What colors make a space look bigger?

It is a well-known fact that the lighter the shade, the larger the object appears. The same technique works in interior design. In order to visually increase the area of a room, it is worth using light-colored finishes: white and cool pastel shades. Furniture should also be light in color, but different in tone from the walls, ceiling and floor. For example, it can be a soft pastel palette.

compact kitchen in a Khrushchevka

The photo shows a compact kitchen in a Khrushchevka. In order to visually increase the area, the room was decorated in light colors.

living room in light colors

How to decorate the walls?

What wallpaper makes a room look bigger

Using some tricks when decorating, you can push the boundaries of the room and visually enlarge the room.

Vertical stripes stretch the space, making it higher;

Vertical stripes on the wall

Wallpaper with horizontal stripes will increase the width of the room;

Wallpaper with horizontal stripes in the bedroom

In the photo, the wall is decorated with wallpaper with horizontal stripes, this type of decoration visually increases the width of the room.

One of the walls can be covered with wallpaper with a pattern or ornament, this technique will make a long room more proportional;

one of the walls is covered with wallpaper with an ornament

You should avoid flashy bright colors;
The walls can be decorated with wallpaper with a shiny surface;

wallpaper with a shiny surface

In the photo, the accent wall in the bedroom is decorated with gold wallpaper with a shiny surface.

You can use wallpaper with a small pattern or with a discreet pattern, they will increase the volume.

wallpaper with a small pattern in the bedroom wallpaper with a discreet pattern

What patterns make a room look bigger

It would seem that simple patterns and geometric shapes miraculously affect our perception. The same pattern with different color, scale or location can dramatically change the appearance of a room.

patterns make a room look bigger

patterns for making a room look bigger

A three-dimensional picture on one of the walls (photo 1). A large picture shortens the room, visually bringing the wall on which it is located closer. This type of decoration is suitable for long narrow rooms. The image will shorten the length and expand the space.
Small patterns (photo 2). A small picture of a light shade, on the contrary, visually increases the space, making it voluminous.
Horizontal stripes (photo 3). Transverse stripes can increase the width and stretch the walls. However, this may create the effect of a low ceiling. In the case of finishing only one wall with wallpaper with horizontal stripes, the room will seem shorter.
Vertical stripes (photo 4). Vertical stripes, on the contrary, stretch the space, making it higher. The thickness of the stripes enhances this effect.
Horizontal stripes on the floor (photo 5). As with wallpaper, horizontal stripes make the room wider but shorter. This finishing method is suitable for disproportionate rooms.
Longitudinal stripes (photo 6). Vertical stripes deepen the room, making it longer. Just like with wallpaper, the width of the stripes enhances the effect.

striped wallpaper in the bedroom wallpaper with tree trunks

Photo wallpaper that makes a room look bigger

An image can make a room look bigger or smaller.

Photo wallpaper with an image that goes into the distance will make a room look bigger or smaller.
- Photo wallpaper with an image that goes into the distance will make a room look bigger or smaller.
  - Photo wallpaper with an image that goes into the distance will make a room look bigger or smaller.
    - more room;
    - An image with no perspective will reduce the area of the room;
    - Photo wallpaper with images of different textures will create a play of light, which will also add volume;
    - Photo wallpaper with a shiny surface will increase the area due to its reflective properties;
    - Photo wallpaper with an image that goes from dark to light will make the room higher;
    - You should not paste over all the walls of the room with photo wallpaper, they will have the opposite effect, one or two will be enough.
    Ways to increase the size by using the ceiling
    
    The easiest and most popular way to increase the size of a room by using the ceiling is make a tension structure with a glossy surface. Mirror material will double the space due to its reflective properties. An interesting solution would be a combined ceiling, a combination of matte and glossy material can create an unusual composition, increasing precious square meters.
    
    In the photo, the ceiling in the living room is decorated with a stretch structure with a glossy surface.
    
    A disproportionate room can be leveled by combining colors. A darker stripe across an elongated room will make it appear wider. The same effect can be achieved with ceiling beams; a few straight wooden beams will suffice.
    
    Another way to make the space appear larger is with a photo print of the sky.
    
    Choosing a floor covering
    
    Floor coverings, like other surfaces, are made mainly in light shades. For the living room, you can use laminate, linoleum or carpet, it is better to choose a single-color color or one with a small, discreet pattern.
    
    Laminate and parquet can be laid diagonally or in a herringbone pattern, which makes the room look more spacious.
    
    They also use the familiar stripes, the direction in any of the directions will enlarge the room in the desired direction.
    
    In the photo, horizontal stripes make a narrow kitchen visually wider.
    
    Self-leveling floor with a reflective effect will double the space.
    
    How to increase the height of a room?
    
    You can make a room taller in several ways. One of them is wall decoration. Vertical stripes or patterns on wallpaper will “stretch” the wall. This can be wallpaper, paint or hand painting.
    
    The same result will be achieved by photo wallpaper with a perspective image, for example, a receding path in the forest or a high waterfall.
    
    The photo shows wallpaper with a perspective image (a receding pier), which helps to visually increase the height of a small bedroom.
    
    You can increase the height of a room with the help of high doorways and windows. Curtains or tulle of a straight cut from the ceiling to the floor will also contribute to this.
    
    Mirrors are a stylish way to significantly increase the area, for example, a tall mirror on the wall or a composition of small mirrors on the ceiling.
    
    How to visually expand a narrow room?
    
