consider the color of your walls. Solid colors are recommended instead of large prints or patterns. It's also a good idea to create small groupings of furniture, leaving enough space to move around the room. Avoid bulky, over-stuffed sofas, loveseats, and chairs as they can make the room look smaller. Instead, opt for furniture that is taller than it is wide, as this will make a small room appear larger.

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Wallpaper That Makes a Room Look Bigger

Wallpaper can be a powerful tool for creating the illusion of a larger space, even in the snuggiest of rooms. Opt for pale colors like white, beige, or pastels. These reflect light, making the room feel brighter and more spacious. Avoid dark colors, which can absorb light and make the room feel smaller. Not all patterns are created equal. Subtle, repeating patterns can add interest without overwhelming the space. Large or busy patterns, on the other hand, can shrink the room visually.

Vertical stripes draw the eye upwards, making the room seem taller. Horizontal stripes can make the room appear wider. Certain geometric patterns, like chevrons or diamonds, can add depth and dimension to the walls, pushing them out visually. Nature scenes or expansive vistas can trick the eye into seeing beyond the actual walls, creating a sense of openness. Don't wallpaper the entire room. Instead, choose one wall as an accent, drawing the eye and creating a focal point. This can make the other walls seem to recede, making the room feel larger.

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Accent Walls to Make Room Look Bigger

Consider accent walls to make room look bigger. Accent walls add visual interest and disrupt the monotony of plain walls, diverting attention from the actual size of the room. This break in visual flow can trick the eye into perceiving the space as larger. By drawing attention to the accent wall, you naturally take attention away from other walls, making them seem to recede further into the background. This can give the illusion of more space in the rest of the room.

Choosing a bolder color or pattern for the accent wall can create a sense of depth and dimension on that wall. This pushes the wall visually “outward,” making the room feel slightly larger. Light, cool colors recede, making the accent wall seem further away and the room bigger. Darker colors can also work if used strategically on a single wall, adding contrast and depth. Avoid overwhelming patterns and opt for subtle, repeating designs. Vertical stripes can make the ceiling appear taller, while horizontal stripes can widen the room visually. Choose the wall that will best draw the eye, often the focal point of the room or behind key furniture pieces.

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Curtains to Make Room Look Bigger

Installing curtains that graze the floor draw the eye vertically, making the room seem taller and more expansive. Opt for extra-long curtains hung high above the window frame for an even stronger effect. Hang curtains wider than the actual window frame, ideally extending 6-12 inches on either side. This creates the illusion of larger windows and opens up the wall space, making the room feel airier. Drapery hung inside the window recess visually expands the window opening, leading to a perceived increase in room size. 

Choose curtains in light, neutral colors like white, beige, or light pastels. These reflect light, making the room feel brighter and more spacious. Darker colors can absorb light and shrink the space visually. Lighter fabrics allow natural light to filter through, adding depth and dimension to the room. Heavy, opaque fabrics can make the space feel closed in. Combining curtains with blinds or shades allows you to control light and privacy while maintaining the airy feel of curtains.

Tile Direction to Make Room Look Bigger

Tile is a great choice if you have the money and skill. Laying tiles parallel to the longest wall in the room visually stretches that dimension, making the space feel wider or longer. Imagine laying wood-look planks parallel to the long wall in a rectangular living room; it'll draw the eye lengthwise, creating an illusion of spaciousness. Diagonally laid tiles break up the boxy shape and add a dynamic element, making the room appear less confined. Think of a small bathroom with subway tiles laid diagonally; it'll feel more dynamic and open. 

Using contrasting tile colors in a checkerboard pattern can create a visually interesting surface that distracts the eye from the actual size of the room. This works well in entryways or kitchens for a playful touch. For a more modern or artistic look, laying tiles in a seemingly random pattern can add visual interest and movement, taking the focus away from the room's dimensions. This approach is best for larger spaces where a bit of pattern won't overwhelm the eye. 

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What Color Rug Makes a Room Look Bigger?

If you are looking at carpet to make room look bigger, choosing the right rug color is key! Light colors are your best friend in this mission, as they reflect light and create an illusion of spaciousness. Light shades of beige, cream, ivory, and taupe are absolute winners. They create a clean and airy feel, blending seamlessly with most interiors. Pale blues, greens, and grays add a touch of color while reflecting light effectively. These can be particularly good choices for rooms with warm-toned walls or furniture. Soft shades of pink, yellow, and lavender can add a touch of personality while still maintaining a sense of openness. Just ensure they're light enough not to feel visually bulky.

Choose a rug that's large enough to anchor the furniture and define the seating area, but avoid it completely overtaking the floor space. Subtle textures like woven or flatweave rugs can add visual interest without overwhelming the space. Avoid thick shag rugs, which can visually shrink the room. Position the rug correctly under furniture to create a sense of flow and maximize the feeling of open space. Combine a light-colored rug with other light-colored elements like walls, furniture, and curtains to amplify the spaciousness effect.

Storage

Consider using furniture that also serves as storage to save space. For example, hinged coffee tables can be used to store magazines and remote controls. Hollow ottomans with removable tops are great for storing DVDs, CDs and other items. End tables with drawers can also be used as storage space.

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Do Mirrors Make a Room Look Bigger? 

Mirrors can really add dimension and seemingly space to a room. Mirrors possess a magical ability to make a room feel lighter, brighter, and even bigger than it actually is. Mirrors strategically placed opposite windows reflect natural light, doubling its effect and brightening the entire room. This not only improves the atmosphere but also visually expands the space. Positioning mirrors in dark corners or poorly lit areas reflects light onto those spots, eliminating shadows and making the room feel more open and airy.

Strategic placement of mirrors can create the illusion of another room or garden beyond the wall, visually pushing the boundaries of the actual space. Think wall-to-wall mirrors in a narrow hallway or a large mirror above a fireplace reflecting the room behind it. Using multiple mirrors opposite each other creates a repeating reflection, forming an endless visual tunnel that makes the room appear much deeper than it is. A well-placed mirror can strategically draw the eye away from a cluttered corner or a small window, diverting attention and making the room feel less visually chaotic. This can be particularly helpful in small spaces. Large or decorative mirrors can act as focal points, drawing attention away from the actual size of the room and creating a sense of spaciousness by shifting the visual focus.

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Accessories

If you want to make your rooms look more spacious, avoid using too many accessories. Opt for tall, thin floor lamps that will draw the eye upward and create a feeling of height. When it comes to wall art, use a medium-sized piece paired with smaller ones. Choose frames that coordinate with your wall color for a cohesive look. Avoid using too many knick-knacks as they can make your room appear cluttered and smaller.

By implementing these simple decorating ideas, your home will appear more spacious, even though your actual square footage won't increase. Best of all, these tricks are budget-friendly.