November 6th, 2010 8:42 PM by Frank Ferrell
Are you like most people, having that certain room in the house you wish was just a little larger? What many don't realize is that with a little work and some TLC, you could have exactly what you're looking for.
Here are 8 ideas I share with my Sellers that will help you get your small room looking larger:
1. Lighting is a key to opening up a small space. Recessed spot lighting is visually appealing and is perfect for a small space. A torchiere light is great for bouncing light off of the ceiling and back down on the room. Skylights and solar tubes are natural alternatives for adding light to a room.2. For the appearance of a larger space, use a color scheme that is light instead of bright or dark. Pastels, neutrals and white are all color possibilities.3. Use a monochromatic color scheme for your furniture, rugs and walls. Select different shades and textures of your single color.
4. Floors and ceilings are the fifth and sixth walls of every room. Light-colored floors such as light oak or a light-colored carpet will make the room appear brighter and more open. The same goes for the ceiling—use a light color or white to "open up" your space.5. Eliminate clutter. Limit the number of accessories to avoid the cluttered feeling.6. Increase the appearance of your room by adding wall mirrors. They not only reflect images, they reflect light and color. Be a little daring! Use mirror tiles to mirror an entire wall. Your room will appear to double in size.7. Limit the amount of furniture pieces in a small space. A love seat may work better than a full-size sofa depending on the size and shape of the room. Add two medium-sized chairs or two small wood chairs. Try placing the chairs closer to the wall, then pull them out into the area when additional seating is required.8. Paintings or prints added to the walls. One large painting works better than a group of small paintings.
If you decide to implement any of these ideas, please let me know how they worked for you by commenting to this blog. And as always, have fun with your house projects!