Most houses have at least one of two small rooms, and it can be difficult to make the most of them, especially if they are key room such as kitchens or dining rooms. Here are a few simple tips to help you maximise the space in small rooms and make them much more functional.
Colours
Make sure the walls are smooth and well finished (fill in any cracks or holes), and then paint them in light, bright colours, avoiding any colours that are too intense and overwhelming. Also refresh ceilings, window timbers and skirting boards with a few coats of paints (white is best for this), and all of this will help to reflect as much of the natural light as possible coming into the room, and give it a clean, airy feel. Smaller rooms benefit from basic neutral colour schemes through the walls, carpets and soft furnishings, as large areas of bold colours can appear to much in the foreground, imposing on the illusion of space you are trying to create, but you could spice things up with one or two more colourful pieces of furniture or accessories.
Mirrors
Large mirrors reflect and magnify light across the room, adding to that airy feel you are trying to create and can also give a sense of space by breaking up solid wall areas with a reflection of the rest of the room. This can be very helpful in small bedrooms for disguising imposing wardrobes, as long mirrors can be fixed to the wardrobe doors. Glass cabinets can also reflect light, and will also provide space to put away small items you are not using from the room (television handsets, magazines) to prevent too much clutter.
Angles
For some small rooms the longest line will be on the diagonal, and to help create a sense of space in these awkward areas you could try putting the furniture at a slight angle. This need not be so acute that it invades into the plan of the room, but just simply pulling the sofa out a little and realigning the coffee table can help to lead the eye along the longest lines.
Clutter
Keep small rooms tidy, and utilise as much space as possible for storage. A large cabinet that you can put things away in will ultimately be much more space saving then leaving everything piled up in corners or by the television, as untidy clutter will draw the eye and reduce the effect of light, airiness you are trying to achieve.
Colours
Make sure the walls are smooth and well finished (fill in any cracks or holes), and then paint them in light, bright colours, avoiding any colours that are too intense and overwhelming. Also refresh ceilings, window timbers and skirting boards with a few coats of paints (white is best for this), and all of this will help to reflect as much of the natural light as possible coming into the room, and give it a clean, airy feel. Smaller rooms benefit from basic neutral colour schemes through the walls, carpets and soft furnishings, as large areas of bold colours can appear to much in the foreground, imposing on the illusion of space you are trying to create, but you could spice things up with one or two more colourful pieces of furniture or accessories.
Mirrors
Large mirrors reflect and magnify light across the room, adding to that airy feel you are trying to create and can also give a sense of space by breaking up solid wall areas with a reflection of the rest of the room. This can be very helpful in small bedrooms for disguising imposing wardrobes, as long mirrors can be fixed to the wardrobe doors. Glass cabinets can also reflect light, and will also provide space to put away small items you are not using from the room (television handsets, magazines) to prevent too much clutter.
Angles
For some small rooms the longest line will be on the diagonal, and to help create a sense of space in these awkward areas you could try putting the furniture at a slight angle. This need not be so acute that it invades into the plan of the room, but just simply pulling the sofa out a little and realigning the coffee table can help to lead the eye along the longest lines.
Clutter
Keep small rooms tidy, and utilise as much space as possible for storage. A large cabinet that you can put things away in will ultimately be much more space saving then leaving everything piled up in corners or by the television, as untidy clutter will draw the eye and reduce the effect of light, airiness you are trying to achieve.
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