We will tell you and show how to visually enlarge a room using color, lighting, mirrors, and a couple of simple techniques.
It is hard to stay here cheerful and kind when it seems that the walls are crushing, and the head is about to touch the ceiling. Fortunately, resourceful designers have invented dozens of ways to visually enlarge a room and turn it into a spacious, bright space. We have selected 6 of the simplest and most effective techniques, which we will tell you about today.
source:housebeautiful.com
Table of Contents
Colors
When the question arises of how to visually increase the space, do not rush to demolish the walls and partitions. Pay attention to the color scheme first. Are dark or very bright shades predominant? Congratulations, you have found the reason why the interior feels small and cramped. For a small room, it is better to choose light pastel colors. For example, beige, gray, blue, peach - with them the room will look more airy and spacious.
White is a lifesaver for small rooms. It reflects the sun's rays, visually making the interior lighter. White can be used to paint not only the ceiling with walls, but also the floor - by erasing the boundaries between vertical and horizontal surfaces, you will forever forget about the feeling of cramped space.
Does your soul ask for bright colors and large prints? Please, you have a whole wall at your disposal. But only one. Ideally, nothing should stand against the background of a colorful riot.
Prints
Speaking of prints: large prints attract attention and visually reduce the room, but with small patterns on a light background, the situation is exactly the opposite. Therefore, you should use whorls, diamonds, and circles patterns!
Another favorite design technique is the strip. Wallpaper with a narrow vertical stripe will visually raise the ceiling by 10-15 cm, and horizontal stripes on the floor will visually push the walls of a narrow room apart.
If plain surfaces and wallpaper with geometric patterns do not inspire, pay attention to high-quality wallpaper. A beautiful image of a forest, sea or sky with a perspective receding into the distance will create the feeling of endless space. Another minute, and it seems that you are already walking among the majestic pine trees or sitting on the shore, listening to the sound of the waves.
Texture
The small area of the room gives the opportunity to play not only with color, but also with texture. First of all, pay attention to the glossy one. It reflects light and creates glare, working on the volume and depth of the interior. Definitely our option!
The market for glittering surfaces is diverse: vinyl metalized wallpaper, ordinary wallpaper with glittering splashes, glossy paint, tiles, false ceilings, glossy furniture facades ... Well, you get the idea: mirror, glare surfaces are necessary for a small room just like for a fashion girl - a glossy magazine ...
Another solution is the relief wallpaper. The texture that creates volume plays into the hands here. Plus, there is no need to suffer with decor: such wallpapers will decorate and make any room unusual. You can also use decorative relief panels or tiles instead of wallpaper. A prerequisite is good lighting!
Furniture
The appearance and arrangement of furniture play an important role. The abundance of bulky cabinets, armchairs, and tables eats up a good half of the space. To prevent this from happening, arrange large furniture around the perimeter, and leave the center free. Maximum - put there a low coffee table with thin legs.
To find some gorgeous and yet ergonomic furniture you can go to Homey Design Store.
Hanging cabinets are no longer a surprise, but what about a floating bed or an armchair? Hanging structures not only save space but also make cleaning easier. However, not all surfaces will withstand such an experiment - for reliability, choose a load-bearing wall or ceiling.
When it comes to appearance, pay attention to furniture in soothing muted colors. As we have already found out, dark/bright colors and contrasting combinations eat up space, while light ones visually make the room more airy and spacious.
Large objects (sofa, bed, curbstone) visually look easier if you put them on thin legs. A similar effect is given by furniture made of transparent materials: plastic and glass. It seems to dissolve in space. For a small room, this is exactly what the designer ordered.
Mirrors
A real lifesaver for small apartments. Please note that these mirrors are not intended for people, but for the interior. Therefore, sometimes designers place them in unusual places: under the ceiling, in the corner of the room on the floor, opposite the window, etc. For example, vertical mirrors on either side of the bed will push the walls of a small bedroom apart, while a mirror opposite an accent wall will create the illusion of a window.
Lighting
Natural lighting will help to visually increase the area of the room. If there are large windows in the living room or bedroom, consider yourself saved. If not, do not despair: get rid of thick heavy curtains and hang a mirror next to the window, which will increase the amount of sunlight.
Artificial lighting is equally important. The more diverse it is, the better. A combination of floor lamps and wall lamps will enliven the interior, making it cozier, as well as deep, voluminous. Highlight multiple zones with spotlights and see how space transforms!
We ares sure: small space is not a curse, but a platform for exciting experiments. Treat this issue like a gripping quest, and use our tips on colors, materials, prints, and textures as clues. The result will show itself soon.