If you’re wondering how to make a smaller room in your home look bigger, you’re not alone. Thanks to rising house prices, quickly moving markets and moving costs, many of us face the challenge of maximising the space we’ve got. From clever design choices to strategic furniture placement, we’ve got a few tips to make your petite bedroom into a spacious sanctuary.
Clever Storage
In a small bedroom, every inch counts, and creative storage options can be a game-changer. Explore multifunctional furniture, utilize under-bed storage, and consider wall-mounted shelves to keep the floor space open and uncluttered.
Reflective Surfaces and Mirrors
Mirrors are the magicians of the interior design world. Introduce reflective surfaces strategically to bounce light around the room and create a sense of openness. Mirrors not only serve a functional purpose but also add a touch of elegance to your bedroom.
Rugs
It’s a common misconception that rugs will clutter up a room and make it look smaller, when in reality
In terms of soft furnishings on the floor, choose rugs with light colours and no patterns for small rooms. Replace the lack of colour and pattern with texture instead – sheepskin rugs are ideal for this in helping to create a cosy but open space. Size matters too – a large area rug will define the space, one that is too small will restrict the visual boundaries of the space and make a room feel disjointed.
Colour Schemes
There are a few different ways to make a small bedroom look bigger with colours. The first is the obvious: a neutral colour scheme will bounce light in the best way, but don’t forget to consider how the natural light hits your walls. A south facing wall will look soft and feminine in an airy lilac, whereas earthy stone colours are calming a cool toned north facing room.
Have you ever considered an accent wall in a dark colour in a small space? Most of us haven’t because it seems scary, but dark colours can add depth to create a visual illusion of enlarging and heightening the space. Give it a try!
Another bold choice is to paint the entire room in a single shade – the walls, ceilings and even the skirting boards. A single wall may create too much of a defined space, whereas a uniform colour eliminates visual interruptions so the space feels more cohesive.
Vertical Space
Similar to using a single darker colour on one wall, here are a few more hacks to trick the eye into seeing the space as vertically larger. Choose long curtains that you can hang up high all the way to the floor – but make sure they’re not too heavy, look for light and flowy. The same with tall headboards, vertica linel designs and patterns on furniture, and even tongue and groove panelling on the walls, whether faux or real. This will all draw the eye upwards.
Oversized Art
Make a bold statement with oversized art or prints that draw the eye and divert attention from the room’s size. This design trick not only adds personality but also creates a focal point, making the space feel curated and intentional.
Furniture Placement
If you’re trying to make the most of your floor space, you might think that pushing furniture to the edges of the room will help. But in reality, having furniture up against walls can make a room feel cramped. Experiment with furniture placement to create zones within the space, allowing for a more dynamic and open layout, and even try out a “floating” piece of furniture or two!