The only way to actually make a room bigger is to remove walls and combine multiple rooms. But this is by no means always possible or appropriate. What to do in this case? To do this, we offer several techniques that will help you visually enlarge the room. You'll see, the result will surely impress you!
Mirrors
The simplest and most obvious way to visually enlarge any room is with wide and large mirrors. These can be cabinet fronts, doors, an entire wall or several individual tall mirrors - the result is the same. And if you correctly combine them with lighting and take into account the location of the window, you will be able to increase the amount of light in the room without additional expense and effort.
Using mirror surfaces
An old proven method for expanding the boundaries of space is the use of glare and reflective surfaces. Mirrors create the depth that a small room needs, reflecting and scattering light. Mirrors of different sizes and shapes are welcome in interior design; an original frame will turn a functional item into an interesting decorative element.
Interior with beveled mirror Source homify.com
Glossy surfaces also have an increased ability to reflect light, so glossy facades and mirror inserts on furniture, doors with glass inserts, and glossy mosaics on the kitchen apron work to increase space.
Mirror wall in the hallway Source homify.com
Mirror panels Source media.price.ua
Glossy surfaces
The closest “friend” of mirrors is gloss, which gives the same effect. This can be glossy wall cladding, acrylic facades, special collections of wallpaper and any other coatings. In this way, you can not only visually enlarge the room, but also visually shift the boundaries: for example, between a small hallway and a living room.
Other designer tricks to increase space
Designers strongly recommend that all owners of small apartments decorate it in a minimalist style, getting rid of unnecessary trash and trinkets placed on the shelves. Conciseness in decoration and furniture, a single color scheme with several accents - this is what is needed for small rooms. All kinds of figurines, candlesticks, photographs in frames, small paintings distract attention and cause a feeling of clutter. On the contrary, instead of several small paintings, hang one medium-sized one, and free the open shelves from unnecessary decor.
Minimalism as a way to expand space
Here's another tip from the pros: make the room as bright as possible. To do this, you need to remove dark and thick curtains, you may even have to clear the windowsill of large indoor flowers. The room should receive as much natural light as possible.
Light curtains to visually enlarge the room
A good idea is to stick photo wallpaper on one of the walls. Don't know what wallpaper will make a room appear larger? The unequivocal answer is with an image of a landscape in perspective, for example, the horizon of a field or sea, mountain peaks or forest edge, a view of a city at night. Also among the latest innovations on the construction market are photo wallpapers with a three-dimensional three-dimensional pattern that create a spatial effect.
Photo wallpaper to expand space
And finally, a few more tips on how to visually enlarge a room. Builders recommend making the floor in such a room light, not dark. And if you are going to use parquet or laminate as flooring, then it is better to lay it diagonally to visually increase the area of the room and hide the irregular geometry of the walls.
Choosing floors to visually expand the space
These ideas can be safely applied to any room that you want to visually enlarge, regardless of its actual size. Whether in a small apartment or a large house, there is always a place that you would like to do more with.
Light shades
Use mostly light shades in the interior: white, gray, beige, pastel colors. Add colors and mood with the help of accessories and decorative inserts. But choose a neutral background: you can even paint the walls and ceiling the same color. Furniture made from light wood or acrylic gives the same effect as light finishes.
Walls, floor, ceiling
White walls in combination with the same ceiling create a laconic background that elegantly sets off any other colors. Other shades are less preferable, as they will limit the choice of decor and furniture. Any furniture, especially dark contrasting objects, looks advantageous on a simple white background.
In natural shades Source static0.abitant.com
White walls go well with any shade of wood, so choosing a color for the flooring is easy. Of course, in a small room, the best option would be a light shade of the floor, but you can use more saturated and bleached tones.
With an accent wall Source i2.wp.com
White and olive Source st.hzcdn.com
Geometry
Vertical stripes visually raise ceilings if used correctly on walls. But here it is important not to overdo it and not make a mistake with the thickness: 1-2 contrasting accents are enough. But striped wallpaper on all walls can have the opposite effect.
