• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Stacy Risenmay
  • Home
  • About me
  • PRESS
  • Contact Me
  • My Book
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About me
  • Project Gallery
  • Our House
  • PRESS
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Small House Series {Make Your Space Appear Larger}

    By Stacy 6 Comments

    It is day 2 of Small House Week! In case you missed the first post, it is all about storage and clutter.

    small-house-week

    Increasing your square footage can cost big bucks but making your space feel larger than it is can be easy and inexpensive! Almost all the decisions I have made in decorating our home have been a result of trying to achieve that very thing. One day we would like to add on, but until then I am all about making my house look bigger.

    You don't have to follow all of these tips, but doing some of these things is sure to open up your space!

    Colors

    I think we all know that a bright white space feels open and airy, but you can also go with a monochromatic color scheme. Before I recently painted my house all white, I had a family room full of all yellow tones, a turquoise office, and a green kitchen. All had various shades of the same color mixed with lighter neutrals. I found it very soothing as well as open.

     

    monochromatic-room-colors

    "See Through" Furniture

    This doesn't have to mean the clear plastic ghost chairs, although that is one great example. It also means exposed leg furniture like my reclaimed wood desk with the hairpin legs or a glass top table.  Think about a coffee table with thin legs vs a large trunk. The trunk takes up more space visually while the legs on the coffee table make it feel more open.

     

    reclaimed-wood-desk-with-hairpin-legs

    Mirrors

    I think this is probably the most common idea, and the first thing most people think of when trying to make a space look bigger, but it is because it is so effective. It reflects light and you can essentially add another window to your room!

    Whether you hang one large mirror or a collection of assorted sizes all together, you small space needs mirrors!

     

    refresh for spring

    The Right Scale of Prints

    If you are going for a large scale print, it is best to keep it to the floor (or ceiling, like my kitchen!) rather than say, a sofa or chair. Add a bold rug or paint contrasting stripes like I did in my office.

     

    black-and-white-striped-office-floors

     

    Lighting

    This kind of ties into wall color and having mirrors. It is all about the light! The more light, the bigger the space will feel. Make sure that you are not just addressing the lighting needs for during the day, but also for night. Along with overhead lighting add lamps and sconces throughout the space.

     

    gallery-wall-with-staghorn-fern

    Furniture Scale

    Generally speaking, you should have smaller scale furniture in a smaller space. But don't go too small either. You can get away with big furniture in some cases depending on the style and placement. If you have a large piece, like an oversized armoire, that you don't want to give up then paint it a similar color as the wall to help it not seem as overpowering.

     

    upholstered chair painted

    Simple Window Treatments

    I naturally tend to be drawn to simple window treatments so when I read years ago that you should keep the curtains simple in small spaces, I was already nailing that "rule". I like plain white cotton curtains. They seem easy and effortless plus I can throw them in the wash when they inevitably get some sticky boy mess on them. I also like that they let light in white still giving privacy.

     

    Open Shelving

    The Mr. is usually on board with all my crazy ideas. By on board, I mean he doesn't freak out when he comes home and I have the crazy idea almost completed. But Shane was not so keen on the idea of ditching some of the upper cabinets for open shelving. I admit, I pulled the whole "I spend more time in here" card. I play dirty folks. He decided to trust me and in the end he fell in love with the shelves. I have been so happy with how the white paint and the open shelves have made our teeny tiny kitchen feel so much larger. It follows the same principle as the "see through" furniture. They take up less space visually.

     

     

    industrial-floating-kitchen-shelves

     

    Have you tried to incorporate ideas like these to help make you home feel more roomy? I would love to hear!

     

    Come back tomorrow for day one of the home tour. I have a great group of bloggers joining me and you are going to love touring their small houses! So much inspiration!

