14 Easy Ways to Make a Small Room Look Bigger

Small spaces are becoming more common now whether we want it or not. Thanks to an increasing push towards cities, limited space, and a generation trending towards renting rather than owning, we’re living in tighter quarters than we grew up in.

Sometimes, small means cozy, but other times, it can feel incredibly cramped and claustrophobic. Not all hope is lost, though!

There are tons of ways to trick the eye into thinking there’s more space than there in actuality; tweaking scale, light, and movement are key to making your small space look like a palace. Read on for our favorite hacks to make your small space feel bigger. Though your space may be little, it can be fierce.

1. Scale Furniture Down.

Since you’re already stretched for space, you want to create a sense of roominess. Instead of getting pieces of furniture that touch the walls, get slim pieces that leave enough spaces that you can walk through. Opt for lighter, sleek pieces versus heavier ones. Additionally, furniture that’s lower to the ground create a feeling of openness more than their taller counterparts. For example pick a low-profile coffee table for your living room, instead of a big chunky table that swallows all the space between your sofa and media center.

2. Keep it Simple.

It’s as easy as it sounds. Keep. Things. Simple. The more items you have, the more cluttered the room will feel. Busy patterns, artwork, tapestries, and colors will overcrowd and complicate your already confined space. Keep home decor to a minimum, selecting a few standout pieces that will have maximum impact. Too many knick knacks can make your space feel cluttered.

3. Avoid Darker Shades.

When choosing textiles or furniture pieces, opt for light colors over dark colors as much as you can. Dark colors have a tendency to make a room feel cramped, while lighter shades create a stronger sense of openness. Simplify your color scheme to insure that it doesn’t feel like there is too much going on.

4. Use Clever Space-saving Furniture.

When it comes to small spaces, storage ottomans and drop-leaf tables are your best friends. We love this wall-mounted desk that could double as a bar table or eating area. Functional furniture allow to you make more efficient use of your space, which means you need less pieces of furniture overall.

5. Keep Furniture Open.

As we mentioned earlier, heavier objects will give your room a sense of being closed off and restricted. Instead, choose furniture that gives the impression of facilitating light and air flow. When you can, choose furniture that reveals as much floor space underneath as it can. For example a glass top dining room table can make a room feel more spacious.

6. Go Round and Round.

Be sure to incorporate round furniture pieces in your living room and dining room. Too many square pieces with sharp corners can make it feel like the walls are closing in. Round pieces create a sense of open space.

7. Clear Pathways.

Create a pathway by grouping your furniture on one side of the room, so that people can get around without bumping into edges and feeling like they’re the ones in the way.

8. Use a Clear Shower Curtain in a Small Bathroom.

Similar to transparent furniture creating the illusion of more space, a clear shower curtain can bring your bathroom some openness. We like this semi-transparent liner.

9. Add Some Mirrors.

It’s not a myth; mirrors are integral to creating a feeling of openness. Because they both reflect light and the room, they trick the eye into perceiving more space.

10. Go Easy on Tapestries and Rugs.

Curtains cue the eye to stop before looking outside, and also add more “stuff” for the viewer to notice in the room. Instead, consider shutters or light filtering shades or cloth blinds. The more natural light you can let into your room the better, so avoid blackout shades.

The same goes for rugs, too many can crowd your floor space. Use rugs sparingly.

11. Light Rooms With Smaller Lamps.

Smaller lamps spread light and draw the eye around the room, instead of collecting all the light in one area like overhead lights.

12. Pick Lightweight Fabrics.

Avoid heavy materials and fabrics that absorb light and weigh your room down. A good alternative is linen, which will actually increase the sense of airiness in the room. In addition, pick different shades of the same color when it comes to furniture and other decor. This will break up the visual monotony and at the same time keep too many mix-matched colors from overpowering the space.

13. Buy Some See-through Furniture.

Glass tables and lucite chairs are perfect for fooling the eye into thinking there’s more space. For example, we love these transparent dining chairs that will make your dining area appear more spacious.

