How to: Make a room look bigger

Put the hammer down! Here are some ways to make your rooms feel bigger and more spacious without knocking through any walls.

Build upwards

A tall bookshelf that reaches the ceiling will automatically draw the eyes up, which makes a room look taller and bigger. By reducing the contrast between the walls and the shelves, the boundaries of the room can appear extended.

However, be careful not to pick too bulky a bookshelf or the space it takes up will have the opposite effect!

A way to recreate this effect without taking up floorspace is to use striped wallpapers or floor-to-ceiling shiplap.

A pendant lighting fixture which drops down from the ceiling can do a similar job, emphasising the height of a room by emphasising the vertical.

Showing some leg

Displaying furniture legs in a room can create a visual trick that helps to make the space appear larger.

When furniture is raised off the ground, it allows the eyes to see more of the floor, giving the impression of a more open and airy environment. This technique works particularly well with sofas, chairs, and tables that have slim or tapered legs, as they create a sense of lightness and openness.

By exposing more of the floor, the room feels less cluttered and more spacious. Additionally, the flow of natural light around and under the furniture can further enhance the illusion of a bigger room.

Light colour palette

Using white in a room can create a sense of spaciousness and airiness.

White reflects light, making the space feel brighter and more open.

This doesn’t mean you can’t use any colour but stick to softer tones like blues, greens and warm browns. Using a simple colour palette will make the room seem more cohesive, and by minimising the use of bold or dark colours, the room can appear more expansive as there are fewer visual distractions.

Lighter colours also have a way of visually pushing back the walls, giving the illusion of a larger area.

Get away from the wall

Create a central layout instead of pushing a sofa up against the wall.

When there’s a wall right next to a piece of furniture, your eyes are drawn to the wall, which can make the room seem more cramped.

By creating distance between the furniture and the walls, the room opens up, appearing more spacious and inviting. This simple technique allows for better traffic flow and can help the room feel less cluttered.

Additionally, pulling furniture away from the walls can provide opportunities to create cosy nooks or focal points within the room, adding depth and visual interest.

Go big with accents

Many people think small when designing a small room. Instead, add a couple of oversized accessories, like a big piece of art or a single large chair.

A lot of little objects make a room appear cluttered while one or two big ones make it feel more spacious.

If big wall art isn’t your thing, you could go for a large plant like a fig tree. Adding plants and using natural textures in furniture can also help to tie the indoors to the outdoor view and make a space feel more open.