Have you recently moved to a small-ish apartment? Maybe you bought a new home with a tiny room that you're not sure what to do with? Your small space can look and feel larger with a little maneuvering. With a little help from minimalism, learn other ways to maximize your space below.
Transform your small areas into something efficient yet fashionable with these eight simple hacks that create the illusion of more space!
1. A good color scheme opens up a room
Keep your scheme complimentary and bright to open a cramped space. Clashing colors and deeper hues will make a room seem smaller and absorb light. We suggest sticking to light and neutral shades and painting the walls and trim the same color.
TIP: If you really want to use a bold hue, then paint the trim white and select cool tones for your accessories and furnishings.
Sometimes, a simple accent wall is all you need to open up a space. Although a room painted entirely in dark colors seems close and cramped, interior designers suggest a dark accent wall. It recedes from your vision while creating depth and dimension.
2. Mirrors expand an area through optical illusion
Reflective surfaces, like wall mirrors, echo the current space and create the false appearance of extra room. Angle them towards a focal point for a semblance of depth that is not actually there.
Similarly, choose clear, lucite end tables to achieve this look. It's not about what you see... it's what you think you do!
3. Vertical space will save you room
Use as much vertical space as you can:
- Try a platform bed to store clothes or other items in an area you didn't plan to use before
- A lofted bed can make an even bigger difference
- Skip the burdensome floor lamp, and utilize a hanging fixture instead
- Shelving units will free up the floor plan for other furniture
4. It's okay to decorate your ceiling
Most people choose to leave the ceiling white, but painting or wallpapering it draws your eye upwards. Pulling your focus lengthens the space and gives the illusion of height. A taller room feels more spacious.
TIP: Solid colors and less busy prints work best.
5. Furniture should serve more than one purpose
It's all about double duty. Ensure your tiny abode appears homey and spacious with accoutrements that are more than what they seem.
- Sleeper sofas are guest rooms in hiding
- Bookshelves can split one room into two
- A trunk can be a coffee table and storage
Mounting a flat screen on the wall saves space. And with a full motion mount, you can position the television according to how your room is set up at that particular moment.
6. The more light in a room, the bigger it feels
The easiest way to create the illusion of more space is by showcasing your windows. Open the blinds and restrain the drapes. Bare windows are clean and efficent; dress them with shades for privacy at night.
TIP: To expand windows, hang curtains close to the ceiling and extend beyond the frame. If your fabric matches the walls, it enlarges the room even more.
You can also multiply the light in a room by adding lamps to a room. Spread them out -- attention stretches between opposite sides and visually widens the area.
7. Strategically rearrange the floor plan
Another easy way to make a modest space feel huge starts with a simple survey of your surroundings. The right furniture arrangement can make or break you, so strategize before you move in.
Couches with exposed legs make a room feel taller, and pulling them away from the walls creates the illusion of depth. Not to mention, keeping sofas close together amps up the coziness and ability for those seated to converse.
TIP: Using a console table in the area between furniture and wall saves space while adding light.
8. Capitalize on common, multi-purpose rooms
If you live with roommates, turning a common areas into multi-purpose rooms can greatly benefit you.
- A bedroom can be a living room during the day
- A dining room can revert to an office during non-meal hours
- You can save eating entirely for the kitchen and utilize the dining area as a home gym or reading nook