6 Ideas to Make Your Home Feel Bigger

As someone who transitioned from a four-bedroom home to a one-bedroom 1850’s cottage (and back), I totally get the need to feel like you have space around you. (Even when you have none.) As Australians, we’re used to a personal space of up to three metres! Which is possibly why I felt so claustrophobic on a cruise ship. So, how do you create this illusion of space and make your home feel bigger when you need to, well, put stuff in it? Read on to find out my top tips.

Make Your Home Feel Bigger By Decluttering

It’s obvious and you’re going to hate me but I’m going to start on that old chestnut again. Clean out your crap, babe! Having less stuff both out on show and hidden away in boxes contributes to the illusion of space. The first thing a real estate agent will ask you to do when you’re selling your home is to put away the personal items and declutter. This enables prospective buyers to imagine themselves in the space and give the illusion it’s bigger than it is. I’m not saying you have to pack everything you love away. It’s important to have things you love around you to create a cosy home. But temper your choices. Swap items in and out with the seasons. Our guest room has a spacious feel even though it’s small because the decor is kept to a minimum. (Also means it’s easier to clean!)

Choose Paint Colours Carefully

The colour you choose for your walls is really important if you are trying to create the illusion of space. So many people think that if you paint everything bright white it will make a room look bigger but that can also make the room feel very cold. A soft white, grey, beige or even black all enhance the size of a room. Yes. I said black! Black paint makes walls recede and make your home feel bigger. As will any dark colour. It’s scary to think of doing this but remember, it’s only paint. You can always un-paint it.

If going dark isn’t your thing there are two tricks to try that will give the illusion of space. The first is to paint the skirting and trims in a darker colour than your walls. This makes your home feel bigger by creating an optical illusion. It’s what we’ve done at the farmhouse and is totally opposite to how most people think.

The second is to paint everything the same soft pastel colour whether it’s blush, soft blue or lovely pastel green. Paint the ceiling, walls and trims all the same (with a variation of paint types such as enamel or low sheen. This makes everything blend into one and your home feels bigger. The living room of our convict-built home was very small but feels bigger because of unfussy window treatments, pale pastel walls and to- scale furniture.

Choose the Correct Size Furniture

Again, this is super important to make your home feel bigger. If you fill a small room with massive furniture it will instantly feel smaller. Likewise, a large room with lots of little pieces can also feel small because it’s filled with too many things. In our cottage, I had a small sofa and two small armchairs. The living room didn’t feel small at all, despite being only three metres wide.

Furniture with Legs

One of the easiest tricks to make the room feel bigger is to choose furniture with legs. I do this all the time. Being able to see the walls behind the furniture creates an illusion of space. Try a bed frame with legs and no valance so you can see under it. Or a dresser like the one in our kitchen that has legs rather than cupboards on the bottom. Don’t forget to mix it up though. You forgo some storage when you have all the furniture with legs, so a balance of solid pieces or short legs and all is better.

Oversized Art and Rugs

So many people think a small room should have small art but in fact, the opposite is true. If you put an oversized rug or hang a huge art piece in your room you’ll see an instant difference. Not only will the art become a focal point, drawing the eye away from the size of the room but one large piece looks less cluttered than a collection of small ones. The same is true for a gallery wall because the eye sees it as one large piece.

Add Built-in Furniture To Make Your Home Feel Bigger

One last way to make your home feel bigger is to add built-in furniture such as a bookshelf in the cavity next to the chimney breast or a built-in bench in a dining area. Not only does this make the most of small awkward spaces but these types of built-ins provide extra storage for those treasures you could not part with during Step 1!