5 Design Tricks That Will Make Your Small Space Feel Big

5 Design Tricks That Will Make Your Small Space Feel Big

Here in the South Bay square footage is a hot commodity. We gladly give up space for better location. And why not? With the beach as our backyard, we are living the dream!  However, this sacrifice often creates some tight spots that can force you to get creative when maximizing space.

Small rooms aren’t the easiest spaces to work with. They’re usually crowded, with limited natural light and awkward layouts. Whether it’s your living room, kitchen, or your bathroom that’s cramping your style, here are a few DIY tips that homeowners can use to make any small space seem bigger — no wall demolition or major remodel required:

Brighten the Room

Bring as much light into the room as possible. Bright rooms always feel more open and inviting than dark and drab ones. Paint the walls and ceilings the same color to add the illusion of square footage. Too many colors can make a room look choppy, breaking it visually into different compartments. This can have a confining effect, so keep it simple and stick to light colors. If you have a window in the room, use sheer window curtains to bring in as much natural light as possible. Additionally, install flush-mount wall and ceiling light fixtures to increase both space and brightness.

Add Mirrors

Mirrors reflect light and help open a space up by creating depth. Install multiple mirrors, large and small, to make the room feel more expansive.

Streamline Storage

Tight spaces don’t often come with great storage. Keep it as flush with the walls as possible, because anything that juts out will chop up space and close an area in. Consider installing recessed shelves. With a little bit of elbow grease (and some help from a construction savvy friend) this space saver goes a long way in both design and function. Additionally, place shelving high up in closets for rarely used items. In the kitchen, you can create an adjustable cooking area with roll-away islands or pantries for more functional space.

Get Rid of Clutter

Nothing crowds a space faster than clutter. A good rule of thumb is if you don’t need it there, store it elsewhere – especially when it comes to the bathroom! If your bathroom is your area of concern, reduce what you keep in there down to the bare necessities. This also applies to the rest of the house. Remember, if you haven’t used it recently, there’s nowhere else to put it, and it doesn’t bring you joy (thanks Marie Kondo!) – Get Rid of It!

Choose light-colored flooring

Even if your walls and ceilings are light and bright, a dark floor will negate their effect and close the space in. Keep the flooring light to create a space with a bright and open flow.