June 3, 2020, 7:32 am | Read time: 4 minutes

There are many ways to make a small room appear larger. You just need to know a few optical tricks and the right furnishings. myHOMEBOOK consulted an experienced interior designer for practical tips.

The Right Flooring Makes Rooms Look Bigger

Light-colored flooring or carpet can make small rooms appear larger—similar to light wall colors. When laying parquet, you can also make a narrow room look wider by arranging the parquet pattern crosswise. Laid along the length of the room, it makes the room appear elongated. Generally, small-scale parquet or carpet patterns make a room look bigger.

Use Color and Light to Visually Enlarge Rooms

Small rooms handle light walls better than those painted too dark. But beware: Pure white walls can quickly seem boring and impersonal. “Light is key,” emphasizes Berlin interior designer Moncef Kebir to myHOMEBOOK. “Be bold, dare to use color!” advises the expert. Additionally, make sure the colors are warm and friendly. “Don’t underestimate that,” Kebir notes.

Add Color Accents and Paint Baseboards

An old trick to make a room appear larger: highlight one wall with color or accent it with patterned wallpaper. You can visually widen a narrow room by emphasizing the wall at the end, for example.

However, even though many swear by the trick of color accentuation, Moncef Kebir finds it a bit too conventional. For years, he has been designing all the walls of a room in just one color. “It brings calm and spaciousness—even in small rooms.” With the right color choice, you can even paint the ceiling entirely in the wall color. Kebir’s tip: “Always paint baseboards in the wall color, then there are no boundaries.”

Tip: Low rooms can gain visual height if you paint the ceiling in a lighter tone than the walls.

The Right Lighting to Make Rooms Look Bigger

In small rooms, daylight is invaluable. But with the right lighting, you can achieve a lot: A small room looks bigger if you distribute multiple light sources throughout the room instead of just one ceiling lamp.

Also interesting: What things don’t belong in your kitchen

“Light is a staging,” says Moncef Kebir. “Combine floor and table lamps! This way, you create light islands, preferably many. Different light sources make the room interesting and expansive. Floor lamps are great because they don’t need a base like a table or windowsill. Use ceiling lamps sparingly. It’s always about atmospheric light.”

Order Helps in Small Rooms

Small rooms quickly look cluttered and even smaller if not tidied up occasionally. However, don’t be too meticulous, or the room will seem lifeless and sterile. With sufficient storage space, it’s much easier to keep things tidy. Use the free space under the bed for storage boxes, for example. Clothes you won’t wear for a while can also be stored in sealed laundry bags under the bed.

Also good—and it doesn’t have to be conventional: a built-in wardrobe. You can even mirror the door surfaces. This adds extra light even to the smallest space. Overall: “A large mirror expands the room,” says Moncef Kebir.

Beware: Too much storage space quickly becomes a catch-all for clutter, as many useless items can be stashed away without considering whether they’re still needed. Then there’s no room for what’s truly important. Therefore, even if it’s difficult, it’s better to part with old things you no longer need! If space is limited, focus on the essentials.

Use Walls to Make Rooms Look Bigger

A cabinet or bookshelf as tall as possible creates additional storage space. If that seems too bulky, you can also set great accents with wall cabinets. Moncef Kebir advises: “Use the room height! Furnishing vertically makes the room much bigger. If necessary, you should therefore complement the cabinets with extensions.”

More on the topic

Colors, Patterns, Arrangements Tricks to Create More Space in the Kids’ Room

Furnishings, color, … How to make a first-floor apartment brighter

Interior Designer Reveals How to Properly Furnish a Bedroom with a Sloped Ceiling

Use Space Wisely – Less Is More

If the room is really small, consider whether you can do without a sofa. A table with comfortable chairs might suffice.

To avoid being completely without a sofa, you might consider a table with comfortable chairs. Moncef Kebir, who has been designing rooms for years, suggests painting all the walls in a single color. “It brings calm and spaciousness—even in small rooms.” With the right color choice, you can even paint the ceiling entirely in the wall color. Kebir’s tip: “Always paint baseboards in the wall color, then there are no boundaries.”

Speaking of size—Moncef Kebir has a clear opinion on this: “Avoid clutter! A large mirror can make a room feel more spacious,” he says.