Stripes can work wonders!
Thin stripes give the appearance of stretching, vertical stripes will make a room appear taller and horizontal stripes will make a room look wider. Consider applying striped wallpaper to not only create an illusion of more space but to create a simplistic feature wall.
Mirrors are one of the most effective ways of expanding space, adding depth as well as character, so it is an ideal solution to making a narrow room feel wider.
Lighter paint colors like off-whites, light neutrals, pales, and pastels give the illusion of larger, brighter rooms. Here, we dive deeper into this topic with 5 specific painting techniques to make rooms look bigger, brighter, and more beautiful.
White can work well in a small bedroom, but be careful with stark white, since it can make any size bedroom feel cold. Soft tones of cream, butter or ivory are good choices, as are whites with a touch of grey, green, blue or even pink. Layer complementary shades of white, or choose accessories in a favorite color.
Lighter colors such as whites, creams, and light grays can help a room feel more open and spacious. Darker colors tend to make a room feel smaller and more enclosed.
It is also good to avoid large, heavy pieces of furniture. Not only do they use up too much space in a small room, but they also draw all the focus to that part of the room.
Narrow Living Room Colour Scheme
As a general rule, light colours make a room feel spacious by reflecting light. Darker colours tend to feel as though they are closer (and cosier), it's all to do with how your brain perceives colour.
Wide Planks
Selecting wide floor planks is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make a room look bigger. Instead of thin strips, go for boards at least seven inches wide. Longer planks (four or more feet in length) can help as well.
Pick dark shades that have a bit of color. 'I love dark green as a feature wall in a room with a lot of natural light,' says color and paint expert, Annie Sloan. A dark purple, brown, burgundy or navy blue can also work against a soft white or cream to help trick the eye into making the space feel bigger.
To help small spaces along, paint your longest walls dark paint colors. Deep colors like pewters, bronze, and charcoal emphasize the length of the longer walls if you… A wall with a window is an excellent choice for a lighter accent wall. It tricks people into thinking the window and wall recede together.
'Contrary to traditional thinking, dark paint allows the room to appear larger and taller than it may be. Dark colors add depth, visually enlarge the space, and make a great statement,' says Lichelle Silvestry.
Painting the wall on the far side of the room in a dark contrasting colour while keeping the side walls a light shade will help the room look more spacious. Another solution is to paint a single element such as wall shelving to catch the eye and make the rest of the space appear lighter in comparison.
1. Try horizontal stripes. Simple strips painted horizontally along the wall is a great paint technique to help make a room feel larger. Horizontal stripes in a narrow living room draw the eye outwards and make it appear as though the walls are farther apart than they actually are.
Darker hues can work to make a room seem larger, too, even though this may seem contradictory. This is because darker colors tend to blur the edges of a space, designer Rozit Arditi explains.
As Brianna Untener has commented above, couches that are raised off the ground can actually help a room feel bigger by creating more space. Interior designer, Jeanette Fusco, also supports this and says, 'a couch with legs or a raised base can create the illusion of more floor space. '
Remember that choosing a too small couch doesn't only limit the seating arrangements, it can actually make a space look smaller and less comfortable. Imagine walking into a room with a tiny little couch and thinking, there's not even room to fit a couch in here!
Stay Light and Bright
The best small kitchen ideas use materials to an advantage. Reflective surfaces, such as ceramic tile, marble countertops, or stainless steel, subtly amplify the effects of natural and artificial light, thereby making small kitchens seem larger.
Use dark colors strategically
'Dark colors, such as charcoal gray, navy blue, forest green or black, can make your space look bigger if used wisely,' says Artem Kropovinsky. 'They can create contrast and depth that make your walls recede and your ceiling appears higher.
' 'Many opt to use bright white with the aim of making a room appear larger,' adds Ruth Mottershead. 'However, a very bright white can make a room feel stark and cold. Light neutrals combined in a tonal scheme will make a room feel more spacious, creating the same effect whilst not appearing too stark.