We’ve, recently, been working on a lot of large scale renovations of older homes in Seattle + Bellevue, Washington. From beautiful remodeled kitchens, bathrooms, stairwells and entryways to home offices + laundry rooms some gorgeous spaces are truly coming to life.

And over the last several months, what we’ve found is there’s almost always one room in these large scale renovations we wish was just a bit larger. A space we wanted to feel more grandeur than the four walls will really allow. Certainly, knocking down one of those walls is always an option *wink* but these are homes built for living in a different era + so the question continues to swirl around in my head: how to make a small room look bigger.

Now, there’s a few different contexts to consider how to go about making a small room look bigger. So...first, let’s take a look at some ideas from a renovation + remodel perspective. 

Then, towards the bottom of these ideas — we’ll finish on some furnishing + styling tips that will help create an open, airy + expansive feeling to your home. 

Without further ado boo, let’s dive into some unique ways to make small spaces feel bigger. 

Shall we?

Remodeling + Large Scale Renovation Tips For Making A Room Look Bigger

Continuous Flooring

One truly foundational trick of the trade, to make any home feel larger, is having continuous flooring material connecting the main living areas of your home. What this will do is keep the eye from breaking where two, three, or even four different flooring materials come together. 

Simply because your eye won't have the friction of alternating multiple floor coverings this gives the illusion of an expansive, open, and larger home.

Isn’t that crazy? 

Use Vertical Space or Ceiling Details 

When we’re designing home offices or smaller spaces in any home we’re constantly looking for ways to pack a punch. And what I mean by that is — we know the space is limited but how can we captivate the eye in a way that takes focus away from “wow, this is a small room” and rather emphasizes something that feels unexpected yet inviting.

There are several fantastic ways we like to do this. 

From adding crown molding + ceiling appliques (i.e. a medallion where a semi-flush mount light might be) to adding wall detail like millwork (i.e. board + batten) or even a wallcovering.

The goal of using vertical space or ceiling details is to emphasize the space we do have in order to create a sense of openness. And the ceiling is a space that most people forget about but in small rooms — use it to your advantage.

Add Horizontal Elements

Sounds vague, right? Let me ground this for you then.

Similar to ceiling details and vertical space, horizontal elements like a chair rail, wainscoting or ship-lapped walls subtly influence the eye to move around the entire room. 

This moving about the room controls our perception of the space + even the most simple horizontal detail creates the illusion of a larger wall. When you combine this on all four walls or in the majority of the room suddenly that small room looks bigger.

Mindful Use Of Color 

When most people think of using color, the first thought that comes to mind is paint. 

While we’re going to spend some time on the particulars to consider around paint, I want you to think of color as an influencer on emotion + question how you should go about confidently selecting colors for any area in your home but particularly for smaller rooms. 

Ask yourself what colors are good for creating positive energy + a healthy home? What color palettes make sense for our home (consider what is existing) but what colors are also in alignment with what we like.

Paint seems very surface level. 

Most people just go to the paint store, grab some swatches and some sample pods + make a decision. But the intricacies + specificities that determine the right decision around paint can be… well, overwhelming. 

It’s not only what paint color you're considering. It's hue, saturation, tonality, sheen, light-reflective values. And then, how does the available light both natural and artificial impact the color you choose in your home, at different times of the day.

Told ya things aren’t always what they seem :)

In a room with unfiltered natural light, too light of color with the wrong sheen might make everything almost reflective. And the opposite is true too. In a room with little natural light, almost entirely reliant upon artificial light, too dark of color might make the room feel like it’s caving in.

Be mindful in your use of color. Spend time considering all the options. Selecting the right color for how to make a small room look bigger isn’t as easy as “here are my top paint colors of 2022.” It’s understanding your space, and being mindful in your selection.

Certainly, a lighter color isn’t a bad direction for making a small room look bigger, in fact, it’s probably the way to go in most cases but that doesn’t mean white is the only color for small rooms.

Lighting

Lighting is a fantastic way to make a small room look bigger. And there’s a handful of ways to accomplish this feat. 

In some instances, adding a single window or even a set of windows will create an expansive feel to a small room. 

