Sometimes the smallest spaces can have the biggest style! I’m so happy to have Kathy Kuo back on the blog today to share with us her 6 tips to make a small space look larger. If you haven’t seen her latest posts, check them out here and here! Enjoy!
featured image via Nordic Designs
above image via Nordic Designs
1. Give Your Furniture Room to Breathe
Just like last week’s post, sometimes the best advice is the simplest. Edit your space. Keeping countertops and tables free of clutter creates sight lines that trick the eye into perceiving more available room. You may be surprised at how much bigger your home feels if you just donate a few pieces of furniture. Choose furniture that makes sense as well. If your coffee table takes up way too much floor space for your small living area, opt for a scaled-down rectangular coffee table or an ottoman instead. Another common mistake we see in smaller apartments is to have all of the furniture shoved against the walls. This doesn’t necessarily guarantee a larger room, and it draws attention to the limited parameters of your apartment. Instead, try floating your sofa out from the wall, which will give the appearance of more space.
image via refinery29.com
2. Paint with Light Colors
While we enjoy the richness of dark and moody rooms, they don’t work well in small spaces. Stick to whites, creams, or pale blues and grays to keep your space airy and open and to maximize light. Farrow and Ball’s All-White and Slipper Satin are two of our small space go-tos.
image via Nordic Designs
3. Choose Versatile Pieces
Investing in furniture with multiple functions is a great way to save on space. Use a trunk as an end table or go for an ottoman or bench with built-in storage as an easy way to keep books, blankets, remotes, or anything else from taking up space.
left image designed by Sally Wheat Interiors
right image via zoominteriors.com
4. Embrace Mirror Magic
This is a common interior design trick … and for a good reason: It always works. Mirrors are the easiest way to open up a room and create the illusion of space. Lean a floor mirror against a key wall, or hang multiple wall-mounted mirrors salon-style above the sofa. Need help deciding which mirror type suits your design style? You can read our more detailed article on mirrors here.
left image via prestonbailey.com
right image via Nordic Designs
5. Opt for Acrylic
If you read our guide on hard goods, you’ll learn that acrylic is one of our favorite materials because it offers a chic and modern look. Our acrylic coffee tables, bar carts, and chairs are some of our top-selling items. But they’re also fantastic solutions for small spaces because they don’t block out light or your line of sight.
top image via Nordic Designs
bottom image via apartmenttherapy.com
6. Ditch the Drapes
You might have noticed that all of these tips are about tricking the eyes. Curtains and drapes block the eyes from seeing outside and automatically create a sense of enclosure. Eliminate the curtains, and your space will look simpler and much more open. If you live at ground level or privacy is a priority for you, consider shutters, sheer curtains, or use a bar that extends beyond your window frame so you can fully expose your windows whenever you’d like.
What do YOU think?
24 responses to “6 Tips to Make a Small Space Look Larger”
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Gorgeous pics – and totally agree on the light paint and use of mirrors! My first Manhattan apartment was only about 200 square feet; here are five ways I made it work for me: http://www.shopwithstyle.com/stylewise/2016/4/12/living-small
This is super helpful – my apartment is small and could use these tips to make use of the space we have. Thanks!
http://www.virgosandkisses.com
Love your designers and great, beautiful ideas. Thank you Emily for forwarding this to me.
Bulie
Love the designs and website! Can’t wait to see more. Thank you Emily for forwarding this to me.
Bulie
These are all such beautiful rooms! Thank you for the tips!
xo dré
http://www.flightoffeather.com
I think these rooms are beautiful, but I would love to see an article about visually enlarging space in small boxy rooms with lower ceilings and little if no architectural detail. When I look at the rooms on mn design blogs, I think that 12 foot ceilings, giant windows and large doors make anything look great. Thanks for listening.
fantastic tips. I love the idea of having lots of mirrors in the house, and now i have a good reason to do so 😀
xxHoney
http://www.honeyuncharted.com
Just what I needed to read! I’m moving into a small apartment in Sheffield in September to start university! These tips have really given me ideas on how to style my new home! Thank you xo
Such a beautiful inspiration. Have a nice weekend Chriselle! Xo
These are all such creative spaces. Thanks for sharing!
XOXO, Ashley
http://reasyume.com
Love the mirror tip because it definitely works!
Vivian | LIVE . IN . LOVE
~
Thank you so much for these great tips <3 I've always wanted to get a small space of my own, and I know that with the right decor, even a small place can look intimate and chic 🙂 Always looking forward to these posts every Thursday!
XO, Elizabeth
http://clothestoyouuu.com/
these tips are very useful! I like to organize my space so it gets as much light as possible and white floors are a very good choice as well!
lunjasky.wordpress.com
Lunjasky bloglovin
LOVE the idea of getting rid of the drapes! x
http://www.chevronsandeclairs.com/blog
Chriselle who designed your web site? There are a lot of feature that I love in your site and I’m looking for a new designer for mine.
Any suggestions?
————
My Site
http://www.candacecorey.com
I’m a makeup artist. I’ve done makeup for HGTV television shows for years, and it never ceases to amaze me how great the designers know how to plan a room.
The layout for the furniture, colors and tips in the rooms in this article is amazing as well.
Great article!
Keep up the good work!
These tips are perfect! Thanks so much for sharing. xx
http://www.fasionsensored.com
Nice post dear! 😉
xx
______________________
PERSONAL STYLE BLOG
http://evdaily.blogspot.com
These photos are so gorgeous, and indeed they really make a small space suddenly so inviting and spacious!
xo, alice / T Y P E N U
Beautiful inspiration!
Raspberry Jam
great tips!
xo
http://www.cherry-mag.com
Great post. I’m obsessed about layout in a room. It drives me batty.
http://www.dressupchowdown.com
Mirror is always a great idea:P
Shall We Sasa
I am thinking about my dorm for college and I am excited to decorate my space. It will be quite tiny, but I think I will make the best out of it because of these tips ^_^
Laila from Townhouse Palette