     

    You will also like:

    • Meet The Blogger {Cherished Bliss}Meet The Blogger {Cherished Bliss}
    • I Left My Heart In San FranciscoI Left My Heart In San Francisco
    • Favorite Things 2014 editionFavorite Things 2014 edition
    • Star Wood Wall ArtStar Wood Wall Art
    • An Unusual Summer {Life Update}An Unusual Summer {Life Update}
    • Upholstered BenchUpholstered Bench
    • Gold Table {Makeover}Gold Table {Makeover}
    • What a Difference Shutters Can Make!What a Difference Shutters Can Make!

    « Small House Series {Clutter & Storage}
    Small House Tour {Day 1} »

    Filed Under: Home Decor 6 Comments

    Subscribe

    for your weekly DIY fix.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shawnna

      February 24, 2016 at 8:24 am

      hey girl love your house!! So pretty!

      Reply
    2. AMY

      February 24, 2016 at 6:10 pm

      I love these ideas! I need to do some of these ASAP to make my tiny apartment seem not so closed in.

      Reply
    3. Leslie

      March 22, 2016 at 10:50 am

      So many unique and beautiful touches to all your spaces. I wish that I had the guts to go with open shelving in our kitchen, but I'm just not organized enough for something like that.

      Reply
    4. Marie

      March 22, 2016 at 7:59 pm

      These are fantastic tips for small spaces! Also, your cottage is looking amazing! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday this week!

      Reply
    5. Cat @ Pocketful of Posies

      March 28, 2016 at 7:14 am

      Great Tips! i love them all and I couldn't agree more. Thank you for sharing with Dream. Create. Inspire. Link! Pinning and Sharing your idea!

      Cat

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Busy Monday 209 | A Pinch Of Joy says:
      March 27, 2016 at 2:31 pm

      […] Baby Lovin’ Mama — Chicken Pear Walnut Salad  Born Again Farm Girl — 6 Important Elements of a Homemade Brooder House  Get Busy Gardening — How to Propagate Succulents  Just 2 Sisters — 7 Kitchen Hacks for Camping    The Fab Journey — How to Be More Confident  Whistle and Ivy — Button Gladiator Baby Sandals     Premeditated Leftovers — How to Start Square Foot Gardening  Baking for Blessings — Mary Ann Cake  The Crazy Craft Lady — DIY Magnetic Succulent Planter  Silver Foodie — Pineapple Au Gratin: A Southern Classic   Simply Designing — Build a Porch Swing  Not Just a Housewife — How to Make a Small Space Look Larger […]

      Reply

    Comment Below! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    stacyHey! I'm Stacy and am a DIY addict. I love to get my hands dirty, whether it's sawdust, paint, or dirt. My goal is to help YOU learn to fix up your home and yard. No matter the style or size, I think everyone should love their home. And it doesn't takes a big budget to get there. Let's DIY together!

    Subscribe to My Blog!

    Search this site

    categories

      

    Subscribe

    Footer

    Welcome! I'm sharing our adventures as we fix up our 1938 cottage. Whether it is big or small, I think everyone should love their home and I don't think it takes a lot of money to make a space your own

    About Stacy

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    My Favorites

    copyright

    All images and content are copyrighted via Stacy Risenmay unless otherwise stated. If you'd like to share my work, please link back to this blog.
    Thank you for visiting!


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Meet Stacy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Categories 

    • Home Decor
    • Outdoor Projects & Gardening
    • DIY & Tutorials
    • Kid Activities
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Cleaning
    • Houseplants
    • Staining
    • Painting
    • Power Tools
    • Holiday Ideas

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme

     

    Privacy Policy
    Welcome! Thanks for visiting.
    Hi! I'm Stacy and I want to help YOU become a DIY rockstar! Sign up for my email list so each project, tip, and trick will go directly to your inbox :)
    Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Pinky promise :)
    Welcome!
    Hi! I'm Stacy and I blog about fixing up our 1938 cottage. Join the thousand of others who get my posts sent to their inbox for FREE!
    Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.