Is your house feeling a little too small these days? Before you start exploring new houses on the market, know that there are tricks you can use to make your own home feel bigger! Interior designers use space planning all the time to determine the best ways to use a space to make it appear bigger, brighter, and look its best. Ready to give your home a refresh? Here are three ways to use interior design space planning to make your home feel bigger.
Making your home light and bright is one way to make it feel bigger. If your walls are currently painted a dark color, try painting them with light colors, which reflect light better than dark hues. Whites, off-whites and creams, light grays and yellows are great for brightening up a space. You can also use mirrors to reflect light within a room and trick the eye into thinking the room looks bigger. Try placing a mirror across from a window to bring more light into your space. Placing a mirror in a way that it reflects a large, open space rather than a cluttered area can also make the room look and feel bigger than it actually is. For even more lighting, use recessed lighting for low ceilings or hanging lights for tall ceilings to keep a room well lit. Brightening your space is a simple interior design space planning trick that makes your home feel bigger.
Another way to use interior design space planning to make your home feel bigger than it really is is to draw the eyes upward, giving a room the appearance of being taller and having more space. If you have curtains on your windows, move them so they’re positioned higher and wider than the window; this can make your windows appear larger than they really are and can make the room look taller. If you have a blank wall, consider adding floor-to-ceiling shelves to draw the eye upwards while also decluttering your space. If you prefer to have wall art, hang the art at eye level and leave space above it to make the room look taller. These tricks will help your space feel bigger without having to change the actual height of your home.
Yes, this one is easier said than done, but keeping clutter to a minimum can make your home feel bigger. Keeping the floor clean and not allowing piles of miscellaneous items to gather will make more of the floor visible, which will make the room feel bigger. Take a few minutes each day to put things where they belong. It’s also helpful to get rid of items you no longer want or need. Over-the-door storage and under-the-bed bins are great ways to give your belongings a home while keeping them off of the floor and out of sight. Instead of using lots of small wall art pieces, which can make the wall feel cluttered, try using fewer, larger pieces. Instead of shoving your belongings in random nooks and crannies throughout the house, use decorative baskets to store blankets, pet toys, and other items. Not only do these baskets keep your home tidy, they also add style.
Want more help making your home look its best? The Reflective Designer offers a variety of services for Boston, MA and Phoenix, AZ homeowners and businesses, including interior design space planning, kitchen design, color consulting, window treatments, and more. Contact us today by calling, emailing, or filling out our online contact form.
