How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger

If you live in a small house with small rooms it can sometimes feel cramped. The good news is there are ways to fool the eye into thinking that a room is larger than it actually is. By using special decorating tips, you can open up a room and give the illusion of more space. Here's how:

Make a room look bigger: Remove clutter.

This is the first principle of making a room look larger. If you have a piece of furniture and a knick knack in every inch of the room, the room is going to look small. Take an honest look at the room you want to expand and determine which pieces of furniture are essential. Remove the nonessential pieces along with any knick knacks. Simplicity is the key to making a room look spacious.

Make a room look bigger: Add more lighting.

Add as much light to the room as you can without cluttering the room with lamps. Recessed or track lighting which resides in the ceiling is a good way to bring light into a room without increasing clutter. Try to avoid having any portion of the room in a shadow to maximize the illusion of space.

Make a room look bigger: Hang artwork at eye level.

The ceilings of a room appear taller if you hang artwork no higher than eye level. Rehang your art so that it's visible at eye level for most people. Don't overdo the amount of artwork you're displaying as this can increase the clutter factor. One large piece of artwork is more effective than several smaller ones.

Make a room look bigger: Hang mirrors

Mirrors are one of the most effective ways to increase the perceived size of a room. Hang large ones at strategic places so they reflect the natural light. It will give the room a much more open and airy feel.

Make a room look bigger: Use light colors on the walls

Paint the walls a light color to open up the room and give the illusion of space. If you opt for wallpaper, avoid hanging a paper that has a fussy, large, or detailed print. A good choice would be a textured wallpaper in a light shade.

Make a room look bigger: Have light colors on the ceiling and floor