Porter Davis Homes Lead Interior designer, Stephanie Atanasovski, has revealed her expert tips to create an illusion of more space in your home.
These design tricks work together to create a room that not only seems bigger, but is also more functional.
1. The power of colour
Colour is an essential element to consider when styling a small room. White and neutral colours will reflect light around a space, making it feel bigger and more open, whilst too many dark colours in a small space will absorb the light and close it in.
By using similar, light colours across the walls, ceiling and floor surfaces, there will be a natural blur between those boundaries, minimising colour clutter.
If you’re concerned that too much white might make the space feel cold or clinical, consider using neutral shades like beiges or greys, or warm up the space by using wood textures, incorporating plush decor and soft lighting.
2. Choose furniture wisely
Smart choices in furniture can make or break a small room. If the room needs a high level of functionality like bedrooms or living rooms, utilise hidden storage solutions and multifunctional furniture to minimise clutter.
In the bedroom, a sofa bed or a bed with drawers underneath are incredibly useful. In a common space such as a dining area or lounge, consider an expandable dining table and use an ottoman as a coffee table, or better yet use side nesting tables and you won’t need a coffee table at all.
In a small room, place large pieces of furniture against walls to scale the space and ensure pathways remain open and easily accessible.
3. Magic mirrors
Mirrors and glass are great tools to create the illusion of space through reflection. Hanging a mirror will bounce more light around the room and give the perception of more square meterage, while furniture with glass tabletops and cabinet doors will contribute to giving life to cramped rooms.
The ideal spot for a mirror in a small room is in the focal point of a room, or placed on a dark wall. In these spots they’ll give the most depth and light whether it’s night or day.
4. Consider natural and artificial lighting
Natural lighting should always be the first priority for small spaces. Bringing light in connects the room to the rest of the house, as well as to the outdoors. The best case scenario is to minimise window coverings, thus maximising natural light. For privacy, consider thin shutters or a lightweight curtain that matches the wall colour and extends down to the floor; creating height. Ensure that the curtain rail extends beyond the window frame to avoid blocking light.
For artificial lighting, select soft textured and slender light fixtures. Warm coloured light bulbs add
warmth to the area and will make the space feel light, bright and cosy.
5. Declutter
Let your room breathe and try to be minimal with your selection of ornaments on display. Be selective
with what you have displayed, group them together and avoid busy patterns and loud colours. One of the best rules of decluttering is to decide which items you can’t live without, and pack the rest away.
Choose furniture with storage solutions that will allow you to organise a room without everything being
on display.
If you want to hang wall art, choose one hero piece that is scaled to the size of the room. An over or undersized piece, or a cluster of small paintings can make a small space look too busy. It’s also okay to leave walls blank.
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