5 TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE LOOK LARGER
For many people, buying a bigger house or building an extension is an unaffordable dream, but being short of space doesn’t mean you have to feel squashed in your home.
Here are 5 tips to help you make your house look larger.
1. Declutter - Nothing makes a room feel smaller than unnecessary clutter. Whether it’s paperwork and magazines lying around, or kids’ toys strewn across the living room floor, a messy room always feels smaller than it actually is.
If this sounds familiar then it’s time for a clear-out, and don’t be afraid to be ruthless. Divide all your unnecessary clutter into three categories. Things that just need throwing out, items you can take to the charity shop, and items you can sell to make some extra cash.
Not only will a good decluttering free up some space and make your house look larger, but it’s also great for your mental wellbeing too.
2. Brighten your rooms up - Painting your rooms with light, bright colours will automatically make them feel bigger. And by bright, we don’t mean fluorescent yellows and pinks. Just an off white or a pastel yellow will instantly transform a room.
Avoid darker colours and heavily patterned wallpaper, and go for neutral, light and bright colours.
And when it comes to brightening the rooms up it’s not just the walls to consider. Having blinds instead of curtains will take up less space, and you can opt for light fittings with brighter bulbs to really lighten the room up and allow more light to radiate.
3. Buy multi-functional furniture -This is definitely the most practical thing you can do to create more space and store away clutter. For example, you could invest in a sofa-bed that can be folded up when it’s not being used, giving you more floor space.
Or you could opt for an Ottoman bed, so you’ve got lots of extra storage space without cluttering the room.
Essentially any furniture that can be folded up or doubled up for storage is likely to be a good investment.
Another tip when it comes to furniture is to avoid items that lie on the floor and buy ones with legs, such as coffee tables and sofas. This allows more light to come in and give the room an airier feel, and it can also double up as extra storage space underneath. Just be careful not to use it as an excuse to add more clutter though!
4. Use mirrors - A couple of well placed mirrors can make a huge difference when it comes to making a room feel bigger.
Choose a range of shapes and sizes and place them strategically throughout your house and you’ll be amazed at the effect they can have.
Because they reflect natural and artificial light, they’ll make any room seem brighter whatever time of day it is, and they’ll give the illusion of making a room feel larger just by being there.
Another tip with mirrors is to place one near a window so it’s reflecting the outside world. This can make a huge impact on a room’s perceived space.
5. Arrange your furniture to maximise space - Large items in the middle of a room are probably the biggest no-no when it comes to maximising your space. Unless of course, there’s plenty of room to get around them.
Keeping large, bulky pieces of furniture against the walls is usually the best thing to do, so you can keep as much floor space free as possible. And be sure to keep pathways around furniture as clear as possible, as squeezing between a bed and a wardrobe for example will only heighten the feeling of being cramped.
Another trick you can use when it comes to furniture is to use shelves over cabinets as much as possible, and the higher up the better. A bulky bookcase will take up a significant amount of space, but if you can put a couple of shelves high up on the wall which will fit all of your books then you’ll be freeing up valuable floor space.
When it comes to furniture, if space is at a premium, then stick to the essentials. While it’s nice to have extra armchairs and fancy floor lamps, ask yourself if they’re actually necessary or just an extra feature that’s nice to have.
The key to making a room feel larger when it comes to furniture, is to keep as much floor space free as you possibly can, especially pathways through rooms.
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