If you're like a lot of people in the market out to purchase or lease a new space, you may be rather dismayed by the amount of space you can afford for your budget. Many people who would love to buy or rent a large home with an open floor plan are unfortunately required to move into space that is smaller than they would like. If you are in this situation yourself, there is good news! We've put together some tips for opening up a small space so you can easily create the illusion of space in your home.
Choose Open Furnishings
There are a wide range of furniture styles you can select to invest in for your new space, but some furnishings may create a closed-off feel. The last thing you want is to feel claustrophobic and cramped while at home. Furnishings that have legs and are lifted off the ground may give your home a more spacious and open feel. When you select sofas, end tables and other similar items, look for furniture with legs. In addition, furnishings with glass or other see-through features can also create a more open feel in your home.
Think About Organizational Features
While your furnishings can make your home feel closed off and cramped, clutter also has this same effect. Organizational features like storage bins, baskets and shelves can be used to keep the clutter to a minimum. Bookshelves may be a great option, but keep in mind that visible clutter, even when organized on a shelf, can give a room a more cramped feeling. Therefore, if you use a bookshelf to store your items, think about using a shelf with doors or placing storage baskets on the shelves to help conceal your clutter.
Select Accessories with Proportion in Mind
While factors like the style of your furnishing and how cluttered your space is will impact the overall feel in your home, the accessories you choose to decorate with will also impact the look of your home. In a larger room, it's okay to place large pictures on the walls and to use larger vases, candles and other decorative items. However, in a smaller space, this can seem overbearing. You can still decorate with these items, but keep proportion in mind. Placing smaller candles and vases on tables and using smaller pictures on walls can help you create the feeling of space in a small room.
Another great idea is to incorporate mirrors. For example, decorative mirrors hanging on a wall in a smaller room can give the illusion of space. You may also consider the types of window coverings in your rooms. Avoid using larger, flowing drapes, and opt for coverings that allow the natural sunlight to enter into the room.
Consider the Flow of the Space
As a final point, you should also think about the overall flow of the space in your home. When you block the flow of traffic with furnishings, potted plants and other features, the room feels smaller. It's better to place furnishings flush against a wall or in a corner. Avoid blocking doorways, and move furnishings as far away from the doorways and traffic paths as possible. In addition, if possible, avoid blocking features like windows and fireplaces. If space permits, these features should be visible from the main entryway in a room. This can give anyone who enters the impression of a much larger room.
It can be difficult to furnish and decorate a home with less square footage. After all, you need to think about the functional benefits that your furniture provides, such as seating for your whole family in the living room. When you pay attention to these points, you can more easily meet your functional needs without creating a closed-off feeling.
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