With smaller living spaces more common now than ever, it’s left many of us searching for creative ways to make our homes look bigger. There are a few things you can do to open up your space without having to knock down any walls. Maximizing the size of your home doesn’t always have to be complicated. It can be as simple as choosing particular colors, sourcing the right furniture, and being selective about your decor. We’ve put together a list of quick and easy ways you can expand the look and feel of your home, without messy renovations or breaking the bank.

Start With a New Palette

It’s no secret that lighter colors make a room look bigger and brighter. Light and bright walls make a space feel more open, airy, and full of natural light. If painting is the avenue you’re choosing, go for softer tones like milky whites, creamy beige, flaxen yellow, and earthy terracotta pinks. Or simply try an accent wall like our client Karie Rose did in her bedroom. This popular design tactic dates back to the Renaissance and is used to create depth to give the illusion of a larger space.

Establish a Clear Focal Point

Creating a focal point in any sized room helps to guide the eye and leaves the space feeling more balanced and expansive. This can be done by choosing one area or feature and making it the focus of the room. In doing so, this will govern where you place everything else. For example, in this minimalist bedroom, the focal point is the painted shape behind the bed, although in most bedrooms it’s the bed itself that becomes the focal point. Placing a mirror or a large painting above the bed can also highlight the center of the room. 

This modern bohemian living room used The Curated Nomad Seagrass Baskets to create the focal point above the sofa.

Lighting can also be used as focal points. Draw the eyes upward with a stunning light fixture in the middle of your ceiling. This will illuminate the space and contribute to the overall look of your room, depending on what you choose.

Show Some Leg

Although block tables, enclosed cabinets, and bulky furniture can create a cozy feel, they can also make a small room feel tight. We recommend furniture that shows off some leg to allow more visible wall space and to create a more open space like this INK+IVY Kelly Chair or Madison Park Beaumont Tables for your living room and this Mosaic INK + IVY Dining Table for your dining room.

Mirror Mirror On the Floor

Large floor mirrors create the illusion of more depth and floor length to your home. Place this Noir Teak Floor Mirror in your living room as the focal point or accent corner. Or take a Mid-Century Modern approach like our client Ansley with this grid mirror wall.  

Find Furniture With Purpose

While furniture is a great way to accessorize and add character to a room, it can also take up a lot of space. Overcrowding can make a room feel stuffy, restricted, and smaller than it really is. When choosing new furniture, opt for multi-functional pieces like an expandable dining table, a bed with built-in storage underneath, or a decorative chest that can be used as a coffee table. Make sure all furniture you buy is scaled to size and doesn’t block any walkways. 

Bonus Tip:

Clear Your Space (And Your Mind)

Let that inner minimalist shine through! Having a cluttered space makes any room feel crammed, messy and uninviting. Do a big clean up and get rid of anything that no longer serves you. For the things that need to stay, consider introducing compact storage options. You can use decorative baskets or simply repurpose the drawers you already have to stay organized. The same logic applies to your flooring. If your space is smaller, avoid having large rugs that cover most of the floor or too many floor accessories. We recommend focusing on the spaces used most in your home like your family room, kitchen, or front entrance.