6 Quick Hacks To Make Your Small Space Look Bigger
Here's how to fool the your eye into thinking you've got a much bigger home, according to a designer
When moving into a small home or condo unit, you might think that you just have to settle for what’s there. But there are a lot of easy decorating hacks and tricks that won’t cost much, but would make a big difference in space. Here are some ideas from designer Bing Reyes.
Match the color of your shelves to your walls
Paint your shelves the same color as your walls and they’ll quickly fade into the background, tricking your eye into thinking there isn’t too much junk up there.
Light things up
Add lights to your bookshelves by hiding strip lights behind coves, and by adding uplights, and downlights to brighten up the area and make it appear larger.
Ditch the heavy drapes
Gauzy, sheer fabrics allow light to filter in, while keeping those Peeping Toms out.
Keep furniture to the minimum
If you think that buying a lot of pint-sized furniture ill do the trick, think again. Buying ample-sized, functional pieces that fit is more effective, and will not clutter up your small space. Think quality, not quantity.
Hack off moldings
Certain types of moldings and cornices can look good, but for small spaces, they’re just additional lines that will add to the visual clutter of your space.
Go vertical
You may not have the ceiling height of a posh hotel room, but you can give that impression, no matter how small your space is. Invest in furniture that leans towards long, vertical lines—tall bookcases, vertically oriented photos, and curtains that go as high up as possible.
This snippet appeared in the November 2005 issue of Real Living magazine
