How Can I Make a Small Room Feel Bigger
The following is an excerpt of a short article on making a small room feel bigger, which was published on Contractors.com. Interior designer, Sandra Hambley of Decor&You located in Herdon, VA, answered the question for a home owner located in Annandale, VA.
Question: We have a fairly small room in our house that we barely use because it feels so small and cramped. What can we do to make it appear larger?
- S.W., Annandale, VA
People almost always fixate on trying to make smaller rooms appear larger instead of concentrating on the positive aspects of a smaller space. Sandra Hambley of Decor and You reminds us that smaller rooms can be fun and intimate – and less expensive to decorate.
“There’s a huge misconception that smaller rooms should be decorated in a more minimalist style to make it look bigger. But I don’t think that’s necessarily true,” says Hambley. “You want to make a small room as comfortable as possible, and often that means packing in a lot of furniture.”
As an example, Hambley recommends a short but deep sofa, a large upholstered chair and footstool, a writing desk or side table and an open arm chair. And if possible, two smallish occasional chairs, as well as end tables, possibly a coffee or cocktail table and some bookshelves.
“There will be a lot going on and the best way to counterbalance the effect of so much furniture in a small space is to use lots of pattern,” advises Hambley. “The larger upholstery can have a generously scaled print, and the smaller pieces can be covered in a smaller design in the same colors. Pillows on the seating can pick out the colors of the fabrics. The carpet can be patterned, and even if the curtains or shades are kept plain they can have a border of some sort.”
For the walls, Hambley would have it painted a warm, rich color – or a cool, airy color in hot climates – or papered perhaps with stripes and a border. The available wall space will look best crowded with prints, photographs, drawings, and paintings. “Yes, the room will be crowded, but everything will be comfortably within reach. It’ll be a thoroughly relaxing room. A room everyone will want to be in,” advises Hambley. “And that is what decorating is all about,” she concludes.
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