With house prices constantly on the up, more homeowners are turning to smaller houses and apartments for their first home than previous generations. This can often cause problems in terms of storage space, and also create issues when decorating as certain decorative styles can emphasise the lack of space, making the house feel more cramped than it actually is.
Luckily, some simple tricks can help to create a feeling of space without compromising on style or luxury.
Bring in and emphasise as much natural light as possible
One of the quickest ways to make a home seem more spacious is by increasing the amount of natural light coming into the home. The best way of achieving this is by replacing small windows with large windows, balconies or French doors. However, this is not always feasible due to cost.
Other options include using mirrored or reflective accessories for decoration and painting the walls white to reflect any light around the room, and choosing sheer curtains or blinds to maximise the amount of light entering the space.
Emphasise the height of the room
Small homes are often smaller in terms of floor space, but on par in terms of height with bigger houses. This gives opportunities for homeowners to draw attention to the height of the room and detract attention from the limited floor space. Painting the ceilings the same colour as the walls gives the illusion of one seamless surface which creates a feeling of height, and using high up space to decorate, for example through shelves or wall hangings, draws guests attention upwards.
Opt for multipurpose furniture
Small homes can often mean a lack of storage space, which means furniture that doubles as storage space is a blessing in disguise. Not all multipurpose storage is created equally, but there are designs out there which look as stylish as standard furniture. Good options to choose are sofa beds, mirrors which double as jewellery cabinets, trunks which can be used as benches and tables which have drawers underneath.
If multipurpose furniture isn’t your thing, glass furniture (i.e. tables and chairs) can go a long way to making the room seem bigger than it is. Choosing furniture which is a similar colour to the walls can also create a feeling of space as it blends together. In this case, choosing various shades of the same colour will prevent the room from lacking depth.
Go open plan
Having individual rooms can make a house seem smaller than it is due to cramped room sizes. By going for an open floor plan, you knock down the barriers and create one large open space. This works particularly well when combining eating and dining areas, or kitchen and dining areas. To keep areas distinct, use barriers such as the back of a sofa, a cabinet or a coffee table to create lines between rooms while still allowing the space to flow.
If you like the idea of going open plan but prefer the practicality of individual rooms, choosing internal French doors or glass dividers can be a good way of separating the space while still allowing both rooms to feel bigger.
For more interior tips and tricks, visit Emerald Doors