How to enlarge a room: choosing colors, furniture, wall, ceiling and floor decoration

What colors increase the space?

It is a well-known fact that the lighter the shade, the larger the object appears. The same technique works in interior solutions. In order to visually increase the area of ​​the room, it is worth using finishes in light colors: white and cold pastel shades. Furniture should also be used in a light color, but different in tonality from the walls, ceiling and floor. For example, it can be a delicate pastel palette.

On the picture compact kitchen in Khrushchev. In order to visually increase the area, the room was decorated in light colors.

How to decorate the walls?

What wallpapers enlarge the room

Using some finishing tricks, you can expand the boundaries of the room and visually enlarge the room.

• Vertical stripes stretch the space, making it taller;

• Wallpaper with horizontal stripes will increase the width of the room;

On the picture the wall is decorated with wallpaper with horizontal stripes, this type of decoration visually increases the width of the room.

• One of the walls can be pasted over with wallpaper with a pattern or ornament, this technique will make a long room more proportional;

• Flashy bright colors should be avoided;
• The walls can be decorated with wallpaper with a shiny surface;

On the picture the accent wall in the bedroom is decorated with golden wallpaper with a shiny surface.

• You can use wallpaper with a small pattern or a discreet pattern, they will increase the volume.

What drawings enlarge the room

Seemingly simple drawings and geometric shapes miraculously affect our perception. The same pattern at different color, scale or location dramatically changes the appearance of a room.

• Volumetric drawing on one of the walls (photo 1). A large drawing shortens the room, visually bringing closer the wall on which it is located. This type of finish is suitable for long, narrow spaces. The image will shorten the length and expand the space.
• Small patterns (photo 2). A small drawing of a light shade, on the contrary, visually enlarges the space, making it voluminous.
• Horizontal stripes (photo 3). Transverse stripes can increase the width and stretch the walls. However, a low ceiling effect may occur. In the case of wallpaper with horizontal stripes on only one wall, the room will appear shorter.
• Vertical stripes (photo 4). On the other hand, vertical stripes stretch the space, making it taller. The thickness of the stripes enhances this effect.
• Horizontal stripes on the floor (photo 5). As with wallpaper, horizontal stripes make the room wider but shorter.This finishing method is suitable for disproportionate rooms.
• Longitudinal stripes (photo 6). Vertical stripes deepen the room, making it longer. As with wallpaper, the width of the stripes enhances the effect.

Wall murals enlarging the room

The image can enlarge or vice versa reduce the area of ​​the room.

• Wall murals with an image receding into the distance will make the room larger;
• An unpromising image will reduce the area of ​​the room;
• Wall murals with images of different textures will allow you to create a play of light, which will also add volume;
• Wallpaper with a shiny surface will increase the area due to its reflective properties;
• Wall murals with an image moving from dark to light shades will make the room look taller;
• You should not paste over all the walls of the room with photo wallpapers, they will have the opposite result, one or two will be enough.

Methods for increasing due to the ceiling

The easiest and most popular way to enlarge a room with a ceiling is to make a tension structure with a glossy surface. The mirror material doubles the space due to its reflective properties. An interesting solution would be a combined ceiling, a combination of matte and glossy materials can create an unusual composition, increasing the precious square meters.

On the picture the ceiling in the living room is decorated with a tension structure with a glossy surface.

A disproportionate room can be leveled by combining colors. A strip of a darker shade across the elongated room will make it wider. The same effect can be achieved with ceiling beams, a few straight wooden beams will suffice.

Another way to increase the space is to photograph the sky.

Choice of flooring

The flooring, like other surfaces, is made mainly in light shades. For the living room, you can use laminate, linoleum or carpet, it is better to choose a single color or with a small discreet pattern.

Laminate and parquet flooring can be laid out diagonally or in the herringbone pattern, thus the room looks more spacious.

The already familiar stripes are also used, the direction in either side will enlarge the room in the desired direction.

On the picture horizontal stripes make a narrow kitchen visually wider.

A self-leveling floor with a reflective effect will double the space.

How to increase the height of the room?

There are several ways to make the room higher. One of them is wall decoration. Vertical stripes or wallpaper patterns will "stretch" the wall. It can be wallpaper, paint, or hand-painted.

Wall murals with a perspective image, such as a receding path in the forest or a high waterfall, will have the same result.

On the picture wallpaper with a perspective image (receding pier), helping to visually increase the height of the small bedroom.

You can increase the height of the room with the help of high door and window openings. Curtains or tulle in a straight cut from ceiling to floor will also contribute to this.

Mirrors are a stylish way to significantly increase the area, for example, a tall mirror on the wall or a composition of small mirrors on the ceiling.

How to visually expand a narrow room?

You can expand a narrow room with fairly simple means, without resorting to construction work. What if you got a room of imperfect proportions? It is necessary to start “fixing” them already at the stage of repair and finishing.

• Visually expanding a narrow room will help elements, guiding the look "across" space. Floor covering that has pronounced stripes, such as laminate or patterned linoleum, is best directed along a short wall or at an angle. Such coverings laid along a long wall will further narrow the room. Another option is to use a single-color coating, for example, carpet, linoleum without a pattern, cork.
• Covering the walls will also help expand a narrow room. Feel free to use horizontal strip on end surfaces... Wide stripes and skillfully selected colors help enhance the broadening effect.
• Alternatively, try paint short walls bright, rich colors, and long ones - in neutral ones, or use wallpaper with an inconspicuous pattern on them. This technique will help to "squeeze" the room in the right direction, it will become more "square".
• Ceiling beamsparallel to the short sides of the room will also help to perceive it differently, visually expand the narrow room. They can be purely decorative, made of drywall. This decision is very appropriate in the Mediterranean style of housing design that is popular today.
• Try it abandon the standard rectangular space... For example, an irregularly shaped suspended ceiling can change the look and expand a narrow room. Painting the walls not with planes, but with curly elements will support this effect. But it is better to entrust such complex design options to professional designers.

If you do not plan to do repairs, but you want to visually expand the narrow room, you can use simple and accessible techniques for everyone.

• If possible, remove furniture from long walls, do not be afraid to put furnishings across, for example, a wardrobe at the end of a short wall, or place furniture against a wall with a window - you can put a desk, this is functionally convenient and allows you to visually expand a narrow room.
• Divide the total volume into functional areas using a rack that is open on both sides and placed perpendicular to a long wall - this technique will allow you to fragment the space and correct unfavorable proportions.
• Play with light. It is better to refuse a standard chandelier in the center of the ceiling. Spotlights placed in the center of the ceiling will help to expand a narrow room if their light is directed to the walls.
• Hang a picture, a spectacular poster or a large decorative element (for example, a clock with a large dial) on the end wall, this will attract attention, the rest of the walls should be in neutral colors.

Make the room bigger with mirrors and glass

Reflective surfaces are the most common and effective way to expand the boundaries of a space. With the help of mirrors, even the smallest room will seem spacious.

On the picture the accent wall is decorated with mirrored canvases, which make the bedroom visually more spacious.

A tall mirror starting from the floor itself will add volume to the room, forming a passage to another room without any obstacles. It should be borne in mind that covering more than one wall with mirrors is not the best option; instead of a stylish living room or bedroom, you will get a real ballet studio, devoid of comfort and home atmosphere.

Mirrors can have different shapes and frames, with unusual frames, they will also play the function of a decorative element of the apartment. Curly mirrors can make an unusual composition on the wall or ceiling, they will unobtrusively increase the volume.

Another common way to increase space is a stretch ceiling with a glossy surface.

The perfect solution would be to install mirror or glossy furniture.

A false fireplace with a mirror on the inner wall will be an interesting design solution. Such decoration takes up a minimum amount of space, while creating the illusion of a passage to another room.

If it is necessary to separate rooms, a glass partition will perform the function of a wall. It will not create the impression of a confined space, but will divide the room into zones.

Photo of compact furniture and decor

When choosing furniture for a small room, you should give your preference to low items. For example, instead of high bar stools, put a stool or ottoman, a bed without a high headboard or a sofa with a low back.

Weightless transparent furniture performs its direct functions, while not overloading the space, it can be plastic chairs and a table with a glass surface.

On the picture transparent dining group in the interior of a small kitchen.

Furniture items should be placed along the walls so that the central part of the room remains free.

Interior details and accessories are best used in a vertical shape. Such techniques will help to visually increase the height of the ceiling.

As for decorative elements, there should not be a lot of them, otherwise you can get a feeling of clutter.

Choice of curtains

Window decoration plays an important role in apartment design. The selected material and cut will fill the room with space or, on the contrary, overload it.

• White tulle from ceiling to floor will visually enlarge the windows, accordingly fill the room with light and stretch the space;

• Light textile curtains with small patterns are suitable for decorating living room and nursery windows;

• Roller blinds or roman blinds will save space and will be ideal for a kitchen or nursery;

• Some styles allow you not to use curtains at all, for example: minimalism, loft, Scandinavian.

Choosing the right lighting

In a small apartment it is worth using diffused light. Bright chandeliers with transparent shades or open light are not suitable for a small room. It is more appropriate to use lamps and chandeliers with frosted glass shades or a light shade.

To increase the width of the room, a point lighting system is used along the entire perimeter.

An interesting effect will be given by backlighting from an LED strip. A tape recessed in a two-tiered structure will give the impression of a floating ceiling.

Furniture items can also be decorated with LED strip.

On the picture the bed in the children's room is illuminated by an LED strip.

How to make a bigger bathroom visually?

In a small bathtub, the best idea would be to decorate the walls and floors with light-colored tiles. White tiles will fill the bathroom with light as much as possible and visually increase the area.

By combining the two colors, a horizontal line with a brighter shade is a good option to expand the walls.

Ceiling trim with mirror-finish metal panels will increase the space.

A large mirror above the sink will also play a role.

On the picture white tiles fill the bathroom with light, the mirror above the sink visually enlarges its area.

For lighting, it is worth choosing spotlights and mirror illumination.

Furniture plays an important role, such as shelves recessed into the wall and a narrow sink. You can save valuable space by placing the washing machine under the sink.

Even the most compact apartment can be made comfortable by placing everything you need for life. Modern technologies make it possible to create miniature appliances and mobile furniture that preserve the maximum amount of free space. And repairs in the right shades will increase the space and make the house cozy.