We plan ahead our whole life. We buy houses in Kansas City thinking it will be the best investment of our life, and then? It turns out that the space is too small for our stuff! Many people would like to have bigger homes or apartments, but usually, it’s impossible to change it, at least for some time.
Small spaces can feel cozy, but sometimes you may feel like the walls are closing in on you. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we spend most of our time inside, so it’s crucial that we feel comfortable in our homes. If you have problems with your interior, it’s probably the right time to consider using few proven tricks to make your space feel less claustrophobic. Here, you will find some tips on making your small space cozy but not cluttered.
Let the Light In
Lighting plays a significant role in the look of our home. Small, dark rooms will always look unwelcoming and cold. With proper lighting, you can create a cozier and bigger-looking space. Both natural and artificial light can be employed to achieve the desired effect. If you want to brighten the room, restrain yourself from using window coverings such as curtains that pool on the ground or dark blinds.
For one thing, big coverings can be a little too much, especially when they are close to other furniture, and they can feel like they are inching toward you. Dark curtains will block the light, so consider employing sheer or semi-sheer drapery panels if you want to use them. Recessed lighting can add brightness to your room without adding clutter.
Paint Your Wall Using Light Colors (or Two-Toned)
Most of the time, painting a room using dark colors will make it seem even smaller than before and perhaps even cave-like. The light won’t be bouncing around the room, but it will focus on the dark paint. To make it look more spacious, consider using light colors like shades of white, cream, or yellow.
If you want to make your room look bold and cozy, you can use some crazy color as an accent – just paint one of the walls with it. Accents like this, especially in warm colors, will make your room look far cozier. Just remember that if you choose one of the darker shades, the rest of the walls should be very light.
Match Your Furniture to the Wall
While it may seem drastic, camouflaging a big piece of furniture can take away its weight. By matching its color to the color of the wall, it doesn’t grab your attention so much, and it doesn’t feel heavy, as our brain often perceives contrast as clutter. It is best to choose light-colored furniture, as dark ones tend to make the place more crumped. You can do the same thing with bulky stuff that sticks out, like radiators or fans.
Use Double-Duty Furniture
If you are living in a small space, you have to think about your furniture strategically. When you need your room to look bigger than it is, you can use double-duty furniture that will allow you to forget about other pieces. You can think about using ottomans that you can also use as storage. They are empty on the inside, so you can just take off the top part and hide the things you need. Ottomans can also serve their purpose or be an extra sitting for guests if you need one.
Another excellent option for double-duty furniture are convertible sofas or murphy beds. Instead of a big, heavy bed that occupies half of the room, you can just put away your bed and enjoy your ample space.
Go Easy on Art and Photos
A gallery wall is something that looks amazing in a large space. Unfortunately, small rooms with many pictures just give a messy impression. A few selected items will look great together, but be wary of going overboard. Oversized art can undoubtedly play an important role in interior design, but huge art pieces can feel imposing in a small room. It may be a good idea to stick to small or moderate-sized pictures. Although, a single large piece hanging just above the eye level in most cases will look better than a smaller group of frames spread all over the wall.
If you absolutely need a lot of your family photos, you can consider changing them regularly so that only one to three are displayed simultaneously.
Keep Open Surfaces Clean
Creating displays of your favorite items is always fun, but it can make a small space look cramped. A few selected items on a shelf will look nice, but keeping it clean and clutter-free will greatly impact making the whole room feel airier. Negative space will create the illusion of more square feet than in reality. Remember that sometimes less is more. A group of two or three suited things can create more visual pleasure than a whole cluster.
Buy Properly-Sized Furniture
When moving, most of your furniture moves with you, but every room is differently shaped and sized in most cases. When furniture is too big or too small, it makes the space feel disjointed. Always size your room before buying a new piece of furniture. Make sure that you have enough space to put it without blocking the whole room.
For smaller living rooms, you may want to consider buying a sectional couch. It is comfy, big, and perfect for creating zones and open spaces.
The Bottom Line
Every space can be designed fashionably and comfortably. You just need to be aware of a few rules that make a small space seem bigger. Some people have problems with asking for professional help, especially when their apartment is pretty small, but actually, that’s when you need it most. Qualified interior designers can help you choose furniture that will hide away all your things and make your home not only cozy but practical.
Of course, you can always do it yourself. On the Internet, you can find free programs that will help you design your space and show you how every piece of furniture will look!
