How to visually enlarge a room (72 photos): techniques for expanding space

Everyone wants to have a large apartment in which there are spacious and comfortable rooms. However, this is not accessible to everyone or simply not possible.

To expand the space, you can break the partitions, but is it worth it to start a big repair, because with the help of simple design solutions you can visually expand the space of a small room.

Light furniture will help expand any space

To the question “how to visually enlarge a room” you can give a simple answer: you need to use optical illusions, that is, the usual tricks of optical illusion. Such visualization techniques are very important in design and are effective.

Visually expanding a small room can be achieved by combining different techniques.

Receptions may be as follows:

  1. harmony of color and its shades;
  2. play of light;
  3. the use of reflective mirrors;
  4. correct wallpaper;
  5. photo wallpaper;
  6. frescoes;
  7. curtains and the like.

Posters and light make the room more space.

Mirrors and lights visually increase the hallway

Well-organized lighting will make the space more comfortable and more spacious.

Large window and multi-level floor

A kitchen with a large window and multi-level ceiling seems larger

Visual expansion with wallpaper

You can visually expand the space of a small room using wallpaper.

This is the most affordable option, however, it is important to consider some rules:

  1. Wallpaper should be without large drawings and patterns, because small details can significantly expand the volume of a small room. The effect of wallpaper for a small room can enhance the corresponding curtains;
  2. Wallpaper with vertical stripes allows you to visually increase the length of a narrow room;
  3. You can also combine wallpapers in two tones. It is necessary to make the upper part of the wallpaper light, and the lower slightly darker;
  4. visually expand the volume of the room by selecting wallpapers with cold or light shades. At the same time, it is recommended to use plain wallpaper, as well as avoid horizontal borders;
  5. To achieve the maximum expansion effect, plain light wallpapers are recommended to be combined with functional and simple furniture. A small room should not be cluttered: the sofa should be laid out only at night, and things of second necessity must be hidden in a closet;
  6. You can visually increase the height of the ceiling using wallpaper with a vertical pattern. With such wallpaper you can stretch the walls up, so that the room will look more spacious;
  7. a narrow and long room can be visually corrected by combining various types of wallpaper. So it is recommended to design long walls in light colors to visually expand the space between them. In this case, short walls should be brought closer to each other. For this purpose, one of the walls is made darker. For example, you can play in contrast: wallpaper with a small pattern is applied to one wall, and photo wallpaper or wallpaper with a large pattern is mounted on the other side;
  8. You can revive a dark and narrow room with the help of wallpaper of the same color, but a tone lighter if you stick them on a less lighted wall;
  9. For spaces with low ceilings, it is recommended to use light wallpapers with vertical stripes.

Cream wallpapers make the room wider

Bright panels and vertical stripes enhance the bedroom.

Two-tone wall also expands the space

Brown wallpaper creates a harmony of color in the living room

Light wallpaper with an unobtrusive print makes the bedroom more spacious

Using photo wallpaper

Wall murals are perfect for visual expansion of a room.

Receptions may be different:

  • Wall murals that have images with a perspective, for example, a distant horizon, a road running away into the distance, or a layer of sea water, will perfectly cope with the task of expanding space. That is why, choosing photo wallpaper, one should not dwell on ordinary paintings, but on those that offer distant views.It can be a picturesque path running into the depths of the forest, a mountain range on the horizon, a sea expanse with tiny sailboats and the like.

  • Spectacular moments are quite popular, which are caught using photographic art. This is a mural in the form of a rippling stormy sea, giant lightning, sea corals or multiply enlarged plants. Such murals will create the effect as if a small room seems to meet the alluring and vast world. Such an approach allows not only to visually expand the small interior, but also to modernize it, as well as to make it incredibly unique.

Wall murals with large bright colors make the space more voluminous

Wall murals need to be glued correctly, adhering to some general recommendations:

  1. Wall murals with a perspective should be glued to a blank wall;
  2. no need to block the image with tall furniture. In extreme cases, you can install a sofa, bed or coffee table;
  3. for tiny rooms, only photo wallpaper with a bright pattern will be appropriate. If necessary, visually raise the ceiling, you can use material with a vertical image;
  4. for well-lit rooms, it is advisable to use images with saturated or cold tones, for darkened rooms, photo wallpapers with pastel themes are better.

Wall murals create harmony and room perspective

Wall mural with sea wave

Wall mural with forest road

Using curtains

Properly selected curtains will help to visually expand the space of a small room.

  1. Light curtains should be used, dense and dark curtains should be discarded.
  2. Long curtains, slightly assembled into an accordion, create an optical illusion of the visual expansion of a small room.
  3. An important role will be played by the color of the curtains. It is better to choose colors of warm and light shades, their color should be close in tone to the wallpaper of a small room. Curtains with a contrasting and dark color will be inappropriate here.
  4. Large ornaments and drawings will also not look in a small room.
  5. Light curtains with warm and bright colors will fit in the space of a small room. Avoid heavy and massive curtains, multilayer structures with many shuttlecocks, bows, ruffles and lambrequins.
  6. Today it has become fashionable to use fairly long curtains that lie a little on the floor. Thanks to this approach, the room becomes taller.
  7. An interesting option would be curtains made of striped fabric. A vertical strip will add height to the space, but the room will become narrower horizontally.

The use of translucent curtains does not reduce the room

Bright blinds in the room

Bright curtains in the living room

Bright curtains on the floor in the living room

Mirror wall and light-transmitting curtains

Colors for a small room

Color is capable of surprisingly exerting a psychological influence on a person. In this case, color can affect the perception of space.

  • The space is best enhanced by light pastel colors.
  • The room will become larger if you use the same color to decorate the ceiling and walls. In addition, you can make the ceiling a few tones lighter to highlight it.
  • To lengthen the room, it is recommended to design the opposite wall with a colder and lighter shade.

  • To increase the space, you can use the following method - to make decorative elements and the floor in one color, and apply a more calm color for the walls.
  • You can push the walls apart by painting shelves to match them, as well as selecting curtains of the same color. All these elements will merge, which will create a more airy space.

  • Low ceilings are recommended to be painted only in light colors, while white is best used. To do this, you can use white paint, wallpaper, as well as tension structures.
  • The dark floor in conjunction with a light ceiling and walls will visually push the room to the sides and up. The room will be especially large if the walls and ceiling are the same color.
  • The darkened back wall and ceiling will visually make the room shorter, but expand to the sides.

The use of the right light and mirrors will greatly influence the increase in space.

In small rooms it is best to use small lights. At the same time, daylight should be used as efficiently as possible.

Mirrored cabinet door helps expand the living room

Bright lighting in the bathroom makes it more spacious

The competent combination of dark and light colors makes the room even larger

A reflective stretch ceiling will also reflect light, making the room larger

Glass doors and walls certainly help to enlarge rooms.

The contrasting bright walls in the bathroom make it a little bigger.

Natural light is the best way to increase space

Contrasting room design

Bedroom in soft colors.

Large glass doors

Light walls and furniture

Decorative bamboo partition and light curtains

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Redevelopment of the kitchen: rules and options (81 photos)