How to Make Small Rooms Feel Bigger

Tiny rooms are a fact of life for many people, but that doesn't mean you have to feel cramped in that small space. Here are some tips to make any room, no matter how small, feel a bigger.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Adding space

1. Remove all clutter. A small room is going to feel even smaller if you have a lot of clutter. Keep knick-knacks to a minimum and go for a very spartan decorating approach.

2. Remove all furniture that is not essential. This will depend largely on the type of room that you are dealing with. For example, a bedroom really only needs a bed and a nightstand. Your dresser can be placed in the closet if necessary, and big nightstands can be replaced with smaller versions. You can also purchase a bed frame with drawers. You will still have enough room for your clothes, but it won't take up any extra space.

3. Paint the walls a light, neutral color. Avoid dark colors when you are painting a small room. White, cream or a light tan will make the room seem lighter and bigger.

4. Replace any dark upholstery or bedspreads. Once again, dark colors make the room feel smaller. Replace any dark bedspreads with lighter colors. You can change the color of dark sofas, couches and chairs with slipcovers.

5. Add mirrors. If you want to make a small room feel bigger, try adding mirrors to one wall. That will give the illusion of having more space.

6. Consider changing the flooring. A carpeted room can feel smaller than it actually is. Replace it with wood floors and add a small throw rug in the center. This will increase the amount of visual space in the room and it will feel bigger.

Tips & Warnings

• When adding wood floors, here is a great tip to make a small room feel bigger: If the room is long and narrow, add your flooring so that it runs side to side to make the room feel wider. If the room is boxy, add flooring that runs vertically to give the illusion of a longer room.