Six ways to make your small home feel bigger

If you’ve spent the last few months in a small city flatshare, or you’ve set up an office in the box room of the house, you’ll know that the struggle to make a tiny space feel bigger is real.

No matter how many times you move the furniture around, tidy your desk or fiddle with the placement of your houseplants, your workspace still feels frustratingly claustrophobic to the point where you feel seriously demotivated while on the job.

Thankfully, there are lots of simple things you can do to make a small space feel cosy rather than cramped – whether you have a dedicated home office or you’ve stuck a desk in the corner of a living room. With a few of these interior hacks, you can make even the smallest lockdown workspaces feel bright, open and airy.

1. Give your windows a good clean

The first rule of small spaces is to check out your windows. Unobstructed glass allows for more natural light in your home and create the illusion of a bigger space. If you have a window in your office, a bit of elbow grease and light DIY might be all you need to make a difference.

“This isn’t exactly an inspirational task, but cleaner windows allow more natural light into a room – and natural light makes everything seem bigger, better and brighter,” says Alex Whitecroft, head of design at I Want Wallpaper.

As well as removing any dirt or smudges from the glass, you could also switch out netting or blinds that block natural light for floor-to-ceiling curtains, which make the room feel instantly taller.

2. Colour code your walls and drapery

Speaking of curtains, there’s a time and place for a statement patterns, but if your interiors are already feeling crowded, it’s worth keeping everything to one tone – specifically neutral beiges and greys.

“By having the same or similar colours on your walls and curtains, you allow the colour palette to blend and remove any stark contrasts that might make a space look enclosed,” says Whitecroft.

3. Keep your floor clear

Removing clutter can seriously transform a tiny space – whether that’s small objects like piles of books or bigger pieces of unused furniture. With fewer things battling for your eyesight, your space will look neater and more spacious.

Whitecroft adds: “It’s all about making your room feel more open by increasing the flow of light. For you, this might mean choosing tables and sofas with legs, or could be introducing a glass or Perspex desk.”

4. Get a statement mirror

It’s the oldest trick in the designer’s book, but adding mirrors to a small space really does help to expand your four walls.

Specifically, placing a large mirror opposite a window helps to reflect the outside in, making your interiors naturally appear more Feng shui.

“Adding a mirror to any space helps reflect light and upsizes the room instantly,” agrees Whitecroft.

“You can be as creative as you like when choosing yours – big and bold or slim and modern. If you’re not a fan of oversized mirrors, try grouping smaller mirrors together to form a gallery wall.”

5. Try a feature wall

“Feature walls not only have the potential to expand a room visually, but they are also a fun way to overhaul your colour palette and breathe fresh life into your room,” notes Whitecroft.

“To keep the spacious look, opt for a leaf pattern or a geometric design, and use pastel or complementary colours on adjoining walls to tie the tones together.”

6. Hang large-scale artwork

If you don’t like the idea of wallpapering an entire wall, you can achieve a similar effect by hanging a large-scale piece of artwork.

Creating a focal point on the opposite wall from the entrance to the room helps to draw attention away from the overall size and leaving the rest of the walls blank will help to make the space feel less cluttered.

Experiment with these tips and try putting a few into practice. If you’re on a tight budget, there are always ways you can save money, such as painting artwork yourself or buying furniture second-hand from online marketplaces.

Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto