It is not easy to make small-sized housing with its cramped spaces and low ceilings comfortable. In such conditions, the question of how to increase space in a small room is always relevant. Below we describe techniques to transform a small space and avoid mistakes when decorating a small living room, bedroom or kitchen.
Interior in beige palette Source st.hzcdn.com
About the principles of transformation
Making a room larger is quite simple; To do this, it is not at all necessary to start a redevelopment with moving walls. The point is to create an optical illusion that will help our perception to perceive space as more voluminous than it actually is.
Loft Source player.hu
The method allows you to visually expand the boundaries of a modest room. The rules for choosing a color palette, furniture and accessories, underestimated by many, will help make it light and bright and visually raise the ceilings.
Living-dining room in eco-style Source st.hzcdn.com
Sometimes, to decorate standard city apartments, it is advised to choose styles that are emphatically simple in appearance: minimalism, Scandinavian, hi-tech. The problem is that such trends seem to the Russian mentality to be devoid of the usual comfort and homeliness.
In a narrow room Source dizainexpert.ru
In fact, the interior of a small apartment does not have to be decorated in a particularly minimalist style. The design can be anything. In order not to make a small room even smaller, the main thing in the process is to use visual tricks.
For owners thinking about the problem of how to expand the space of a small room, it is important to understand that the solution consists of several components, and every little detail is of great importance.
Living room in a classic style Source greatideahub.com
Using vertical lines Source roomble.com
Use the laws of geometry
There is one simple rule: horizontal lines expand the space, and vertical lines make it taller . Use this law when decorating a small room. For example, to visually expand the area, horizontal shelves that can be placed along the walls are perfect. Another unique solution could be a striped carpet.
Expert opinion
Mezentsev Sergey Petrovich
Residential renovation and finishing specialist
When creating an optical illusion, try not to overdo it. Otherwise, you will get the opposite effect: it will be extremely difficult to stay in such a room.
The importance of zoning
In order to competently manage the space of a small apartment, you cannot do without zoning, and the smaller the square meters, the more thoroughly it needs to be thought through. Designers advise caution when converting a small apartment into a studio: the modest size will become more noticeable, and it will be more difficult to arrange the furniture.
Sliding doors in the opening Source design-homes.ru
Separating zones in a room avoids the feeling of clutter and promotes psychological comfort. Furniture, as well as folding or sliding doors, will help to highlight zones and at the same time organize the space. They add variety to the interior, making it more comfortable and original.
Selecting a work area Source wuru.ru
Successful zoning Source lisa.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in electrical work
Frescoes and photo wallpapers
Photo wallpapers are of great importance in the interior, selected for a small room and aimed at enlarging it. Thanks to its good quality, such decoration will not only bring benefits and visually expand the room, but will also help you save on constant renovation of the coating, as it will last for many years.
Photo wallpapers have many advantages. Among them is the ability to choose absolutely any color. Photos of a big city at night, magnificent landscapes, bright large flowers, dark green dense forest - you can always find something you like.
On a note!
Having one accent wall, it is recommended that all the rest be done in a monochrome design so that the overall room does not look too colorful.
Frescoes will help complement the interior and brighten up the atmosphere. An interesting solution would be elements in the form of a cloudy sky. The room will immediately become much more comfortable and calmer.
The right palette
The classic property of light shades to visually enlarge objects and increase space guides the color palette. Experts who understand how to visually enlarge a room using wall color suggest choosing white and light, cool shades as the base color.
Kitchen in Khrushchev Source design-homes.ru
The remaining colors are selected so that they are in harmony with the background. To make the space feel light and airy, you should abandon a wide variety of shades. You should also avoid large areas of filling and bright colors.
Children's design Source rushiwork.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com
Unobtrusive palette Source st.hzcdn.com
Walls, floor, ceiling
White walls in combination with the same ceiling create a laconic background that elegantly sets off any other colors. Other shades are less preferable, as they will limit the choice of decor and furniture. Any furniture, especially dark contrasting objects, looks advantageous on a simple white background.
In natural shades Source static0.abitant.com
White walls go well with any shade of wood, so choosing a color for the flooring is easy. Of course, in a small room, the best option would be a light shade of the floor, but you can use more saturated and bleached tones.
