Whether you’re remodeling for fun, to create more usable space, or to prepare your home for selling, you can always benefit from adding some roomy touches. If you don’t have the money to add on rooms or do a major remodel, you can still create the feeling and the look of extra space by following these guidelines.
1) Use colors that open up a room.
Color is the easiest thing to change in a room. Designers use the concept of creating space with color all the time. Small rooms are cramped and uncomfortable. The right colors give a room the feeling of spaciousness. To understand how it works, think of dark colors closing in on you, creating darkness and oppression. Light colors make it hard to distinguish exactly how far away they are. Using light colors that mimic natural light will make this effect even more prevalent. Light blues, gentle corals, and hints of lavender are good choices. To make a wall seem even further away, paint trim and crown moulding white. Decorate with white picture frames, throw pillows and rugs.
2) Utilize natural light.
Replace drapes with light, airy sheer curtains. You want natural light to fill the room, creating the feeling of being outside. If you have blinds, open them up. If you are replacing windows, go for ones without the grates. This gives the room an uninterrupted view of the outside. If there isn’t enough natural light in a room, consider adding in some recessed lighting. You can add lights to the room that have a pink hue, simulating the warm light that is normally produced by the sun. The more feelings of outside you can incorporate the better.
3) Use appropriate furniture.
Furniture can quickly fill a room and seem oppressive. Choose furniture that is light in color, or that is almost the same color as your wall. Choose items that are as short as possible. If you have a tall armoire or bookshelf, add some light around it. You can install small lights on the bookshelves or small spotlights from the ceiling to help down-play the oppressive effect. Use glass tables and cabinet doors whenever possible to keep from cutting off the eye at the front of the furniture piece. Tables and couches that sit on legs allow the eye to keep moving when it meets the furniture. Skirts on couches and tablecloths make a room seem smaller.
4) Position your furniture well.
A general rule of thumb is to put furniture on your longest walls. Don’t put couches and chairs diagonally in corners or in the middle of the room. The shortest walls in the room should be as empty as possible. Also, if you have a choice, put furniture near a window. This will help keep the area open and airy, despite the big piece of furniture.
5) Don’t neglect closets and corners.
Closets should be pained a lighter color than the rest of the room. Corners should be kept empty if at all possible. Install extra lighting to keep these areas from seeming dark and cramped. Spruce up your coat closet with some white
wood hangers. Coat hangers that all match and stay spaced out on the bar keep your coat closet looking orderly and uniform.
Follow these rules and you can add the illusion of square footage to any room, without spending a lot of money.
About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for
wood hangers,
coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com.
