5 Tips to Make Any Room Feel Bigger and More Spacious

Small spaces and rooms are a common annoyance for many homeowners and are often a source of frustration, especially when battling issues such as lack of storage and minimal natural lighting. 

A lot of people are unsure just how best to address small rooms and spaces. Often, this uncertainty can lead to the space becoming more cramped and feeling even smaller. 

When it comes to small rooms, everything counts and can make a difference. Even though they are unpopular, there are many reasons why small rooms are good—they’re easier to decorate, quicker to tidy, and there are some great storage options available too.

By implementing clever interior design tips and tricks, you can transform any small room into looking and feeling bigger and more spacious. 

With that in mind, here’re 5 top tips to do just that.

1. Use Light Colors

A common debate between interior design fans is whether light or dark colors are best for making small spaces feel bigger, but the most popular approach is using light colors. 

Dark colors can absorb light, rather than reflect it, so if you lack natural light, it’s best to avoid this approach. It’s all about creating the right optical illusion and light paint colors can help to make a room feel brighter and airier. 

Light colored walls are more reflective, so if you have very minimal natural lighting in the space or room, then this can instantly open up the room. 

So, what colors work best? 

For the optimum effect, then choose soft color tones such as off-white or light blues and greens. Remember that brighter rooms will naturally feel more inviting, so if your small room is a reception or living room, then this can instantly give the space an uplift. 

2. Cut the Clutter

Many small rooms and spaces often become a dumping ground of sorts, especially if the room is unused and the door can be closed. It’s more important with small rooms than any other space that you cut down on clutter and keep the space clear and organized. Not only can this open up the room, but it will make you feel much better having an organized space. 

If your small room has become a bit unloved, then take some time clearing through the contents of the room and choosing what to keep and what to get rid of. Once you know what you are keeping, use storage boxes and clever storage solutions to store away neatly. 

It’s important that you try to keep the floor as clear and open as possible, as this helps to give the illusion of more space. 

3. Change Your Room Based on Seasonality 

You might not notice it, but your home changes from season to season. During the winter months, the addition of thicker blankets and warmer materials will make the room feel cozy and snug. But, as you move into spring and summer, if you don’t remove these items in place of lighter materials, then you can cause the room to feel cluttered and messy. 

It’s important to have some seasonal soft furnishings that you can switch between as and when needed. At the first signs of spring, remove thicker items, such as weighted blankets, blankets, and sherpa fleeces and replace them with light linens, cottons and soft cashmere blankets. These will make the room feel less clunky and heavy and will instead feel lighter and brighter.

4. Use Mirrors to Expand the Space

Mirrors can make your room feel much larger and more open. So, if the walls in your small room or space are free, add an eye-catching piece of artwork or a bright print as a focal point and angle a mirror toward it to give the illusion of depth. 

Mirrors help to reflect both natural and artificial light, so if you’re looking to add more natural light into the space, then placing a mirror near a window or lamp can help to reflect the light around the room and provide a much brighter appearance overall. 

If you’re lacking in wall space, then dressing table mirrors or even mirrored furniture and tabletops can open the room up massively and direct light all over the room. 

5. Optimize Your Room Arrangement

It’s important to ensure that with a small room, you choose furniture that fits the size of the room that it is in to make the most of the space you have.

Place any larger pieces of furniture against the wall to open up the floor space and avoid blocking natural pathways to keep the room from feeling bulky and cramped. 

If furniture or accessories are blocking the view into a room, then this can make the room feel more cramped. By moving furniture out of the way and away from walkways, you can open the space up, making it feel larger. 

If space is limited, then choose short furniture pieces such as a low table, ottomans, or armless sofas to maximize space and create multifunctional furniture.