{"id":661825,"date":"2025-03-06T15:56:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T20:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.familyhandyman.com\/?post_type=listicle&p=661825"},"modified":"2025-04-01T13:25:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T17:25:25","slug":"make-a-small-room-look-bigger-ideas","status":"publish","type":"listicle","link":"https:\/\/www.familyhandyman.com\/list\/make-a-small-room-look-bigger-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Maximize Your Space: 19 Tips to Make a Small Room Feel Bigger"},"content":{"rendered":"
\r\n\r\n\"Choose\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Choose a Light Color Scheme<\/h2>\r\nAlthough paint colors are subjective, dark colors are often a no-no in small rooms. Lighter color palettes cast the illusion of a larger area and make the space feel airy, like in this kitchen from @jogalbraithathome<\/a>. When dark color schemes are used in smaller rooms, it can create a suffocating feeling as though the walls are closing in on what is already a space-challenged room.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> \"Lighter tones are a go-to for small rooms because they reflect light, but I always suggest warm, soft neutrals like off-white, pale taupe or muted sage instead of stark white as I find it too sterile for a home,\" says interior designer, Bree Steele.\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"A\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Leggy Furniture<\/h2>\r\nOpting for furniture with legs showing opens up a small space. Large furniture pieces that rest directly on the floor can appear too bulky and visually weigh down the room. While leggy furniture allows the floor to breathe, creating the illusion of more light and space in a small room.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> \"Raised furniture leaves more of the floor to be visible, which tricks the eye into perceiving more space,\" says Steele.\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"brightly<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Sheer Window Treatments<\/h2>\r\nStay away from\u00a0bulky, heavy, and ornate window treatments. They may look pretty, but the heavy materials<\/span>\u00a0subdue too much natural light. Use the windows in a small room to bring light into every corner. Consider slatted window blinds, sheer curtains, or bamboo shades.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> Slatted blinds provide privacy when closed, and bamboo shades offer semi-privacy when closed (but also allow sun to filter through the woven material).\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"Use\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Use Mirrors<\/h2>\r\nWork small room magic with mirrors. They are an ideal accessory for making a room appear larger. Mirrors serve two beneficial purposes: first, the room essentially doubles in size thanks to the reflection (especially if you use one extra large floor mirror, as seen here from @life_at_number52<\/a>). Second, natural light reflects off the mirrors, making the room bright and airy.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It: <\/strong>\"I often put a large mirror across from a window to reflect natural light,\" says Steele. \"Or for a 2-in-1 approach, you can use mirrored furniture in your space.\"\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"A\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Color-Coordinate Shelves<\/h2>\r\nDisplay accessories with similar colors on wall shelves or bookshelves. This helps to keep a small room looking organized and neat rather than cluttered. You can also use baskets and bins on your shelving to hide away unattractive items while still keeping essentials within reach.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It: <\/strong>Small rooms don't have to be plain! You can still use all your favorite decor and accessories, but keeping things organized by color will help a small room look bigger.\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"Add\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Add Stripes<\/h2>\r\nI love a good stripe moment, and this beauty from @graceful_designs_diy<\/a> is a perfect example. Vertical stripes on the walls or furniture, draw the eye up and create the illusion of more space. Consider striped wallpaper, painting stripes on the wall, or floor-to-ceiling striped window treatments.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> \"Find a way to incorporate striped wallpaper on the walls,\" says interior designer Ashley Powell. \"Take it even further and line those walls with grosgrain tape trim studded with nail heads.\"\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"Incorporate\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Incorporate Multifunctional Furniture<\/h2>\r\nDon't overload a small room with too much furniture. Instead, use furniture that can serve a dual purpose\u2014that way the room is still functional, but not overcrowded. Try a sofa with hidden storage, a steamer trunk used as a coffee table, or like in this bedroom from @lifeat_rosecottage<\/a>\u2014a makeup vanity doubles as a nightstand.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> \"Compact designs, ideally serving multiple uses, will leave more empty space for the eye to wander,\" says Steele. \"Modular and nesting pieces are also great as they offer flexibility without cluttering the space.\"\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Interior<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Tall Storage Furniture<\/h2>\r\nYou might think short bookshelves or other small storage furniture is best for a small room. But actually, the opposite is true. Tall furniture creates the illusion that the room is bigger and gives you more space for storage and decor. Don't be afraid to include a bookshelf that reaches all the way to the ceiling!\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> \"Tall secretaries and etageres are great keeping those eyes traveling up in small spaces,\" says Powell, \"Especially when you load the tops of those pieces up with art and cool objects.\"\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"Cozy\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Ditch the Clutter<\/h2>\r\nLearning how to make a small room look bigger starts with the decluttering. Too much clutter overpowers the square footage and will make the room look small and cramped. This doesn't mean you have to be a minimalist. But try to reduce the amount of visual clutter and junk you don't need as much as possible, keeping only meaningful or useful items on display.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> Decluttering is powerful! It not only makes small rooms look bigger, but it also improves your mood and frees up precious mental space.\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"A\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Light-Colored Flooring<\/h2>\r\nLight-colored flooring can create the illusion of a larger space. Light wood, in particular, reflects light around the room and produces a general sense of openness. If you don't have the option of replacing darkwood floors or carpets, use light-toned rugs to cover as much of the area as possible.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> If your small space has an open floor plan, the same light flooring throughout will trick the eye to infinite space. Changes in the flooring chop up the rooms and make everything feel smaller.\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"Monochromatic\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Monochromatic Color<\/h2>\r\n\"A monochromatic color scheme (think walls, trim and ceilings are all painted the same shades) is also a good trick to expand the room as it creates a seamless look with no hard line for the eye to stay hung up on,\" says Steele. Light colors are safest for a small space, so try drenching the room warm taupe or sage green; but a monochromatic moody color can work too, like in this space by @meganpisanodesign<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It:<\/strong> When the walls and ceiling are the same color, your eyes don't know where the wall stops and the ceiling begins; making the space feel endless.\r\n\r\nPhotographer: @meghanbalcomphotography<\/a>\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"Built-in\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Built-In Storage Cabinet<\/h2>\r\nSometimes, the only thing lacking in a small bathroom is storage space. When there's no extra floor space, consider a built-in cabinet that utilizes the open space within the walls. You (or a contractor) can build this useful cabinet with the detailed instructions found here<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWhat We Like About It: <\/strong>This storage cabinet is entirely built inside the wall, freeing up precious floor space while still providing shelves of useful storage.\r\n\r\n\r\n
@adlintejeda<\/a> Best acrylic coffee table ever! #acryliccoffeetable<\/a> #coffeetable<\/a> #clearcoffeetable<\/a> #minimalistapartment<\/a> #hmhome<\/a> #amazonhomefinds<\/a> #coffeetabledecor<\/a> \u266c original sound - Katie<\/a><\/section><\/blockquote>\r\n