How to Make a Small Room Feel Larger

Do you ever feel confined in your home? You may not have the option to tear down walls or expand your home’s square footage, but there are several tricks you can use to make your small bedroom, cramped living room, or undersized dining room feel larger. Here’s what to try.

• Declutter: Smooth, neutral, uninterrupted surfaces make a room feel less crowded, so incorporate minimalism wherever you can. Start by removing unneeded furniture to clear up floor space. Then, tidy up any tables, desks, bookshelves, and other surfaces to help the room look less “busy.” Finally, hang sleek window treatments such as white plantation shutters or honeycomb shades to minimize patterns and textures on the wall.
• Let in more light: A well-lit room always feels bigger, so allow as much natural light to enter as possible. This may involve rethinking your window coverings. If you currently have dark, heavy drapes, consider replacing them with something lighter. The right blinds or shutters can make a big difference, allowing you to tilt the louvers upward so light bounces off the ceiling. The resulting diffused light is less harsh on the eye, reducing glare without leaving the room in darkness.
• Set up mirrors: Reflective surfaces help bounce light around the room, increasing its perceived size. Shiny metal light fixtures, glossy countertops, and mirrored drawer fronts all lend themselves to this illusion. For maximum effect, hang a large mirror above the fireplace, behind the dining room table, or above your bed. Seeing the room reflected back at you makes it feel twice as large.
• Use a simple color scheme: Light, neutral colors are best for small rooms because they reflect light better than darker shades. Keep the palette monochromatic to create a cohesive space that isn’t chopped up by contrasting colors.
• Buy visually lightweight furniture: It doesn’t matter how much your furniture physically weighs—its visual weight is what’s important. Dark, chunky furniture drains the room of light. It also takes up more floor space than necessary, limiting the available walking room. A better option for small rooms is to choose sleek, spindly furniture propped up on legs to expose the floor underneath. Mid-century modern is a suitable style, and clear plastic chairs are as visually lightweight as it gets!
• Use vertical lines to trick the eye: Vertical lines draw the eye upward, which makes the room feel larger. One simple way to create this illusion is to hang vertical blinds in the window. Tall bookshelves, portrait orientation artwork, and vertical wall paneling are other effective tools.

If you’re ready to install high-quality window treatments to help your Denver-area home feel larger, look to Value Blinds & Shutters. We have over 18 years of experience supplying and installing beautiful, durable shutters, blinds, and shades from Hunter Douglas and other top brands. To request a free in-home consultation, please call 303-663-8120 or contact us online. You can also visit our showroom in Castle Rock on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm.