*Collaborative Post
Many people have been spending more time at home as a result of the pandemic, leaving them wishing that their living rooms were just a little bit bigger. While buying a bigger house isn’t feasible for most of us, there are lots of little tricks that can help you to maximise the space that you do have. If you don’t mind doing a bit of redecorating and upgrading your furniture, read on to find out how you can make your living room seem a little bit more spacious.
Mirrors
Both contemporary and antique mirrors will create the illusion of space in your living room. Because mirrors reflect light, your room will immediately seem both bigger and brighter when they are installed. It doesn’t matter where you place your mirrors, whether they’re on the wall above the fireplace or run from floor to ceiling, they’ll help you to feel more comfortable as they seemingly expand your room.
Paint
Did you know that painting your walls and ceiling the same colour can make your room feel bigger? Painting your ceiling a different colour to your walls makes you more aware of the room pressing down on you, especially if your ceilings aren’t particularly high. Choosing the same colour for every surface creates a seamless look that elongates the space you have. As for the colour you choose, lighter, neutral colours will create more space than darker colours. Consider matching the colour of your floor as closely as you can to your walls as well for an even more cohesive, spacious finish.
Reduce Clutter
Having a lot of clutter in your living room will make it feel much smaller. Chances are, a lot of the items you have lying around aren’t necessary to your daily life and, if they are, there’s likely a much better way of organising them. Try to store away any clutter in sleek storage containers or baskets that you can’t see inside. This will make it seem like you have less in your room as your eyes won’t always be drawn to lots of individual objects that are making a mess.
Light Curtains
Mirrors make your room bigger because they reflect light, so imagine the good that more light can do? While bigger windows make a huge difference, simply buying lighter curtains and keeping your blinds open can change the way your living room looks. Heavy curtains not only block the light, but they take up space in your room and can make your space seem stuffy or crowded.
Move Furniture Away From Your Walls
It often feels natural to push your sofa and other pieces of furniture against your walls to create more space in the centre of your room. But unless you’re going to be exercising or playing with children in this space, it probably doesn’t do much good. Try to move furniture away from your walls to create walkways, enabling you to move more freely around the room. This will help you feel less cramped and will actually improve the overall design of your room as well.