The illusion of making a room look larger than it is

One of the biggest challenges many homeowners face is making smaller rooms look larger and more inviting. Here are five ways to achieve that goal:

 1. Paint Color - Lighter colors such as creams, icy blues and greens make the best color combinations. Light colors tend to reflect light making the room brighter there by more open. Darker shades of wall color absorb the light giving the room a cave-like feeling. If you want to add darker colors to the room, use them on trim or borders. Another trick is painting the ceiling a few shades lighter than the wall. This creates the illusion of higher ceilings.

2. Furniture - Stage the room using furniture that is proportionate to the size of the room. Use furniture that has clean lines and place it at an angle or against the wall. Choosing a couple of pieces that are the same or close to the same color as the walls helps it to blend in and widen the room. Avoid blocking pathways with pieces of furniture.

3. Light - Natural light is the best form of light. Not only does it bring the outdoors in, but it also helps brighten and enlarge the room. If you don’t have a lot of natural light streaming in, add recessed lighting, floor lamps, etc.

4. Remove the clutter - The less clutter the better. Keeping the room clean and organized will help make it look larger. Hanging one large painting or photograph instead of a multitude of wall hangings creates a cleaner look. Create a focal point and lastly don’t over accessorize.

5. Reflections - Mirrors are a great way to double the size of a room. One large mirror angled towards the focal point can add a significant amount of depth to a room. They reflect light there by making the space look larger.