Some houses have small rooms. When arranged properly, these spaces can feel like comfortable, Zen-like retreats.
Not every homeowner, however, can pull off an excellent design arrangement. When you cram stuff into a tiny space, the results can feel claustrophobic and cramped.
The good news is that you can trick your eyes into perceiving more space.
Here are a few interior design ideas that you can incorporate into any tiny room:
Table of Contents
1. Change up the Flooring
The right flooring can make a space feel and look more spacious. Consider these tips when overhauling the floor design of your room:
- Select Darker Color Tones for Your Flooring – Brighter doesn’t always mean larger when decorating a room. When you combine dark flooring with the right wall color, you can give your space a more expansive appearance. Choose a darker-toned hardwood, oak, or walnut and pair it with a cooler color tone for the molding, trim, ceiling and walls.
- Use Bigger Tiles – If you’re getting hardwood floor supplies to spruce up your flooring, make sure to use the widest planks or the largest tiles possible. When the floor appears bigger, it produces a greater impression of size as you enter the space.
- Position the Tiles Diagonally – Placing your flooring in this orientation creates an optical illusion. The widest portion of the pattern is facing you the moment you go inside the room. This tricks your brain and eyes into perceiving that the space is bigger than it actually is.
2. Opt for Sheer Window Treatments
Steer clear of window treatments that are ornate, heavy and bulky. They may appear pretty, but curtains, cornices, valances and drapes made using a heavy material can subdue too much natural light.
Instead, use bamboo shades, sheer lace curtains and slatted window blinds. These window treatment examples offer privacy when closed while still allowing sunlight to enter through the material.
3. Mount a Statement Art
Rather than fill the wall in your room with photos, install a single bold piece of art, such as a mesmerizing mandala flower painting. This artwork will help produce a focal point in the space, giving the room depth and structure.
4. Add Stripes
Both horizontal and vertical stripes can give off the illusion of more space. Horizontal stripes help make a room appear wider. On the other hand, vertical stripes help draw the eyes upward. When working with stripes, choose colors that go with the rest of the fabrics and finishes in your room.
5. Install Mirrors
Mirrors are an ideal room accessory for transforming the appearance of a space. You can install them as a covering for a whole wall (preferably close to a window) or on sliding closet doors.
Adding mirrors to your tiny room comes with two benefits. First, they reflect the natural sunlight pouring into the windows, making the space both lighter and brighter. Second, they reflect light, furniture, wall hangings and accessories, tricking the eye into perceiving more space.
6. Get Rid of the Room Clutter
Eliminating the clutter in the room is another effective way of making a small space look larger. Excessive clutter can cover up your flooring and make the room appear tinier.
When you have too much stuff in your personal space, practice the “less is more” adage by getting rid of things you don’t need. You could, for instance, take a cue from Marie Kondo and dispose of possessions that no longer spark joy.
Another suggestion is to cut down the number of artificial flowers and plants, knick-knacks, decorative accessories and other display items that serve no purpose. Minimizing the clutter can positively impact the visual size of a small space.
7. Add Furniture with Legs
If you’re going to introduce furniture pieces into a small room, make sure that their legs are showing. Big pieces of furniture that sit directly on the floor without any legs can look too bulky and big for a tiny space. On the other hand, furniture pieces with legs help draw the eyes upward and produce the illusion of more space and light in a room.
8. Mount Shelves
You can free up walking space and keep things off the floor by installing floating shelves. Use them to store clothes, picture frames and books.
When mounting shelves, make sure that their colors complement the space. You should also organize and color-code each item on the shelf if possible.
9. Opt for Smaller Lamps
Rather than install a single light source in the middle of your ceiling, place several small lamps around the room. This exaggerates your sense of space by drawing the eyes around the room.
Make your room feel bigger than it is by applying these nine design tips. Don’t hesitate to experiment with various types of furniture and rearrange the layout to maximize the space in your room.