Horizontal stripes move the walls apart and increase the width of the room. Use a horizontal combination of wallpaper, decorative tapes, or even just elongated horizontal shelves. This is enough to create an optical illusion, but you definitely don't overdo it.
Non-standard layout: how to expand a small room
Long narrow rooms of the premises seem uncomfortable, but to correct the situation, it is not necessary to resort to drastic measures.
- To expand a small room, you need to use crosswise elements in the interior design. For example, the pattern or layout of the flooring should be directed diagonally or along the wall with a shorter length. Otherwise, the room will become visually even narrower. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you can completely abandon the pattern and use a neutral, plain floor covering: carpet, linoleum, cork.
- Short walls are decorated with horizontal patterns or stripes.
- Short walls can be accentuated by painting them in rich, bright colors. At the same time, long walls are made neutral, with a barely noticeable shade. This technique will allow you to bring the room closer to a square in plan.
- Dividing the ceiling plane using cross beams made of plasterboard or polyurethane will make the room more compact and emphasize the Mediterranean or country style in the interior.
You can adjust the perception of a narrow room without resorting to renovation. To do this, it is enough to place some furniture not along long walls, but across them. This will also resolve the issue of space zoning.
The best option is through shelving. It will visually divide the room into two parts, and will not interfere with the penetration of natural light, thanks to the open design.
More: Interior design of a room on the north side
It is also recommended to reconsider the approach to organizing lighting. It is better to replace the traditional central lamp with uniform spot lighting and spots, the rays of light from which should be directed towards the walls.
You can emphasize a short wall with a neutral finish using a large-format poster or painting, a large clock or a panel.
Floral print
Wallpaper with a small floral print will help to visually enlarge a room in Provence style. And if you choose a companion with a similar, but large pattern on the opposite narrow wall, you can visually increase the distance and width.
What not to do
- Install bulky, heavy furniture in dark colors;
- Use dark and gloomy wallpaper or painting walls, ceilings and floors;
- Make a completely mirrored wall. It will create the illusion of endless space, which makes the living space cold, uncomfortable and uninhabitable;
- Hang multilayer and heavy curtains, products with lambrequins and frills;
- Arrange large indoor plants in the form of palm trees, ficuses and various trees;
- Zone the space using color. If the hallway flows into the room, and it into the kitchen, do not separate the zones with different colors or shades. This will split the apartment into small spaces. It’s better to combine the rooms into one functional space.
We looked at how to enlarge a room. When visually expanding a space, it is important not only to use various design methods, but also to keep the house clean. Clutter and a large amount of decor reduces the space, making the premises untidy and sloppy. How to quickly put things in order and get rid of unnecessary things, see the link.
Photo wallpaper
Spectacular and bright photo wallpaper with a 3D effect on one of the walls plays the same role as painting it in a different color. The only difference is that a realistic image creates an additional effect of perspective and a sense of space. A rich assortment and modern printing technologies will help you choose an option for any room.
About the principles of transformation
Making a room larger is quite simple; To do this, it is not at all necessary to start a redevelopment with moving walls. The point is to create an optical illusion that will help our perception to perceive space as more voluminous than it actually is.
Loft Source player.hu
The method allows you to visually expand the boundaries of a modest room. The rules for choosing a color palette, furniture and accessories, underestimated by many, will help make it light and bright and visually raise the ceilings.
Living-dining room in eco-style Source st.hzcdn.com
Sometimes, to decorate standard city apartments, it is advised to choose styles that are emphatically simple in appearance: minimalism, Scandinavian, hi-tech. The problem is that such trends seem to the Russian mentality to be devoid of the usual comfort and homeliness.
In a narrow room Source dizainexpert.ru
In fact, the interior of a small apartment does not have to be decorated in a particularly minimalist style. The design can be anything. In order not to make a small room even smaller, the main thing in the process is to use visual tricks.
For owners thinking about the problem of how to expand the space of a small room, it is important to understand that the solution consists of several components, and every little detail is of great importance.
