Tricks to Make a Small Space Seem Bigger
Try these 9 hacks to boost the sense of visual area for your interiors
Does your home always feel congested? Are you tired of wondering why your rooms look cramped even after regular de-cluttering? Not anymore. You may not increase the space pronto (unless you own an expandable property and you are ready to take up an expansion job right away), but with a few interior design tricks, you can considerably increase the ‘sense’ of space. Awed? Check out the many ways you can enhance your limited interiors, take cues from best practices of Indian designers and make the most of your small spaces.
2. Let there be light
No matter how small or narrow an area is, light (natural light is even better) can instantly vitalise it by taking away the feeling of claustrophobia. Once lit, the spaces look more defined and larger because the visual clarity and brightness enhance spaciousness. Moriq from Hyderabad cleverly enlivens this narrow stairwell by letting in abundant natural light through the numerous circular windows. This not only creates a unique design statement, but also makes the narrow passage feel open.
No matter how small or narrow an area is, light (natural light is even better) can instantly vitalise it by taking away the feeling of claustrophobia. Once lit, the spaces look more defined and larger because the visual clarity and brightness enhance spaciousness. Moriq from Hyderabad cleverly enlivens this narrow stairwell by letting in abundant natural light through the numerous circular windows. This not only creates a unique design statement, but also makes the narrow passage feel open.
3. Keep it simple
The BNK Group planned this small bedroom with a lot of light, understated hues and minimal decor. Straight lines, abundant use of white and a subtle look aid in shaping a seemingly large and airy setup. The headboard extends up to the ceiling and beyond, adding to the palatial appeal.
Wondering how to get an all-white decor right?
The BNK Group planned this small bedroom with a lot of light, understated hues and minimal decor. Straight lines, abundant use of white and a subtle look aid in shaping a seemingly large and airy setup. The headboard extends up to the ceiling and beyond, adding to the palatial appeal.
Wondering how to get an all-white decor right?
4. Maintain a ‘low’ profile…
In this living room by Chandrashekhar Kanetkar, the eye-level viewing plane remains free and uninterrupted, thanks to the low-height furniture and decor accessories. The huge artwork on the wall creates a strong focal point, while the full-height mirror (on the right) visually doubles the space.
You have to check out these multipurpose furniture pieces perfect for compact homes
In this living room by Chandrashekhar Kanetkar, the eye-level viewing plane remains free and uninterrupted, thanks to the low-height furniture and decor accessories. The huge artwork on the wall creates a strong focal point, while the full-height mirror (on the right) visually doubles the space.
You have to check out these multipurpose furniture pieces perfect for compact homes
5. …With slender legs…
Thin-legged furniture reinforces the effect of spaciousness achieved through low-height pieces. This restricted, yet sizeable-looking Mumbai living room is a case in point.
Thin-legged furniture reinforces the effect of spaciousness achieved through low-height pieces. This restricted, yet sizeable-looking Mumbai living room is a case in point.
5. …Or no legs at all?
The more the floor is free, the more the space feels ample.In this bedroom by Studio Lagom the floating bed and side tables, and the wall-hung TV unit keep the bedroom’s look light, crisp and sweeping. You can try freeing up your floor by refurbishing your home with leg-free furniture, shelves and cabinetry.
Look at all the unusual things you can store on your walls
The more the floor is free, the more the space feels ample.In this bedroom by Studio Lagom the floating bed and side tables, and the wall-hung TV unit keep the bedroom’s look light, crisp and sweeping. You can try freeing up your floor by refurbishing your home with leg-free furniture, shelves and cabinetry.
Look at all the unusual things you can store on your walls
6. Use tall, light window treatments
Thick, dark-coloured curtains and drapes increase the visual mass of the space and make the room look snug rather than airy. Graham Atkins-Hughes establishes a spartan, spacious look for this bedroom with the use of light-coloured, lightweight curtains that begin right from the edge of ceiling. This brings about an illusion of more height than there actually is.
Thick, dark-coloured curtains and drapes increase the visual mass of the space and make the room look snug rather than airy. Graham Atkins-Hughes establishes a spartan, spacious look for this bedroom with the use of light-coloured, lightweight curtains that begin right from the edge of ceiling. This brings about an illusion of more height than there actually is.
7. Try some art-eception
Deception by art is on of the oldest tricks in the book. In this closed living space, doesn’t the picture across the wall on the left deceive the eye by extending the views? If you were to imagine this room without the artwork, it would have felt airless and congested, don’t you think? What a wise move by Sonali Shah. Go try this instant space-enhancing hack at your home, too. A picture of open spaces or wide, long perspectives will work best.
Wish to know the many ways to invigorate a space with art?
Deception by art is on of the oldest tricks in the book. In this closed living space, doesn’t the picture across the wall on the left deceive the eye by extending the views? If you were to imagine this room without the artwork, it would have felt airless and congested, don’t you think? What a wise move by Sonali Shah. Go try this instant space-enhancing hack at your home, too. A picture of open spaces or wide, long perspectives will work best.
Wish to know the many ways to invigorate a space with art?
8. Draw the eye upwards
Full-height cabinetry and an attractive ceiling design draws the eye upwards, making the small, narrow corridor look grand here. Design Build Inc uses vertical storage and straight lines as a tool for creating the sense of increased height. I like how the light-dispersing ceiling increases the depth of this confined area and the one-tone floor makes the frame expansive.
Full-height cabinetry and an attractive ceiling design draws the eye upwards, making the small, narrow corridor look grand here. Design Build Inc uses vertical storage and straight lines as a tool for creating the sense of increased height. I like how the light-dispersing ceiling increases the depth of this confined area and the one-tone floor makes the frame expansive.
9. Go open
Open-plan layouts are great for small homes, as they erase the lines between the different spaces, thereby maintaining the impression of one big space. Designers of left of centre have used this stratagem to make this Mumbai living space work hard and look roomy. The clutter-free bold lines of the decor and the full-height shelf unit on the left tailor an elevated and streamlined design.
Read more:
How to Live Large in a Small Apartment
Mumbai Houzz: A 760-Sq-Ft Home Reveals Its Space-Boosting Secrets
Tell us:
Did these tricks work for you? If you have more such ideas for visually enlarging the interior space, sharethem with us in Comments below.
Open-plan layouts are great for small homes, as they erase the lines between the different spaces, thereby maintaining the impression of one big space. Designers of left of centre have used this stratagem to make this Mumbai living space work hard and look roomy. The clutter-free bold lines of the decor and the full-height shelf unit on the left tailor an elevated and streamlined design.
Read more:
How to Live Large in a Small Apartment
Mumbai Houzz: A 760-Sq-Ft Home Reveals Its Space-Boosting Secrets
Tell us:
Did these tricks work for you? If you have more such ideas for visually enlarging the interior space, sharethem with us in Comments below.
Okay, okay … it might be the most obvious trick ever, but when applied strategically, it works wonders. Mirrors virtually extend the view, apparently through solid walls, doubling the visual space and focal points. This directly gives the perception of increased volume. PS Design has designed this bedroom that fools the eye into believing that the wall behind the bed is not a common opaque wall, but a semi-open partition between two rooms. The reflection of sconces and curtains augment the illusion.