    You can expand a narrow room using fairly simple means, without resorting to construction work. What should you do if you got a room of less than ideal proportions? You need to start “correcting” them at the stage of repair and finishing.
    - Elements that direct the eye “across” the space will help visually expand a narrow room. Floor coverings with pronounced stripes, such as laminate or linoleum with a pattern, are best directed along the short wall or at an angle. Such coverings laid along the long wall will narrow the room even more. Another option is to use a single-color covering, such as carpet, plain linoleum, or cork.
    - Wall coverings can also help to expand a narrow room. Feel free to use horizontal stripes on the end surfaces. Wide stripes and skillfully selected colors will help to enhance the effect of expansion.
    - Alternatively, try to paint short walls in bright, rich colors, and long walls in neutral colors, or use wallpaper with a subtle pattern on them. This technique will help to “squeeze” the room in the right direction, making it more “square.”
    - Ceiling beams parallel to the short sides of the room will also help to perceive it differently, visually expanding a narrow room. They can be purely decorative, made of plasterboard. This solution is very appropriate in the Mediterranean style of home decoration, which is popular today.
    - Try to abandon the standard rectangular space. For example, a suspended ceiling of an unusual shape can change the appearance and expand a narrow room. Painting the walls not with planes, but with figured elements will support this effect. But it is better to entrust such complex design options to professional designers.
    If you don’t plan to do any renovations, but you still want to visually expand a narrow room, you can use simple and accessible techniques.
    - If possible, remove furniture from long walls, don’t be afraid to place furniture across, for example, a wardrobe at the end of a short wall or place furniture near a wall with a window – you can put a desk, it’s functionally convenient and allows you to visually expand a narrow room.
    - Divide the total volume into functional zones using a rack, open on both sides and placed perpendicular to the long wall – this technique will allow you to fragment the space and correct unfavorable proportions.
    - Play with light. It is better to refuse a standard chandelier in the center of the ceiling. Spotlights placed in the center of the ceiling will help to expand a narrow room if their light is directed at the walls.
    - Hang a picture, a spectacular poster or a large decorative element (for example, a clock with a large dial) on the end wall; this will attract attention; the rest of the walls should be in neutral tones.
    Make a room bigger with mirrors and glass
    
    Reflective surfaces are the most common and effective way to increase the boundaries of space. With the help of mirrors, even the most compact room will seem spacious.
    
    In the photo, the accent wall is decorated with mirrors, which make the bedroom visually more spacious.
    
    A tall mirror, starting from the floor, will add volume to the room, forming a passage to another room without any obstacles. It is worth considering that covering more than one wall with mirrors is not the best option, instead of a stylish living room or bedroom you will get a real ballet studio, devoid of coziness and home atmosphere.
    
    Mirrors can have different shapes and frames, with unusual frames they will also play the function of a decorative element of the apartment. Shaped mirrors can create an unusual composition on a wall or ceiling, they will unobtrusively increase the volume.
    
    Another common way to increase space is a stretch ceiling with a glossy surface.
    
    A great solution would be to install mirrored or glossy furniture.
    
    A false fireplace with a mirror on the inner wall will be an interesting design solution. This decoration takes up a minimum amount of space, while creating the illusion of a passage to another room.
    
    If it is necessary to separate rooms, a glass partition will perform the function of a wall. It will not create the impression of a closed space, but will divide the room into zones.
    
    Photos of compact furniture and decor
    
    When choosing furniture for a small room, you should give preference to low items. For example, instead of high bar stools, put a stool or pouf, a bed without a high headboard or a sofa with a low back.
    
    Weightless transparent furniture performs its direct functions, while not overloading the space, these can be plastic chairs and a table with a glass surface.
    
    The photo shows a transparent dining group in the interior of a small kitchen.
    
    Furniture should be placed along the walls so that the central part of the room remains free.
    
    It is better to use vertical interior details and accessories. Such techniques will help to visually increase the height of the ceiling.
    
    As for decorative elements, there should not be many of them, otherwise you can get a feeling of clutter.
    
    Choosing curtains
    
    Window decoration plays an important role in the design of an apartment. The selected material and cut will fill the room with space or, on the contrary, overload it.
    - White tulle from the ceiling to the floor will visually enlarge the windows, accordingly fill the room with light and stretch the space;
    - Light textile curtains with a small pattern are suitable for decorating the windows of the living room and children’s room;
    - Roller or Roman blinds will save space and are an ideal option for the kitchen or nursery;
    - Some styles allow you not to use curtains at all, for example: minimalism, loft, Scandinavian.
    Choosing the Right Lighting
    
    In a small apartment, diffused light should be used. Bright chandeliers with transparent shades or open light are not suitable for a small room. It is more appropriate to use lamps and chandeliers with shades made of frosted glass or a light lampshade.
    
    To increase the width of the room, use a system of spot lighting around the entire perimeter.
    
    An interesting effect will be achieved by backlighting from LED strip. The strip, recessed into the two-tier structure, will create the impression of a hovering ceiling.
    
    Furniture can also be decorated with LED strip.
    
    In the photo, the bed in the children’s room is illuminated with LED strip.
    
    How to visually make the bathroom bigger?
    
    In a small bathroom, the best idea would be finishing the walls and floor with light-colored tiles. White tiles will fill the bathroom with light as much as possible and visually increase the area.
    
    When combining two colors, a good option would be a horizontal line of a brighter shade, this will expand the walls.
    
    Finishing the ceiling with metal panels with a mirror coating will increase the space.
    
    A large mirror above the sink will also play a role.
    
    In the photo, white tiles fill the bathroom with light, the mirror above the sink visually increases its area.
    
    As for lighting, it is worth choosing spotlights and mirror backlighting.
    
    Furniture plays an important role, for example, shelves recessed into the wall, and a narrow sink. You can save useful space by placing the washing machine under the sink.
    
    Even the most compact apartment can be made comfortable by placing everything you need for life. Modern technologies allow you to create miniature equipment and mobile furniture that save the maximum amount of free space. And repairs in the right shades will increase the space and make the house cozy.
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