A lot of people put up with rooms that simply aren’t as big as they need them to be. Of course, this is usually because of particular budget constraints when it comes to renting or buying a property in the first place. But many people make the mistake of simply putting up with a cramped living space when there are actually action they can take to make things feel much roomier. This is especially important to consider if the room we’re talking about is supposed to be particularly comfortable. Living rooms are certainly one example, but bedrooms are perhaps the most important.
Are you feeling cramped in your bedroom? It should be the most comfortable room in the house, but it quite often isn’t if you only have tiny space. However, there are plenty of things you can do about it.
We’re going to be focusing on the bedroom because this is such an important room to get right. However, all of this advice could quite easily apply to pretty much any room in the house, especially that of the living room.
Get rid of that clutter
For many people living in small spaces, the bedroom inevitably becomes a dumping ground for everything around the house that they don’t want visitors to see! If this is the case for you, then tidy up that clutter and give yourself some room to breathe.
Think about getting some storage drawers for underneath your bed, where you can put all the off-season clothes, coats and shoes for a few months. This will free up a dramatic amount of space in your wardrobe. If you have a loft space, use it for storage. Or, alternatively, you could turn it into another room.
Fix shelving as high as you can for your books and various random objects, and it will also allow you to lift up any plants you have in there off the floor and out of the way. When you have a small room, you need to be prepared to use every bit of space possible.
Getting rid of clutter certainly helps free up more physical room, but there are also tricks you should employ which will create a stronger feeling of space. Using light colors gives the illusion of more space. Try re-decorating with whites, creams or any light tones that will instantly make your bedroom look bigger.
Also, think about matching drapes and furniture with the wall color. Again, it creates the illusion of a more open and spacious room. They don’t have to be the same color, but should be a similar tone. Think silver with white, or gold with beige. Light colors help make a room appear bigger for two reasons: bold colors make the mind feel a bit busy and chaotic, so there’s a big psychological thing going on there. Light colors also reflects more light, which we’ll look more into later.
Use smaller furniture
The most obvious way to give yourself more space is to get smaller furniture. Beds, wardrobes and chests of drawers are the usual suspects when it comes to sucking up space. Think about switching them to another room and getting smaller units instead.
Dropping from a king-size bed or installing higher, thinner units can make far better use of your space. Another option – if you can – is to go into the walls and make a custom closet or cupboard. While this seems like a step too far for many homeowners, the fact is that storage solutions such as wardrobes, shelves, bookcases, and drawers tend to take up a lot of room. If you create internal storage, you’ll create so much more space.
Luxury can help
Think of a small room as a benefit. You don’t have to fill it, and you have to be a lot more selective about what you put in there. Being choosy means you will get a chance to spend a little more on things that really appeal to you.
If you’ve got a small bedroom which has furniture that isn’t comfortable or you don’t like all that much, then that just makes the whole scenario worse. You may think that getting a more luxurious bed might be taking things a step too far, but with better financial planning, it really doesn’t have to be that expensive an option. A bed that is more comfortable and has better support will help you feel so much better about a smaller room. Better financial planning can also allow you to get the money you need to complete the other decorative tasks we’ve mentioned.
More mirrors
Mirrors make a small room look much bigger. Interior designers don’t always have them installed in homes just so that the homeowners can have plenty of reflective surfaces in which to review themselves; they also help make the room look bigger, more beautiful, and more modern because of their reflective qualities. Try and fit them around the room and face them towards a focal point for the most dramatic effect.
Placing your mirrors where they can reflect outdoor light is even more effective. To achieve this, stand by your window during the day and see where the light falls before deciding on each mirror’s position. Speaking of which…
More natural light
One of the most important pieces of advice you can get as far as making a room feel more comfortable and looking bigger is concerned is introducing more natural light. Of course, we’re assuming that you and your family don’t exactly want to start smashing holes through the walls in order to fit in more windows for the sole purpose of making a room look bigger.
So you’ll need to look towards other techniques that allow for more natural light. Make sure those curtains or blinds are opened wide; don’t just keep them closed because you don’t want to risk people on the outside being able to see the room! Make sure those windows are as clean as can be, too, and consider removing anything on the outside that may be blocking the flow of light, such as tall plants or trees.
Disclosure: This is a contributed post.
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