Living room in a classic style Source greatideahub.com
Using vertical lines Source roomble.com
Stretch ceiling
If you need to heavily level the base, replace a plasterboard structure or hide communications, stretch ceilings literally save space. Glossy canvases give the same mirror effect. And the built-in series of spotlights allow you to visually expand the walls and fill the room with uniform light.
Ceiling
Needless to say, the ceilings in a small apartment should also be light? Ideally, snow-white. But, if you don’t like pure white ceilings, remember the rule: the ceiling is 1-2 shades lighter than the walls.
Many separate the walls and ceiling with fillets and panels. But you shouldn’t do this if you want to visually raise the ceiling. It is better when the walls and ceiling are the same color and are not separated from each other.
Ceiling and floor without fillet
In addition, shiny glossy ceilings add volume. A good option is hanging structures. But remember: their installation will require several centimeters from the height of the room. If the ceiling is so low that you cannot sacrifice even a centimeter, then it is better to abandon suspended ceilings.
Large floor covering
Choose large tiles, laminate or planks instead of small mosaics or the classic narrow herringbone. The fewer joints and lines, the larger the room seems. Consider the direction of laying if these are long elongated boards.
Furniture
It is advisable to install furniture that is multifunctional, light, and uses colors to expand the space. An excellent choice would be a folding sofa, in which you can fold your bedding for the day and put it away so that it doesn’t take up space. Shelves on the walls can be painted to match the walls themselves. It is strongly recommended, if possible, to collect things in a closet so that they do not clutter the room.
Sliding doors
Hinged interior doors and cabinet doors take up a lot of usable space. But modern sliding systems will help solve this issue. If this is an interior door, installing it will require a small box, which will still take a few centimeters, but in practice this is much less than what an open swing door takes.
Psychological perception: how a person perceives space
The strongest psychological factor in the perception of space is the instinct of self-preservation.
Fears
Fear of heights and height perception.
When we estimate the height of a building, looking from top to bottom, it appears much higher than when looking from bottom to top. Our instinct of self-preservation forms a fear of heights and because of this, when we look down, a building seems taller.
Fear of closed spaces - claustrophobia,
also originates from the instinct of self-preservation. In a confined space and small room, in case of danger, there is nowhere to run.
Agoraphobia
The opposite of claustrophobia is the fear of large spaces and crowds of people. It is caused by a feeling of vulnerability due to the lack of a protective barrier.
To some extent, albeit to a small extent, fear of space is present in everyone: from mild discomfort to serious pathology.
For a person who experiences discomfort in small spaces, a small window is enough to improve the sensation. And for discomfort from large spaces, a small shelter is enough, at least furniture with a high back to make it easier for a person.
Spatial sense
Color.
The influence of color on the psychological perception of space is associated with our experience of observing a distant perspective: the layer of air between a person and the object being viewed creates a bluish haze - the more haze, the further away the object.
The light blue color, similar to the haze of the distant horizon, creates the effect of the most distant perspective. We, adults, know that the blue sky is the scattered rays of the sun in the atmosphere and the atmosphere is the near-Earth space, and the sun is much further away. But in children's drawings the sun is close to the ground, and the sky is an endless expanse.
The color of heaven is perceived as distant - further than white.
Warm colors are perceived as close.
Cool colors are perceived as more distant, since cold sets the distant blue color.
White color is perceived as distant.
Objects of white color appear larger than similar objects of black color, due to the fact that white color contains all the light rays of the spectrum, while black contains their minimum, which means the information flow of a white object is greater. As a result, our brain perceives white objects as larger in size:
To make the appearance of a white and black object equal, you need to make the white areas smaller than the black ones.
Lightening warm colors alienates the perception.
Proportion.
Proportion can be attributed to anatomical and psychological perception; this is not so important. It is important how understanding proportion shapes the idea of space. We imagine the size of space in relation to the size of familiar objects and shapes. We know the object, we see the relationship, we imagine the size. The most recognizable proportionally object is a person. Familiar objects that are companions in a person’s life, calculated according to his anthropometric data, are also an obvious way of proportional comparison and perception of space. For example, high doors to the ceiling and invisible doors distort the perception of space.
