When you first moved into your house or your apartment, the world was your oyster – well, the interior designing world that is. You had all the time and money in the world, along with the right dedication, to completely reinvent that living space into your own. 

However, a few years down that road cut to today, you can’t help but feel suffocated and uneasy in your home. You can’t point your finger to anything… but experts can!

And they say that having a home that feels dim and cluttered is probably what’s bringing you down.

Here are seven ways through which you can cut back, hold back, and make your home feel spacious and bright again:

Keep the Proportions in Mind

Credits: Unsplash, Minh Pham

In a small space, furniture is all about the right proportions. If the furniture you have keeps on cluttering up in one corner of the room or is arranged in a disheveled manner, it takes away the sense of spaciousness that is necessary to give comfort. 

To put it simply: it takes the living out of living space.

To create a sense of roominess, experts advise leaving a little space between the furniture and the walls. This rule of thumb applies to every piece of furniture in your home except your bed. Whereby designers often recommend having it adjoin the walls for a better sleeping cave.

We’ve all heard of the phrase: go big or go home. In this case, you want to go home. Do not add heavy pieces that take up too much space and serve very little function. The key to comfort is finding the right balance between form and function – it’d be better if both were incorporated into one.

For example; two comfortable armchairs separated by a nightstand or a table would look much more spacious and get the job done compared to one big sofa that eats up too much space.

Use The Right Colors and Contrasts

Credits: Unsplash, Sophie M.

Here’s a little secret: light colors can make your room appear bigger. While this might sound like an irrational thing to say, experts stand by this fact and interior designers love to incorporate it wherever there’s a smaller space.

Light and bright walls are much more reflective and make areas appear more open. They allow natural light to take over to give a more airy vibe. On the other hand, dark colors are known to absorb light which makes a room appear smaller.

Lighting Is Essential

Shop This Look: Kairi Classic Drum Shaped Aesthetic Floor Lamp

We’re all fans of natural lighting, and quite rightfully so. It opens up areas and makes them look larger and much more relaxing. However, you do not have to whimper over your smaller windows or the building that’s blocking out the sunlight. 

Add some creative lighting fixtures or light stands to bring all the difference in the world. It’s essential to keep these fixtures at the right proportions to allow every area of the home to stay illuminated in an almost subtle, yet functional glow.

If you’re undecided over which fixture to choose, have a look at the lighting catalogue by Light Atelier for an endless sources of inspiration.

Declutter

Credits: Unsplash, Minh Pham

Needless to say, the more you have in your room, the less space you’ll have. While some homeowners feel a sentimental attachment to everything right down to the broken record player, it is important and quite obvious that decluttering is the first step to take.

Keep your room tidy and organized, that’s something we’ve always been told. A smaller space has very little room for quantity and has to do with quality already without feeling cramped. Even if your room isn’t as small, cluttering can give it that effect.

For example; one large painting works much better than a million smaller ones. Similarly, redistributing furniture from one room to the other can clear up space without you having to throw it into storage. If there’s too much going on in one particular space, you’ll take away any statement it might have made otherwise.

Mirrors Can Make Or Break Your Space

Credits: Unsplash, Minh Pham

Mirrors can make your room appear larger and more spacious. If strategically placed as a focal point, mirrors illuminate the area to give the illusion of depth. They reflect natural and artificial light for more brightness, bouncing light deep into the room to make it look larger.

Here’s a tip, place your mirror nearer to a window to reflect natural light into your room. Likewise, you could incorporate smaller mirrors such as those on tabletops and cabinet doors for the same effect.

Make A Pathway

Credits: Unsplash, ANIRUDH

We talked about proportions before, and with that, it was important to note that experts advise against cluttering furniture towards the wall. This, needless to say, does not imply that everything has to be clustered towards the center of the room.

When dealing with smaller living spaces, pushing pieces more towards the edge with just a little space between them and the wall can maximize space. Again, this does not mean cluttering since everything has a designated area in the room.

Strategically Hang Curtains

Credits: Unsplash, Hutomo Abrianto

It doesn’t take much for your home to go from a blank canvas to a toddler’s finger painting. You have to find the right balance at each step to maximize function and still make room for aesthetic. A bigger and brighter room has strategically placed curtains that make it appear bigger and brighter.

While installing curtain rods, make sure they extend beyond the side of the window casing. In this way, when the curtains are open, they won’t block the glass or the incoming light.

Conclusion

Your home is your sanctuary – where you unwind and relax. Comfort is by definition associated with something pleasing. Hence, think bigger and brighter. Incorporate these simple tips into your home to give you that look.