With an accent wall Source i2.wp.com White and olive Source st.hzcdn.com
Photos of examples of visually increasing space in a room
A small selection of the best design solutions. There are examples with wallpaper that increases the space of the room (photo), children's rooms with a themed design, living rooms in white tones.
Stripes in decor: how to increase volume
Wall decoration can play a decisive role in the visual expansion of the interior. The most successful wallpaper pattern on the walls, from the point of view of expanding space, is stripes. Their peculiarity and advantage is that the gaze glides along straight lines without lingering.
Other drawings, no matter how large or small, do not have this ability, since, one way or another, they attract attention to themselves (and to the walls). Patterned wallpaper should be as discreet as possible.
Low-contrast design Source mmonroedesign.com
Stripes can have any width and direction, but when choosing a shade, you need to remember which colors increase the space in the room. Wallpaper with a low-contrast and light stripe can be used to cover the entire room. If the stripe is more saturated or contrasting, you should limit yourself to one or two accent walls, and make the remaining walls neutral.
Contrasting design Source ykpro.ru
Vertical and horizontal stripes have different effects on the perception of the proportions of a room. Thanks to the vertical pattern, the ceiling appears visually higher. Horizontal stripes have the ability to increase the width of a room.
In a bright bedroom Source 7lestnic.com In brown and blue tones Source psk-remont.ru
Using mirror surfaces
An old proven method for expanding the boundaries of space is the use of glare and reflective surfaces. Mirrors create the depth that a small room needs, reflecting and scattering light. Mirrors of different sizes and shapes are welcome in interior design; an original frame will turn a functional item into an interesting decorative element.
Interior with beveled mirror Source homify.com
Glossy surfaces also have an increased ability to reflect light, so glossy facades and mirror inserts on furniture, doors with glass inserts, and glossy mosaics on the kitchen apron work to increase space.
Mirror wall in the hallway Source homify.com
Mirror panels Source media.price.ua
Mirrors as one of the options for increasing area
How can we not mention mirrored surfaces, which provide a stunning visual illusion directed in a positive direction. Any reflectors have the property of increasing the dimensions of space, which is so important for small rooms in the house. The larger the mirror, the better it will play into the hands of the owner of a miniature apartment.
Life hacks: where is the best place to put a mirror to visually expand the room:
- A mirror installed opposite the window will reflect the sun's rays well, giving the room additional space during the daytime.
Be careful! The mirror should not be installed so that it is exposed to direct sunlight: this is dangerous for eyesight and may not be fireproof during extreme heat.
A mirror opposite the window gives the room additional space during the daytime
- If you install lamps in such a way that they are reflected in the mirrors, then not only will the space be filled with depth and light, but the interior will also become more extravagant.
Lights reflected in the mirror fill the room with additional light
- A full mirror wall from the floor to the ceiling is the best option for expanding the area: it will double the volume of any room (this method of expansion cannot be compared with any other in its progressiveness).
A floor-to-ceiling mirror wall is truly the best option for expanding space
Furniture selection
Knowing what color of the walls increases the space, you can easily choose suitable pieces of furniture; It is important to maintain balance. The ideal solution would be to choose light, large-sized items that are close in color to the wall decoration. By blending into the background, they will not attract attention, and the room will look more spacious.
Winning option Source cdn.inmyroom.ru
In a small room it is difficult to find space for standard furnishings; sometimes a couple of centimeters are not enough for the perfect solution. If you order the main furniture according to exact dimensions, it will be possible to arrange it perfectly. A coffee table with a glass top, a display cabinet, and chairs made of transparent plastic will help increase the space.
Furniture with legs Source www.alefnext.com Mirror cabinet in the interior Source yellowhome.ru
A simple, albeit somewhat unexpected way is to use a cabinet or bookshelves under the ceiling. Such furniture looks impressive and, paradoxically, makes the room look larger.
Ideal shelves for a small kitchen Source st.hzcdn.com Transparent dining group in the kitchen Source koffkindom.ru
Color influence
The chosen color scheme directly affects how household members will feel at home. Lilac and bright blue give a feeling of spaciousness, but not everyone likes them. When choosing wallpaper, you should take into account not only the advice of professionals and personal feelings, but also listen to the opinions of your family.
