Small design: how to make small rooms work!

Making a room seem bigger or creating a sense of cosiness is a cinch if you use colour, furniture and fittings wisely. Follow these small design tips and tricks to create an increased sense of space in any room.

Let's face it - not all rooms are created equal. Who hasn't lived in a house where at least one room could have done with more room? The good news is you can achieve exactly that, without resorting to costly extensions. Just a few small design tricks is all you need.

Colours

Generally speaking, lighter colours make a room look larger, while darker colours draw a room in. A clever trick for interior design for small rooms, is to create an illusion of width by putting a darker colour on the far wall. Similarly, vertical stripes on walls will immediately give the impression that the ceiling is higher, while horizontal stripes make a room seem wider.

Furniture

Choose clean-lined, low-fuss pieces that err towards the minimalist style rather than the ornate. It's also a good idea to choose furniture that has legs, rather than something that sits directly on the floor. If it's practical, place furniture around the room's edges to create a central space - a focal point such as a rug or table can fill this spot while allowing the room to feel as spacious as possible.

Lighting

While relying on a single light source hanging from the middle of the ceiling will make a room seem smaller, good small design will involve installing several downlights instead - that way, you'll create lighting zones, which can create a sense of space.

Mirrors

It's a classic tactic - with some amount of truth attached - that a mirror will make a room seem larger. Check out your local thrift store for a mirror of the cheap (and often trendy) variety, or visit an antique dealer for a more refined take on the space-creating mirror.

For more information, talk to an interior designer or decorator with expertise in designing for small rooms: