Decorate to make a small room look bigger

Even the smallest of spaces can be made to look bigger through the use of clever decorating techniques. From using mirrors to reflect light to choosing the right colours, there are lots of different tricks you can use to create the illusion of space. Here are a few tips on how to decorate a small room to look bigger.

Start at the bottom

While it might be tempting to break up your floor space with rugs, doing so will make a small space feel even more restrictive. Think ‘wall to wall’ single colour if you’re going for carpets (and choose a light colour to keep that sense of space), or use light-coloured staining if you’re going for floorboards, and choose a glossy, light-reflecting lacquer for optimum effect. If you are using a rug then go for a large statement rug rather than lots of smaller rugs.

What colour for the walls?

Common consensus when decorating small spaces is that the best wall colours for small rooms are light tones. However, if you do want a touch of boldness in your small living room design then a single ‘statement wall’ in a strong colour, balanced out by lighter, complementary tones will maintain that sense of space but add extra interest. 

Go easy on the patterns

Big, bold patterns are on-trend in interior design right now, but if you’re looking for ideas on how to make a small room look bigger then it may be best to stay away from over-the-top patterns, especially geometric shapes. Soft botanicals in pale colours can work well and add a touch of individuality to a design, with things like fern motifs picked up with cushions in a similar pattern. Use pattern as an accent rather than a feature, and keep a themed palette throughout, which can trick the eye into thinking a space is larger than it actually is.

Keep clutter down to a minimum

The more cluttered (or, if we’re being kind – ‘busy’!) a room is, the smaller it will appear to be. Even a pile of magazines can give the illusion of less space. Keep clutter down to a minimum, and if you do want to display pictures, trinkets and treasures then use clever solutions such as floating shelves or clear picture frames that don’t restrict the eye and create strong borders. Use wall space to display your treasures rather than having them scattered around on table tops. Keep everything tidy with smart storage solutions such as ottomans.

Curtains – getting the right look

Heavy curtains can work in a small room, but you need to employ a few tricks. Choose curtains that are the same colour as your walls, to give the illusion of width. Long curtains (from floor to ceiling) will also make a room look higher, giving you a sense of space. Avoid heavily patterned curtains, which can make a room feel quite claustrophobic, especially when they’re pulled at night.

Get the lighting just right

The right lighting can make all the difference to a small room design plan, so make sure you factor it in when you’re planning to decorate. Up-lighting can create a sense of height in a room, while a good, overall ambient lighting design will eliminate dark corners that make the room look smaller. 
It’s all done with mirrors

One of the easiest ways to make a small room look bigger is to use a mirror to reflect the light, and to create an illusion of extra space. Position a large mirror opposite a window and you’ll also flood the room with natural light – a great idea if you’re looking for small living room ideas that will open up a tiny space.

Think about other factors such as the colour of your furniture, choosing a wall-mounted flat-screen television to save space, and how you move around the space. Take all of this into consideration and you can make even the smallest space seem much bigger than it actually is!