Small House Series {Make Your Space Appear Larger}

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

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.

 

"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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

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!