10 Little Things You Can Do to Make Your Home Look Bigger
The team at Redbrick Homes has put together a list of 10 simple things you can do to make your home look bigger and more spacious! Read on to learn more.
With newly introduced HDB BTOs ranging from 36 square metres for a 2-room flexi flat to a modest 130 square metres for the “largest” executive flat types, and the shrinking of condominium apartments, it is fair to say that Singaporean homeowners tend to face quite the challenge in decorating their small living spaces.
Looking to create the illusion of a larger space without spending a bomb to knock down structural walls? Planning for small changes to achieve big effects on how your small space can look a lot bigger than it really is? Well, to help you out, our team at Redbrick Homes has compiled a useful list of 10 simple things you can do to achieve just that!
Choose Your Furniture Wisely
When it comes to furnishing a home with a smaller footprint, savvy homeowners know that it is all about scale and proportions.
Large clunky furniture that takes up a large footprint will only make the space look more cramped than it is.
Want to create a sense of spaciousness? Go for low-rise furniture with sleek profiles that sit close to the ground. For instance, in the bedroom, opting for a low-profile platform bed instead of a four-poster bed with a canopy will leave a lot more room and feel more spacious.
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Strategic Furniture Placement
Following on from the previous point, apart from choosing the right type of furniture, strategic placement of that furniture is also essential to maximize the space of the room.
Here are some tips to adhere to for maximizing the space in any room:
- General rule: Arrange the furniture to see as much of the floor as possible.
- Keep larger pieces of furniture against the walls if you can.
- Leave enough room for a clear walking path.
De-Clutter the Room
The fewer things there are in the room, the more spacious it will feel – it is really as simple as that. If you want an airy living space, make sure to keep the design minimal.
Stay away from bulky furniture, limit the number of accessories, and décor, and you will find that everything within your sight feels clean and open instead of being cramped and cluttered.
Details That Emphasize Vertical Space
Lines in interior design are often used to manipulate the way someone perceives a particular space. So how do interior designers help to achieve the sense of a taller and airier room? The answer is with vertical lines.
By using painted-on vertical stripes, paneling, or vertical tiles, walls will appear taller, giving a sense of height to a room, drawing our eyes up for an illusion of a larger space.
Mirror On the Wall
Mirrors are by far one of the easiest and most affordable ways to trick our eyes into thinking a space is larger than it is.
By positioning mirrors in the right spots, and reflecting the appropriate views, they can easily transform any small space to look bigger and better.
Here are some ideas on how to use mirrors smartly in your home to achieve this effect:
- Use a mirror that is shaped like a window to prevent the space from feeling confined.
- Tall and slender mirrors can achieve the effect of elongating the room height.
- Placing mirrors in dimly lit areas to catch the reflection from nearby windows can instantly brighten up the space, making it look larger due to the illumination.
Incorporate Transparent Materials in Your Interior Design
Opaque structures and materials block our views since light cannot pass through. As a result, using such materials will only cause a small space to feel smaller.
The solution? Incorporate transparent materials like glass, acrylic, and more to allow for that sense of spaciousness. For instance, consider a glass dining tabletop, acrylic chairs, or glass room dividers.
Ditch Heavy Fabrics and Go for Sheer Drapes or Blinds
Want to maximize the amount of natural light coming into your home? Opt for sheer day curtains to allow that sense of lightness that can only be achieved by sunlight filtering through the windows. The perfect solution for communal spaces in the home like the living room and even study rooms.
Alternatively, you can go for light-colored blinds, for that additional layer of privacy when needed.
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Opt For Light and Neutral Colors
In interior design, it is common knowledge that light-colored walls reflect light better, allowing the space to be better illuminated and hence feel more open. In contrast, darker tones absorb light resulting in the room looking smaller.
Here is a list of colors that interior designers will recommend for that sought-after room expanding effect:
- White – For maximum effect, go all out with white ceilings and walls to achieve that airy and light atmosphere. Simple but extremely effective.
- Pastel colors – Not a fan of an all-white space? Go for light pastel hues which allow you to add a little bit of character while retaining the reflective benefits.
- Light Grey – Classy and cooling color that fits with most interior designs.
Consider Non-Traditional Doors
In a small living space, traditional opaque doors act like just another walled-up structure that creates that claustrophobic feeling.
One way to overcome that is via non-traditional door types such as the following:
- Doors with transparent panels to allow more light into the space making it feel more open (good for communal areas like the kitchen and living room).
- Sliding barn doors that barely take up any space while freeing up more space in the rooms (perfect solution for tiny bathrooms or storage rooms).
Keep It Simple
With a small space, you have to be intentional about what goes into the space to ensure you can achieve the clean and spacious effect that you want.
When deciding colors, find one or two key colors you like and stick with them throughout– small spaces don’t do well with a kaleidoscope of colors.
When it comes to décor, don’t overwhelm the shelves or the walls with everything that you have got. Instead, pick and curate the highlights that you want to share with guests and put the rest away.
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