For many families, the living room is the heart of the home. It’s where most people like to relax, and small living rooms can feel the coziest. But there are a few tips to make that small, cozy room feel larger. The key is to think light and airy when making design choices. Here are some ideas to help guide you.
Light, light, and more light
Choose from a colour palette of light hues: greys, creams, or pastels. Light colours make a room feel more open, especially if there’s limited natural light. If you’re bold, you can paint the baseboards, molding, and ceiling the same colour as the walls. This will eliminate the contrast of corners, making the space feel larger. But if you’d rather add some visual interest, a mural with a simple design on one wall will do the trick without overwhelming the room.
Keep it light on the windows. Avoid heavy drapes and opt for roller shades, blinds, or lightweight curtains instead. Allow for as much natural light to enter the room as possible to keep it bright and airy. If your room doesn’t have a lot of natural light, splurge on a light fixture that can double as a statement piece. It will brighten the room while adding a layer of sophistication and luxury to the space.
And add a mirror – the bigger, the better. Mirrors are not only great décor for reflecting style and charm, but they also reflect light and provide depth, giving the illusion that there’s more square footage in the room.
Maximize the space you have
Making careful choices about your furniture and its arrangement can make all the difference in creating a room that feels both cozy and spacious. The trick is to make it easy to move around and declutter.
Start by choosing pieces that aren’t too bulky, with legs that are narrow and raised. Remember that light is the key: dark fabrics absorb light while lighter ones reflect it and help to illuminate the room. Higher furniture with slim legs will allow for light to shine underneath, reflecting off your floors to brighten the room even more.
When it comes to floors, show as much as possible and create clear pathways. The more floor you show, the bigger the space will feel. Higher furniture and shallow floating shelves will help you make the most of vertical space while keeping floors clear. Tuck armchairs into corners, place lower furniture against long walls to open things up, and use clear materials such as glass tables to help light flow around the room.
But the easiest way to create more space is to simply declutter. Remove items from the room that you don’t use and the things you do, like throws or books, tuck away when you’re done with them. Multifunctional furniture such as sofas or benches that offer storage, nesting tables, or baskets that can be stored under end tables will help to keep things neat and tidy while maximizing space.
For more helpful tips on how to make your space work better for you, reach out to Laura Lisk, Realtor® at 519-379-2624.