Tips For Making A Small Space Larger with Carpet Court

Heather Nette King is a Melbourne-based interiors stylist and writer for many leading interior titles and newspapers. The hallmarks of her styling are colour and vibrancy, and she writes passionately about peoples’ homes and how they live in them.

Big ideas to get the best from your smaller rooms

Making a small space feel larger and more liveable can be tricky, but with some clever tricks of the trade I can show you how to make a room look and feel bigger, helping you transform the petite into the palatial in no time (well, almost).

LIGHT WORKS

The easiest trick to ensure that a small space appears larger is by having adequate lighting.If the room gets very little natural light, then overhead lights will be your best weapon in brightening up the space. Flush mounted lights that sit in the ceiling will help create a seamless and instant light source.

WINDOW WONDERS

The size of your windows will directly affect whether a room feels cramped or spacious, but the way that you treat the window will also have a significant impact. Voluminous curtains that drape to the ground will not only inhibit the light entering through the window, but also take up floorspace. Roller blinds will virtually disappear, instantly creating more space; and shutters will have the same effect as they don’t impinge on wall space. The new Transitional roller blind is a light filtering blind which provides privacy for any room. To create a seamless look, keep your window furnishings the same colour as your walls.

ASK SOME HARD QUESTIONS

Not being a minimalist myself, I shudder at the thought of decluttering, but sometimes you just need to set your belongings free. If the room is small, it’s time to declutter. Take items to a charity store, recycle them, or even re-gift them if you can.

COLOUR CONFIDENCE:
HOW TO MAKE A ROOM LOOK BIGGER WITH PAINT

I am often asked “what colours make a room look bigger?”, and as much as I like small rooms to be moody and dramatic, the real answer is to keep the colour light and bright. Whites, pale greens, and light blues will open a space. If you paint the ceiling a fresh white, your eye will be drawn up to the light, instantly granting it a more spacious feel.

BIGGER, BETTER SLEEPING SPACES

The next question I am most asked is “how can I make a small bedroom look bigger?”. The most obvious answer is to keep it tidy so that you can see the floor coverings. A stunning light-toned timber floor, or a light carpet like the Glass colourway in the Autumn Mist range is the perfect allrounder. For something more luxurious, try the Tanzanite colourway from the Luxe Tone range.

SCALE, SIMPLIFIED

People talk a lot about scale in decorating, and it can seem a bit confusing. Simply put, scale refers to the size of things in relation to one another. Many people make the mistake of putting lots of little pieces of furniture and décor into a smaller room, but in reality, a few larger pieces will create a flowing scheme visually.

REFLECT ON IT

Mirrors will be your best friend in making a small room seem larger. They not only reflect the space, creating the illusion of roominess, but they will also reflect and increase the available light. Leaning mirrors are the easiest as there’s no need to install them, and you can move them around or out of the way if required.

DOUBLE TIME

Furniture that has multiple uses is another great way to make a small space seem larger. In a small bedroom or studio apartment, a bed with under-storage will eliminate the need for an extra wardrobe. A desk that can double as a make-up table, or a footstool that conceals some out-of-season clothes will also create that valuable sense of extra space.

So, if you follow this and employ each space-saving trick, maybe having a decluttering cull won’t be necessary after all!! Fingers crossed.