However, beyond adding natural light simply adding a task or ambient light in the form of recessed lights, wall sconces, table lamps, or an overhead semi-flush mount also creates the illusion of space.

In either case, what you want to ensure is that light is spread evenly throughout the room which will draw the eye outward giving an open + airy feel to the room.

Furnishing + Styling Tips For Making A Room Look Bigger

Now, onto things to consider around furnishing + styling a small room.

Choose The Perfect Layout

It should go without saying that the layout of your room should be top of priority. 

Consider the traffic flow both physically as you walk about the room but also the visual blockiness or open feeling that your layout creates.

And remember, function always comes before aesthetics. In other words — a layout shouldn’t just “look” good, it should be liveable + conducive for how your family lives.

Determine The Right Furniture

Speaking in generalities here, when you have a smaller room and you want it to look bigger and feel more open then you’re going to want the footprint of your furniture to be smaller. 

In other words, you don’t want oversized or bulky furniture in these areas of your home.

But smaller furniture isn’t all that you want or need. 

Ideally, you take it a step further by choosing furniture that’s not only the appropriate size but has raised legs. While also not physically dominating the space, furniture with legs affords our perspective of openness to go underneath these pieces which in turn creates breathing room and furthers our sense of comfort.

It’s like magic *wink*

Rugs Are The 5th Wall

We’ve talked a lot about rugs at Elegant Simplicity because whether that’s a living room, dining room, bedroom, or anywhere else in your home we believe rugs are the 5th wall. And we consider it this because you can make just as much of a statement on the floor as you can on your walls.

The first thing to understand is that statements aren’t always bold — sometimes… In fact, quite often statements are subtle. Take for instance the size of a rug in a small room. 

Naturally, if you’re following along you’re thinking to yourself, “well, they said a smaller room equals furniture with a smaller footprint. So, my rug should be smaller too.” 

Wrong :) See, this is how good design comes to life. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken + this is one of them.

In a smaller room, a small rug will emphasize the limited space + it will actually make even the most beautiful small room feel cumbersome, tight + awkward. 

In order to make a small room look bigger, we need to make it feel more expansive, and using a larger rug is the perfect way to accentuate grandeur. It’s subtle. It’s underfoot but it feels open.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Alright, well I’m not talking about the mirror from Snow White BUT a mirror will do wonders for a small room because it will reflect both the light in the room (which makes it brighter) and the space that provides the illusion of more room. 

When you’re thinking about adding a mirror, try hanging it on the wall so as to not eat up any floor space. Again, the less the eye needs to track through the better.

In tight spaces or small areas, the one exception to large floor mirrors being acceptable is a hallway or layered in a nook where a mirror that takes up floor space might purposefully reflect a view + present a perspective that wouldn’t otherwise be there if it weren’t.

Organizing Tips For Making A Room Look Bigger

As an interior design + professional organizing firm, we believe organizing is the foundation to a beautiful + functional home. So, here are a few organizing tips to go along with how to make a small room look bigger.

All About That Storage

Utilizing multi-functional furniture is a tremendous way to make the eye perceive space differently. A bookcase with a built-in desk or an ottoman with hidden storage not only maximizes the storage areas in small spaces but in some cases also gives the eye reason to pause.

Containerize + Style

There’s no doubt that things that aren’t hidden away in multi-functional furniture should still have intentional + purposeful storage solutions in a small room (think baskets, bins, canisters, labels) as it’s a great way to keep everything contained which ensures things look bigger.

A Clutter-Free Space Definitely Means A Clear Mind

Clutter, like flooring transitions, creates visual breaks for our eyes + gives off an impression of choppy, compact, and discomfort. 

In a study conducted by Princeton Neuroscience Institute, it states that simply having too many things in your view makes all those things compete for attention in your brain. 

So yes, a clear space free of clutter means that your mind will be focused on what you want it to be. 

That’s my rift for today, thanks for tuning in :)

Everything you need to know! And don’t forget, if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat. 

P.S. If you loved this article then you’re going to really enjoy the 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home. And you might also enjoy, the 7 Elements Of Interior Design.