When choosing the color of the walls, we are guided by a general principle: the cold part of the spectrum makes the room more spacious, and warm colors will narrow it a little. This rule does not apply to very light warm shades (pale yellow or peach, caramel colors and milky beige). They give a feeling of spaciousness, filled with clean air.
Pale silver, bluish, green shades relax and slow down. For those who are prone to depression or mood swings, it is better not to use them. Bright colors activate and help overcome chronic fatigue, but do not always have a good effect on easily excitable people. This especially applies to kids. Colorful wallpaper in a nursery will provoke the whims of a hyperactive child.
When choosing the color of the wallpaper, take into account which side of the world the windows of the room face. On the north side, warm colors and gloss are used. Windows facing south will require a cooler palette with a matte effect.
The ideal solution, significantly increasing the volume of the room, would be to choose pastel, transitional tones, light shades of natural wood, wool, delicate pinkish, sand.
The effect will be enhanced by a minimum of furniture, matching all furnishings to the color scheme.
Selecting curtains
Special attention is paid to window decoration. The smaller the room, the more it needs high-quality natural lighting. On the other hand, the abundance of textiles attracts excessive attention, and the lush decor covers the window and does not benefit the small volume. Therefore, for curtains it is preferable to choose light, translucent fabrics in light colors that expand the space of the room.
Curtains in European interiors Source www.fabrika-horeca.ru
The pattern on the fabric plays the same role as on the wallpaper. Light vertical stripes will make the living room or bedroom visually taller. The same effect can be achieved by a cornice mounted on the ceiling or on the wall close to the ceiling. A replacement for classic curtains of a simple cut can be Roman curtains or blinds.
Cozy bedroom Source design-homes.ru In a schoolchild's room Source laurelinekoenig.com
Decoration
Typically, for bedrooms with a shortage of free space, decoration is limited. Only a slight accent is acceptable. Otherwise, the space will seem overloaded.
Using a herbarium as decor in a narrow bedroom Source mirdizajna.ru
Decorative design of the wall near the bed in a narrow bedroom Source mirdizajna.ru
When decorating a window, it is better to use curtains for a classic or loft style. If the interior is decorated with modern notes, then the frames are decorated with horizontal blinds, Roman or roller blinds. They will be complemented by translucent tulle to match the interior.
Panels, a rug on the floor, and paintings in strict rectangular frames will help to emphasize the geometry. Black and white family photos and portraits can be framed in square format.
Narrow bedroom with bed decoration Source mirdizajna.ru
The light needs to be organized so that the room does not seem even larger in length. Therefore, designers recommend installing a central ceiling lamp with open light sources. Perimeter lighting should be abandoned. You can also decorate the ceiling with an asymmetrical arrangement of lamps.
Selection of lamps
When thinking about how to expand the space in a small room, many owners miss out on lighting options. And it’s not just about the power of the light flux - large chandeliers and lamps with transparent shades are not suitable for a small room.
Using different types of lighting Source roomble.com
Proper lighting of a small room should be varied. The solution for a small room would be lighting fixtures with a light lampshade or a matte shade. It will be complemented by sconces on the walls, a cozy floor lamp, and perhaps spotlights. Some of the light can be directed upward - a trick that helps to visually raise the ceiling.
Good lighting Source www.femina.ch In a small living room Source cdn-p.cian.site
Briefly about the main thing
Various techniques that influence our perception work to increase space. There are many ways to make a living room, kitchen, bathroom or children's room visually larger. All of them are based on choosing the right color palette, materials and furniture.
To make a small room look more spacious, choose light colors for the walls and ceiling. In some styles (Scandinavian, minimalism), preference is given to white. The flooring is usually slightly darker than the rest of the finish: this achieves a balance of colors and makes the furniture look better.
To decorate a small room, preference should be given to a striped pattern. The use of mirror and glare surfaces is also useful. Curtains are preferably light-colored, of a simple cut, possibly striped.
The room will look more spacious if you decorate it with light wood furniture. Objects made of glass and transparent plastic will be a useful addition. Properly organized lighting will help improve the perception of the interior. It should be varied, with additional sconces, lamps and lighting.
