Creating the Illusion of Space: Strategies for Expanding a Small Living Room
It doesn’t have to be small. You can make your living room look bigger in many ways. Here are five ways to make your living space appear larger.
The living room is where you’ll spend most of your time. You can unwind after a busy day, catch up with friends and family, or simply relax. You want to make sure you maximize your living space and do it justice. Michael and Carlene duffy, renovating couple, show us in the video how they maximized the space of the living room of a newly purchased, tiny Queenslander.
Michael says, “We want to make our home feel spacious and large even if it’s on the small side.” Here are some expert tips from the couple to help you achieve the same effect with your own space.
1. Rugs can help you define your space
Begin by placing a rug that is the right size for your room. Choose a rug that is not too small, or too large.
Carlene says that a rug can help you zone your room and anchor your furniture.
Another important consideration is colour. If you want to create the illusion of more space, neutral colours or a faded pattern are better.
2. Plan your layout
Michael says that despite what you may have heard, there are usually right and wrong ways to place furniture.
Carlene says, “You’d be surprised at how many spaces have been compromised by badly placed coffee tables or sofas.” We’ve seen people buy furniture without planning where they will go because they were too excited. “Good planning involves mapping out your space prior to shopping.”
3. Measuring your space before purchasing furniture
Michael says that when it comes to buying furniture for a room as important as a living room, the size of the piece is crucial. The sofa is the focal point of any living room, and its size can make or break a space.
Michael recommends that you measure your space precisely. Nothing will make your room appear smaller than a couch hanging out in front of the doorway.