14. Use White.

White is the holy grail of colors when it comes to opening a room up, and you’d be wise to make sure your walls are painted this color for maximum openness. If you must choose a different wall color, be sure to choose lighter shades and tones. White is ideal because it connotes a sense of lightness and serenity. If you’re hesitant to commit to all white, consider adding a gallery wall featuring a few large, impactful pieces of art.

Small spaces are both charming and challenging. When arranged well, they're cozy and even Zen-like. But often we try to cram everything we have and love into one tiny space, leaving our rooms feeling cramped and anything but Zen. When it comes to finding the best ways on how to make a small room look bigger, it's all about being mindful about each item we choose to add to the room.

Luckily, small-space living isn't rocket science, and with a few tips, you can make it happen. We asked our Interior Designers to share some ideas on how to trick the eye into perceiving more space. It's all about light, shapes, and scale. 

1. Add a Mirror

It seems too simple to be true, but adding a mirror to the room can instantly expand the space. Mirrors bounce light deep into rooms, helping enlargen the space.  "A mirror can make a space feel bigger and draw additional light from natural sources," mentions Elle Applewhite, Interior Designer.

Some of our favorite mirrors:

The Aluminum Alloy Thin Mirror from Overstock is a great choice for a minimalist entry. It's narrow frame isn't distracting and it's length helps create space vertically, making spaces taller and more open.  

The rustic wood of the Target Walnut Hairpin Finish Floor Mirror will add a touch of warmth to any space. This neutral wood tone will work with any color palette.

The CB2 Infinity Mirror collection is a staple for our designers. With it's narrow frame and multitude of size options and shapes, there is sure to be an option that works for your front entry. 

2. Use Round or Oval Rugs

To make your room look bigger, swap the traditional rug shape for an oval or rounded one. Applewhite explains that oval or round rugs don't define the floor space like a rectangular rug would typically do, giving the illusion of more space. And an abstract-shaped rug will also do the trick. Our designers have been crushing on the Lattice Frieze Area Rug, Article's Crush Dove Gray Rug and Wayfair's Mistana Hillsby Oriental Rug. 

3. Bring Storage Space Vertically

We often don't think about our walls as space for storage. However, when trying to make a room look bigger, moving storage up can save space and open up the room. "Bring storage up vertically sing clothes hooks, wall-mounted shelves, and other options," suggests Lauren Kokenes, Designer. As you choose furniture, making sure you pay attention to things like furniture legs to avoid any bulk visuals around the floor can make a huge difference in how the space looks. 

Some of our favorite furniture to save space:

4. Use Glass Tops for Tables

"Where appropriate, use glass tops for coffee, end, and console tables to let the eye see through them and allow light to pass. This way, you're not cutting off the visual flow of the room," recommends Kokenes. Glass top tables are quite popular for dining rooms and living rooms, instantly making the rooms look bigger. Bonus tip, look for glass tables that have beveling as these will behave similarly to mirrors and reflect light coming into the room.

Some of our favorite glass top tables:

This simple and sleek Willa Arlo Glass Top End Table is the perfect addition to any small living room. It's small footprint, shelves and glass make it ideal. 

This Marilyn Glass Top and Steel Base Console Table would be a great addition to any front entry or behind a sofa. It's acrylic look lends a more modern touch to a room. 

This Joss and Main Xavier52 Console Table adds nice lines and visual interest to a small space. The shelf also adds practical storage. 

5. Keep Paint Colors Neutral

Another instant way to make a room look bigger is by changing the paint color. Try to a neutral palette. While light colors will give the illusion of wider space, don’t limit your paint options. Virtually any solid color you choose, including dark blues and greys, can help a room look bigger than it is. The best way to enlargen a small space using paint, is to apply dark paint colors on walls that receed. This will help add depth into the room. 

Some of our favorite neutral colors:

As you can tell, making a small room look bigger is all about playing with lighting and proportions. Try to look at your walls and vertical space as an asset to declutter and keep the floor easy on the eyes. If you need help on how to make a room look bigger, start a project today and work with one of our talented Interior Designers to turn your small room into a Zen-like masterpiece.