4 Tips to Make Small Rooms Look Larger

Brent Palmer
Published on June 14, 2017

4 Tips to Make Small Rooms Look Larger

Are you struggling with how to make those small rooms look larger in your home?

Sure, “tiny homes” are now a fact of life in the real estate world. No, they aren’t the rage some would have you think, but a minimalist lifestyle is on many people’s wish list.

One doesn’t necessarily have to live in a dollhouse, however, you will need to know the challenges of trying to furnish and live in, and with, tiny rooms.  Homeowners in older homes are keenly aware of “small room syndrome.”

One of the most important aspects of staging a home for sale is to declutter in an effort to make rooms, wardbrobes, and cupboards appear roomier. Believe it or not, with strategic staging, even the tiniest spaces can look larger.

1. Lighten and brighten

Dark rooms have a cave-like quality – small and cramped. Obviously, adding more light will help, so opt for smaller lamps spread around the room. These will draw the eyes around the room, making the space seem larger. If the room is so small that it lacks the furniture to hold lamps, consider using wall sconces and floor lamps to lighten up dark corners.

One trick designers use is track lighting. It makes the room less cluttered and adds light across the room. Use small lights in the track lighting as large lights may overwhelm the small space.

2. Paint

Paint is the miracle cure for many things that ail a home. Not only does it freshen up a room but, choose your color strategically, and it will help the room appear much larger than it is.

Surf the Internet to find which colours make a room look larger and you’ll see that most folks swear that white is the best. As a matter of fact, it’s not always the truth, according to professional designers. Since they’re taught that “light colours advance and dark colours recede,” and visual perception tests back this up, dark colours can actually make the room seem larger.

Now, that’s for the walls.

You’ll also want the ceiling to appear higher to add to the “this-room-isn’t-as-small-as-it-appears” illusion. The ceiling should be darker than the walls, according to Laurel Bern with Laurel Bern Interiors.

3. Choose accessories carefully

Too many accessories make a small space appear cluttered. Just like an overstuffed wardrobe, clutter makes a room appear small.

You’ll need to be ruthless when ridding the room of the excess accessories. In fact, remove everything and then “buy only things you’re crazy about”.  Take your time and gradually you’ll create a place that you’re proud to call home.   “Don’t just buy items to fill a space”,  adds Vic Bibby, interior designer.

When it comes to art work, hang the most interesting on the wall furthest from the door, as artwork will create a well-defined focal point of the room and sense of depth.

Another trick with photographs and artwork is to hang them lower than you normally would. “It gives the impression of a taller ceiling,” according to the experts at Amara, a luxury home fashion retailer.

4. Furniture placement

Yes, too much furniture and overly large and heavy furniture will make a small room feel cramped, but even smaller furniture won’t work if it’s not placed strategically. Pull the sofa out so that it’s 3 to 4 inches from the wall. “Leaving space creates the illusion a wall is further away than it actually is,” suggests the Amara designers.

Tall bookcases or shelves hung all the way to the ceiling also create an illusion of more room by emphasizing the vertical space. “Higher placement of design features helps create the feeling of volume in the room,” according to Houzz contributor Neila Deen.


top real estate agent richmond nelson

Brent Palmer – Professional Real Estate Consultant

About the Author: The above article on 4 Tips to Make a Small Room Look Larger was written and provided by Brent Palmer, a local leader in the field of Richmond and Nelson Real Estate sales, marketing, advanced technology for home selling, and social media. You can contact Brent Palmer here, or at 027 544 9921.

He has helped many people buy and sell homes in the Nelson, Stoke and Richmond areas for years, and would love the opportunity to help you as well.

Thinking of selling your home? I have a real passion for helping people sell their homes in our Nelson and Tasman Region, as well as the marketing, social media & advanced technology for home selling that goes along with it. I’d love to have the opportunity to sit down with you discuss how we can work together to get you the best price.

I help people buy and sell real estate in the following Nelson and Tasman  towns  & neighbourhoods: Wakefield, Brightwater, Hope, Appleby, Redwood Valley, Mapua, Stoke, Tahunanui, Atawhai and of course, Richmond and Nelson City. Connect with Brent on Facebook and pretty much everywhere else.

Know someone who needs help with real estate?

Be rewarded and REFER them here