Focus and projection.
We have already talked about how we ourselves are deceived by looking at pictures with long-range projection. In the experience of space, far focus and projection remove boundaries and the room feels larger.
Light.
The most important factor in the perception of space. It combines many anatomical and psychological factors: light is focusing, light is color, light is the clarity of contours, it is the play of chiaroscuro to understand the shape and volume of objects.
Light in the interior composition includes both natural sunlight and additional lighting. And the attitude to the perception of space must be built taking into account both types of lighting.
Answer: why rooms painted white do not always seem larger -
it is important how the light is directed.
Sunlight can create frontal illumination and create large foreground shadows. Dark shadows in contrast with white will eat up space. To prevent this from happening, you need to take into account the direction of sunlight at all times of the year, the scattering of light throughout the room, and the reflection of light from surfaces.
Lighting
The more light there is in a room, the more spacious it seems. It is best to use multi-level systems: diffused ceiling light, zoned wall lighting, floor lamps, bedside lamps and table lamps. Use LED strip to decorate niches, shelves, mirrors and large cabinets.
Outdated chandelier
With the help of the right “light” it is easy to hide the shortcomings of an apartment and highlight its strengths. “The hanging chandelier in the middle of the room has long been a thing of the past,” says Natalia Ivanova, director of PATRIOT-Neva LLC. — The choice of the type of lighting and lighting fixtures depends on the size of the room, its functional purpose and shape features. There are many rules at play here. Naturally, the brighter the room, the more noticeable its space. However, this does not mean that you need to place as many lamps as possible in the room. There should be enough light for a comfortable life - just enough, no more and no less.”
Large chandelier
If you need to enlarge your living room or bedroom in a classic style, choose a large and beautiful chandelier. Hang it right in the center of the room as high as possible, without long hangers. And then she will be the first thing to attract the attention of everyone who enters the room. The eye will immediately fall on the light source, and due to this, the ceilings will seem a little higher.
How to visually enlarge a room with wallpaper
Visually expanding the space in a small room with wallpaper is considered one of the available options, but subject to some rules:
- One of the rules is that drawings and patterns on wallpaper should not be very large; small drawings and patterns will help to significantly increase the overall volume of the room.
- If the ceilings in the room are low, you should use wallpaper with vertical stripes. Keep in mind that wallpaper with vertical stripes has the ability to visually increase the length of the walls, as shown in the photo.
- Another way is to combine wallpaper of two tones. That is, make the top part light and the bottom a little darker.
Design Rules - Textures and Patterns Video
And the basic rule, to visually expand a room with wallpaper, choose wallpaper with light or cool shades and preferably plain, avoid horizontal borders, and keep in mind that borders in the upper edges can visually reduce the ceiling.
High curtains
A tricky trick that will help stretch out the walls and raise the ceilings is high curtains. Choose thin and light flowing textiles, such as organza, tulle or airy cotton. Do not use fabrics that are too dense and bulky, which, on the contrary, take up space. Hang such curtains as high as possible from the windows, almost to the ceiling and to the floor.
Glass and mirror
One of the simple ways to enlarge a small room is to use mirror and glass surfaces in the interior. A simple trick for the bedroom is a mirrored wardrobe door or a floor-to-ceiling mirror on one wall.
For the living room, you can choose a more extravagant option - finishing part of the wall, niches or columns with mirror tiles. You can make a panel with mirror inserts or put the mirror in a rich wooden frame.
Mirror inserts can also decorate furnishings. The main thing is that the number of reflective surfaces is balanced and does not create a looking-glass effect in which a person will not be comfortable.
It should also be taken into account that the decoration of the walls and upholstery of furniture in such a room should not be too bright and colorful.
Glass gives a different effect - objects made from it let in natural light and seem weightless. Glass partitions effectively zone the space, but create the illusion of openness. Glass furniture, such as transparent tabletops, makes the interior more spacious and light.
