Design Vogue

You may lament the lack of space if you're in the process of decorating a small room, but there are plenty of reasons why small is better: small spaces are easier to decorate, easier to keep clean, and easier to organize.

So what can you do to make a room look bigger? Think of easy fixes like clearing out clutter, adding reflective surfaces, choosing neutral colors, and more.

Read on for more simple tips that will help you make a small room look bigger without breaking the bank.

Clear Clutter

There's nothing that makes a small space feel more cramped than having too much stuff. Work out ways to get collections out of view, organized behind doors, table skirts, or on shelves.

With things neatly arranged and out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open.

Keep Pathways Clear

When furniture and accessories block the view into a room, it will look cramped. By moving furniture out and away from walkways, you'll open up the space and make it feel larger.

You can also choose low-profile pieces of furniture like an ottoman, an armless open chair, or a low table, and place large, tall pieces along a wall rather than out in the open space.

If you can see the floor, the room will look larger.

Choose Soft, Light Colors

Whereas dark, warm colors make space feel cozy and intimate, light, cool colors make space feel open and airy. For optimum effect, select soft tones of blue and green.

Use a Neutral Color Scheme

Choose colors that are in the same family, and use tone-on-tone woven upholstery fabrics, textured wall finishes, and tonal drapery fabrics.

Cool colors and delicate warm colors on most surfaces give a small room a more open look.

Coordinate Wall and Furniture Colors

Contrasting colors tend to break up a space, making it appear even smaller than it is.

Pieces of furniture that match the wall color are less jarring and tend to blend with the space, giving the illusion of a bigger room.

Accent with natural wood and woven materials to complement an all-white room.

Let in the Light

Any room will look larger if it's well-lit, either by natural light or artificial lighting.

Get rid of heavy draperies, and open up the windows to let the light of the outdoors into the space.

Add more lamps or install track lighting or recessed lighting.

Utilize Glass and Lucite

Utilizing transparent materials will make any room feel larger. In a tiny bathroom, get rid of an opaque glass shower enclosure and substitute a clear, frameless one to increase the perception of space.

Choose glass or Lucite for tabletops. An acrylic console table will practically disappear in a small entryway or living room.

A dining or coffee table with a sturdy base of wood, stone, or metal and a glass top will make the room feel lighter.

Add Reflective Surfaces

Use a large framed mirror on a wall, or lean an oversized framed mirror against a wall. You'll get the same room-enlarging effect as a mirrored wall, but with more style. 

The room and light will be reflected, resulting in a more open feeling. Top a coffee table or side table with a piece of beveled plate mirror, or purchase a mirrored chest of drawers for a similar effect.

Go Big

Use a few large, simple pieces of furniture or accessories in place of several smaller pieces, which makes a small space look cluttered.

With open space and large blocks of color, the room will appear to be more calm and comfortable.

Keep the Upholstery Plain

Select solid-colored upholstery for furniture instead of bold plaids, stripes, or prints. Use texture for interest and neutral tones whenever possible.

Stick With Airy, Light Fabrics

Sheer fabrics allow light to pass through window treatments, bed skirts, and table covers. If you want something other than plain colors, find soft floral vines or simple stripes to keep the look simple.

What color makes a room look bigger? 

Pale neutrals such as white, cream, and beige as well as pastel colors such as light blue or green are go-to shades to make rooms feel bigger, airier, and brighter. 

But the opposite of a common decorating truth can also be true: try painting the walls, ceilings, and trim of a small room in a dark shade of navy, brown, gray, green, or black to blur the line between where walls begin and end, which can make a compact space feel bigger (and cozier). 

What patterns make a room look bigger?

Bold horizontal stripes—either painted or on wallpaper—will make a room look wider. Vertical stripes will make the ceilings feel taller and create a more expansive feel.

Where should you put your bed to make a small bedroom look bigger?

The best place to put your bed to make a small bedroom look bigger depends on your layout. If possible, position the bed on the farthest visible wall from the doorway facing out to maximize floor space and allow the largest piece of furniture in your room to recede.

If your layout requires that you line up the headboard against a side wall, choose the left or right side of the room depending on where your door is located.

For example, if the door is located on the right wall, place the bed on the left wall to create a clear path from the door to the bed without bumping into it, which will block flow and encumber the space.