Use of Colour
One of the easiest and quickest ways to make a home feel bigger and brighter is with a lick of paint. If you follow some simple design rules you can really transform an existing living space. For a room to appear larger you should opt for colours on the cool end of the color wheel and paint all surfaces the same color. We recently did this in our living room, we only changed the wall color and our sofa's but the results were incredible. On a girls night in some even thought I had new furniture it made that much of a difference.All colours reflect light- the more light it reflects, the less we need to use artificial light. There are a number of paint manufacturers that have a selection of reflective paint that can enhance this light even further and make rooms look bigger and brighter. Dulux’s Light & Space range of paints adds brightness to a room by reflecting up to 40% more light than normal paint, using Lumitec technology. It means you can turn the lights off a bit later – around 20 minutes according to Dulux – and you can make the most of natural light during the day.
Choice of floor
Similarly, to the color you choose to paint your walls, the same applies to floors. The right flooring not only creates the appearance of more space but it will give your room a whole new feel. If you are wanting a wood effect flooring, like wood effect vinyl floor tiles, choose the widest floorboard you can get. Choosing the wider options will make a room look bigger, creates cleaner non-fuss lines. Another trick is to lay the boards parallel to the longest wall as running the boards this way helps elongate a room as you eye will be drawn down the room following this line.
Colour of your choice of flooring is crucial also, it's often a misconception that dark wood floors make rooms feel smaller. Don’t be afraid of dark wood, paired with cool toned colours as mentioned above, can have a huge impact on a room.
Accessories
Mirrors. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book but it really does work and it's one of the easiest ways to spruce up a small room. Mirrors work by reflecting light around the room making it seem bright and airy and if you place one opposite a window it’s guaranteed to make it seem open and greater.
If you don’t want to go for wall-to-wall mirrors then consider one large full-length mirror or even create a statement wall by hanging numerous mirrors on one side. It’ll certainly be a talking point of the room and it’s a quick and easy way to make it seem bigger.
Doors and windows
This doesn't have to be a huge expense. Of course, you could opt for beautiful bi-folding doors which bring in tonnes of room and is the ultimate way of making a room look bigger, but if you're not wanting to make this investment just yet, or if you live in a rental property - there is still a lot you can do in regards to your windows and doors.
If you're a regular reader you will know I'm a big fan of mindfulness, I love to have outdoor elements within my home and something that I incorporate in my own home is the views. If you have a good one - make the most of it! Avoid using heavy curtains and blinds that can distract from this and creates less cluttered room (which helps clear the mind too). If you're able to look out beyond the room then it will make the room feel larger and more open.
As for your doors, who needs them? Well, ok, maybe you do need them for bathrooms and bedrooms. But where you can, get rid of them. Removing doors such as between the living room and the dining room can really open up a living space. My parents removed double doors in a previous property, making the dining area and living room one, open space in doing so. They used the alcoves to create shelving which made for a beautiful design feature.
Do you have any projects you're working on in your own home? Do you think you could use any of these tips? I'm loving interior posts at the moment, Kerry from Oh So Amelia, wrote a fab one about adding a little luxury to your home.
Mummy B xoxox *Collaborative Post