Furniture arrangement
If you have a small room, give up the island layout and zoning with furniture. In this case, the classic arrangement along the walls is better, leaving the space in the middle free. If possible, use either high ceiling-mounted furniture, such as wardrobes, or low, long cabinets. The lines down the middle break up the room and visually lower the ceilings.
Furniture selection
Knowing what color of the walls increases the space, you can easily choose suitable pieces of furniture; It is important to maintain balance. The ideal solution would be to choose light, large-sized items that are close in color to the wall decoration. By blending into the background, they will not attract attention, and the room will look more spacious.
Winning option Source cdn.inmyroom.ru
In a small room it is difficult to find space for standard furnishings; sometimes a couple of centimeters are not enough for the perfect solution. If you order the main furniture according to exact dimensions, it will be possible to arrange it perfectly. A coffee table with a glass top, a display cabinet, and chairs made of transparent plastic will help increase the space.
Furniture with legs Source www.alefnext.com
Mirror cabinet in the interior Source yellowhome.ru
A simple, albeit somewhat unexpected way is to use a cabinet or bookshelves under the ceiling. Such furniture looks impressive and, paradoxically, makes the room look larger.
Ideal shelves for a small kitchen Source st.hzcdn.com
Transparent dining group in the kitchen Source koffkindom.ru
Furniture with legs
Bulky furniture with a solid base or fabric covers to the floor looks much more massive. But models with thin, neat legs look much lighter and more elegant, especially in decorative classic interiors. Of course, you will have to constantly clean under such furniture, but the room will become noticeably more spacious.
How to increase the space of a room with textiles
Properly selected and decorated textiles for the room play an important role. This includes curtains. First of all, give up dark and thick curtains, give preference to light colors. Remember, slightly gathered curtains in an accordion style and floor-length on wide cornices up to the ceiling create an optical illusion of visually enlarging the room.
I will have to give up the tablecloth, as it visually attracts the eye. Colorful carpets with complex patterns make the room much smaller. Please note that the carpet should not cover the entire floor; pay attention to harmony and proportions.
Glass furniture
If you prefer modern interiors and high-tech, replace all possible furniture with glass. Such doors, shelves and racks look stylish and fresh, making the room visually more spacious, lighter and airier. Just choose high-strength tempered glass: it is almost impossible to accidentally break it. And if this happens, it will disintegrate into small safe particles, and will not crumble into fragments.
What will make a room bigger?
Small-sized premises are characteristic of many Khrushchev-era apartments. And the conditions do not allow for a satisfactory redevelopment - the amount of space remains the same and it will not be possible to create an “extension”. How to visually enlarge a room? There are several simple ways to visually add “air” to a space. First of all, this is the use of curtains and mirrors.
A small room can be transformed by choosing the right curtains. To do this, you need to remember the main rules:
- choose light colors and thin, loose textiles;
- the canvases should be long, compressed in the form of an accordion, falling to the floor;
- the colors of the curtains must be combined with the wall covering; the use of contrasting and dark shades is unacceptable;
- there should be vertical stripes on textiles;
- Horizontal lines, large prints and designs should be avoided.
The most correct choice would be light, light and warm translucent curtains. They should be longer than the window and take up space on the floor, thereby creating the illusion of high ceilings.
Mirrors are the most popular and simplest technique, which you need to proceed with carefully. An excessive number of mirrors may not enlarge a small room, but, on the contrary, turn it into a matchbox.
For rectangular rooms, it is customary to place a mirror on one of the long sides. Thus, the space of the room is “trimmed” and it takes on the shape of a square. Typically, a similar problem of narrow space occurs in hallways and corridors.
In apartments, square meters are saved on bathrooms. Mirrors, glass and glossy surfaces will correct this defect. In the bathroom you should abandon frames and use mirror panels - this creates the effect of freedom. Tiles with a glossy finish are used for the walls, the shower is separated by a glass door, and the ceiling is made of mirrors.
