How to make a small room look bigger
While smaller homes provide ease of maintenance, they can be challenging to organise and decorate. Although it can sometimes feel like it, it’s not mission impossible! With a few simple tips and tricks, there are quite a few ways to make a small room look bigger. The way you design your interiors makes all the difference to how big or small a room can look. Today, we bring you some foolproof ways to make your space look bigger.
Things to consider to make a small room look bigger!
WALLS
The colour of your walls makes a huge difference in how spacious your home looks whether you have a small studio or are looking for one bedroom apartment for rent in Dubai.
GO FOR LIGHT COLOURS
When thinking about making a small room look bigger with paint, light colours are definitely the best choice. Off-white, sky blue, mint, and pale pink are some shades that work well. If you’re struggling to pick a colour, remember – when in doubt, go white! You can also seek feedback from any painting company in Dubai that you hire.
DITCH THE CURTAINS AND DRAPES
Planning to add drapes or curtains to your room? Hold your thoughts right there! They may make your room look messy and cluttered — something you don’t want, so leave your walls curtain-free.
WINDOWS
Windows are a crucial aspect when you’re thinking about how to make a room look bigger. If you have several windows that provide natural light it’s a great plus and is something you should definitely make use of.
LEAVE IT BARE
One way to make a room look bigger with windows is to leave the windows bare. As in don’t cover them with blinds or curtains. Bare and open windows bring a sense of depth to a room.
USE LONG CURTAINS
Not all windows can be left bare. When you need to cover the windows, use your curtains wisely. Place the curtains from the ceiling to the floor rather than cropped up just for the windows. Lengthy curtains create an illusion of height and make it seem like the room has a high ceiling. Another trick is to choose drapes in the same colour as your walls. This way, the colours blend, bringing a sense of vastness.
LIGHTING
Lighting is another crucial part of interior design. If you don’t have the right lighting or enough light for that matter, no tricks in the arrangement of your room will alleviate the perception of it being cramped. Follow these home lighting tips to enhance your room’s appearance and decor.
NATURAL LIGHT
Natural light is the best light. Bringing in as much light from outside as possible can make a huge difference to your room’s outlook. One of the classic ideas to make a small room that receives natural light look bigger is to place a large mirror on the opposite wall from the window. This makes the light bounce off the mirror and spread across the room.
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
Nevertheless, you’ll also need artificial lights for when it gets dark outside or when the space doesn’t receive enough natural light. Choosing the right lighting can contribute a lot to how spacious your room looks. The best way is to spread out the sources of light around the room.
A single ceiling light will only create a pool of light in the middle of the room. Instead, use several wall lights that can brighten up the entire space. Using large floor lamps in a few corners around the room could also do the trick. Cooler lights are better than warm lights when you’re looking to create a sense of vastness.
FURNITURE
After you have made changes to the room’s structural appearance and made sure the room receives enough lighting, next comes the furniture arrangement. This will probably be the challenging part when you are trying to make your room look bigger. You might have to start thinking about drawing a line between what you want and what you need so that your space isn’t cramped. However, you may not have to sacrifice too much after all. Here are a few useful tips.
SPACE IT OUT
One effective and easy way to make your small room seem bigger is by keeping pieces of furniture, such as couches, spaced away from the walls. Most people don’t think about this, but it works really well. Keeping your furniture pressed up against the walls actually makes the space look cramped. Leave some space between your furniture and the wall to create that sought-after feel of spaciousness.
USE BUILT-IN OR EXTENDABLE FURNITURE
This one is probably a no-brainer when talking about how to make your studio room for rent in Dubai look bigger. Having a built-in wardrobe or shelves saves so much space. But unfortunately, not all homes come equipped with built-in storage and creating it isn’t always an option. When that’s the case, it’s time for the use of extendable furniture. There are the classic sofa beds, tables that can be folded against the wall, length extendable tables and much more that you can make use of.
Several other multi-purpose furniture can save a lot of space, such as beds with drawers underneath, couches with bookcases underneath, and even a bunk bed with desk space in the bottom part. Making use of furniture for more than one purpose or creating additional storage space is vital when trying to increase space in a small room.
BIGGER THE BETTER
This might come off as a surprise for some people because it is an instinct that when we think about easy ways to make a small room look sizable, we think about smaller furniture and smaller accessories. But believe it or not, the bigger, the better! Having numerous small pieces of furniture makes the room look crowded and cramped. Having fewer larger items is a handy trick to making a small space look bigger.
LENGTHY SHELVES
Having long shelves against the wall creates a sense of a high ceiling. You can also have shelves close to the ceiling that draw the eye upward. Visit any furniture store in Dubai to get the shelves of your choice.
EXPOSED LEGS
Furniture with exposed legs is the best option when trying to make a small feel so much bigger. The open space under the couches or desks has a huge role in creating a sense of more area.
Using see-through or glass tables and chairs is another great way to accentuate the sense of space that can make a room look big in size.
DECORATION & ACCESSORIES
After you arrange your furniture in smart ways and declutter the space from all unneeded items, you might also want to think about some decorations and show pieces that will naturally make a room look bigger.
USE STRIPES
Use stripes in the accessories. Perhaps a striped rug or even bedspreads. Vertical lines act as an optical illusion that creates the perception of a bigger room.
HANG UP LARGE DRAMATIC ART
As mentioned earlier, bigger is better. Instead of placing several small frames of artwork, a better tip for making a small room look more spacious is to have just one large dramatic piece of artwork.
FAQs ABOUT IDEAS TO MAKE A SMALL ROOM LOOK BIGGER
I am moving into a studio apartment. What are the ways to make a small area look bigger?
There are plenty of ways to make your studio apartment look bigger. Some of the tips that we have mentioned for making a room bigger can also be implemented. For instance, using a compact furniture design and painting your home with a light shade can work for studios as well. For a more detailed guide, check out our post on how to make your studio apartment look bigger.
How can I decorate my small bedroom?
When decorating a small space, you need to be mindful of a couple of things as it can be a bit challenging. Some points to consider include maintaining a minimalistic approach, using more lights and keeping sizable decorative items and furniture, instead of small ones. You can also check our blog on space management in interior designing for further guidance.
Is a 10×10 room small?
Yes, a 10×10 room is considered small. You can use some of our small space decoration ideas to maintain a bigger look. Additionally, you can also complement the decor of such rooms by using suitable interior design styles that include a minimalistic or a modern approach.
How can I make my room look good on a limited budget?
There are many trending interior design styles that do not require you to spend much money. You can try a better way to arrange your furniture and work on decluttering your space for a better look. Also, deep clean your space regularly as that can have a major impact on how it looks and feels.
How to make a room look bigger with curtains?
It is recommended to use monochromatic curtains that match the shade of the walls to create an illusion of vastness.
How to arrange your room to make it look bigger?
The best way to arrange your room to make it look bigger is to position your furniture and decoration pieces at a distance from the walls.
How to decorate a small room to make it look bigger?
You can use big decorative pieces and wall hangings to make your small rooms appear spacious.
What are some reasons to use mirrors while working on interior design?
You can use mirrors to improve the lighting of the space as well as for decoration. Mirrors can also help you make your space appear bigger. Here’s our complete guide on how to use mirrors in a small space to cover different requirements.
What are some storage ideas that I can use to save up on space in my apartment?
Storage is a major issue for many living in small houses in Dubai as it takes up a lot of space and makes the house look cramped and messy. However, there is nothing to worry about as there are many smart storage ideas that can help you ensure a more organised home setting. You can think of wall shelves, multipurpose furniture, containers and so much more. Be creative when creating storage spaces.
How to make a small room look bigger with paint?
- Paint the side walls in lighter shades like pastels, pales, light neutrals and off-whites
- Paint the ones which are on the far side of the room with dark contrasting colours. For example black and yellow
- Paint a border of one foot of the wall in the same colour as your room’s ceiling.
- Add height to your room with dark walls and a light-shaded floor. Pro tip: Don’t go for black; any other bolder shade would do.
How to arrange a small living room with big furniture?
It depends upon the kind of furnishings you have. If you have furniture in neutrals and light colours, it won’t make your room look cluttered, so don’t worry about their placement. Another thing you can do is to mix larger pieces with smaller ones.
Moreover, add your furniture around a focal point like a TV or window as it helps you maximize your space in a small room. Make sure to position your sofa in a way that its back faces out of your room. Put accent furniture next to your sofa to keep a clear pathway.
How to decorate a long rectangular living room?
- Keep furniture away from the walls.
- Build a U- or L-shape seating area
- Make the most of vertical space by hanging a bookshelf, floor-to-ceiling or a tall armoire. You can also create small art and/or photo galleries that go up to the ceiling.
- Add circular pieces like small round tables, bulbous or rounded light fixtures/lampshades and a circular coffee table
That concludes our guide on how to make a small room look bigger. Have you tried any of these tips before or do you have another suggestion to add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below. If you liked this article, then check out these tips to make your home look luxurious on a budget or this guide on creating a minimalist home.
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Fantastic article on such a beautiful makeover of a room…quite applicable !