Article on the topic: Modern wallpaper for the bedroom - beauty and comfort of the apartment (+38 photos)
Round table tops
If you need to set up a dining table or coffee table, pay attention to round-shaped models. Squares and rectangles visually divide the room into parts, which means they change the geometry and narrow it. But if your room is too small in itself, then this is not the best option - round furniture is not so ergonomic.
How to Enlarge a Small Room with Mirrors
One such technique is the use of mirrors. When placing mirrors on the wall, you need to take into account that they should hang strictly vertically, since any distortion will distort your reflection. Mirrors should not be exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the mirror will quickly fade or become completely stained. Also, you should not place a mirror opposite the bed, according to the Chinese teaching of harmony Feng Shui, such a reflection can take away the vital energy of the sleeper.
To visually increase the space and illumination of the room, hang a large mirror opposite the window. They can also be placed on the chest of drawers behind the lamps; the light of the lamps reflected in the mirror will give the room additional depth. Placing a mirror opposite a chandelier and an interesting decorative element will help visually focus attention on the bright details of your interior.
The best option for using a mirror to visually expand the space in a small and narrow room is to use huge mirrors the size of the walls, that is, from floor to ceiling and across the entire width. Thus, you can expand the wall in depth and width, as shown in the photo.
Minimalism in decor
Avoid unnecessary decorations and small items, as they always create the effect of a cluttered space. Keep only your most favorite or functional accessories. For example, beautiful jars with spices instead of figurines in the kitchen. And to refresh the interior and make it more lively, use real flowers and flowerpots.
Pushing the walls apart
Light colors do a great job of visually increasing the space of a room, especially white. Color is divided into two groups: warm stimulating colors and cool soothing colors. Remember, warm colors like orange, red and yellow can visually narrow your room, while cool colors like light blue, lime or green can expand it. Avoid bright and saturated colors.
So, using light colors on the walls allows you to visually enlarge the space. But not for rooms that have an area of no more than 8 square meters, a light color will not change practically anything. For some, such a room resembles a hospital ward or a toilet room. When choosing an image for a small room, give preference to a fresco, photo wallpaper or mosaic from floor to ceiling. This will help to perceive the wall holistically and visually increase the height of the walls.
The ideal option is photo wallpaper or frescoes depicting perspective to visually expand the space (road going beyond the horizon, forests, mountains, seascape).
Remember to avoid overly bright colors. Remember that blue color creates a visual sensation of objects moving away, while orange, on the contrary, “brings them closer”.
For northern, dimly lit rooms, choose patterns with warm tones and textures that make the image softer and more voluminous. It is best to use shades of yellow, golden, and orange for such rooms.
They create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort.
If you don't like warm colors, liven up a dark room by decorating the least lit wall with a mural in the same color scheme as the walls, but a shade lighter.
Large decor
Give up a large number of jewelry, figurines, vases and decorative items in favor of one large and expressive element. For example, hang one large picture or poster on the wall. Or put together a large composition of your favorite photographs, drawings or sketches, just hang them close together, or even overlapping each other for consistency.
Mirrors for visual enlargement
The main method of visually increasing the area of a room is the use of mirrors due to reflective surfaces: reflections are an extension of the room.
More: Want some comfort? A loan will help
How to increase space in a room with a mirror:
- attach a tall mirror to the wall or make a mirror wall;
- decorate the ceiling with a composition of small mirrors or order a mirror surface;
- hang them opposite the windows;
- place behind a lamp or in front of a chandelier, inside a false fireplace;
- arrange a brightly lit mirror collection on the wall;
- add accessories and furniture with mirror surfaces.
Adviсe:
Mirrors are welcome, both standard and non-standard frames. With the help of shaped mirrors, a small space in a room is noticeably enlarged.
To prevent images from being distorted, mirrors are installed only vertically. Do not expose the mirror to direct sunlight, otherwise dark spots will appear on the surface and the mirror layer will fade.
You should not hang a mirror in the bedroom. As the ancient teachings of Feng Shui say, it takes away energy from a sleeping person.
