13 ways to make your room look bigger

1. Choose a bench

You can save a lot of space by arranging your dining area around a bench instead of chairs. Plus, it’s a versatile piece of furniture: a bench can be moved around easily and used as a side table.

2. Opt for low furniture

Hanging furniture or furniture perched on little legs creates continuity and fluidity at floor level. If it’s low, it opens up the view, lets the light in and creates the illusion of a bigger space.

3. Declutter

Does your house feel too small? You can solve the problem by decluttering and getting rid of things you no longer use.

You can also rearrange or rethink existing furniture. For example, the big family sofa can be swapped for a loveseat if your children no longer live at home, or go for a modular sofa, which is more ergonomic than a long sofa and armchairs.

Take a look at sofa options for every room here.

Once you've sorted, given away and thrown away, it's essential to put things away, ideally in closed cupboards. A pretty basket can also quickly hide all the discarded items, magazines and toys lying around the living room.

4. Multifunctional furniture

Reducing the amount of furniture you have will automatically make your home look bigger inside. Multi-purpose furniture is the smart choice for small rooms. The ottoman, which can double as a seat or a coffee table, is at the top of our list especially if it has storage. If you need to organize a work area at home and you're short of space, opt for a table that can also be used as a desk. Keep the look neutral and the lines simple.

Other no-brainer multifunctional furniture pieces are sofa beds—perfect for hosting—and nesting tables that are easy to move around.

5. Group art together

A picture here, photos there, plants everywhere...this can suffocate a room and make it look tiny! It's best to leave several walls bare and group decorative objects and plants together in one place. You can hang a single large frame or put up several different sizes.

In the latter case, ensure your art is the same style and the colours coordinate. Before fixing the art to the wall, place them on the floor to create a harmonious layout.

Looking to overhaul your art collection? These are the 10 best places to buy art on a budget.

6. Balance it out

While small pieces of furniture are preferable, you don’t want to overdo it. A core piece of furniture, such as a corner sofa that is practical for seating lots of people, can be combined with one or two armchairs with refined, open legs, to keep the space light and not weigh it down.

Tables with glass tops also give a feeling of lightness. Use them in the living room or dining room, but avoid them in the office, as they leave your computer cords and wiring visible.

7. Choose light and solid colours

Light, pastel shades make a room feel bigger and brighter. White, cream, sky blue, light green, powder pink are all great options. Paint the walls and mouldings tone-on-tone or with a slight nuance, to extend the effect.

Opting for pale furniture and plain accessories in similar shades can enhance your space while creating a soothing ambience. Playing with textures rather than large patterns will liven up the space. A pale, solid floor is preferable, but if you can’t change your flooring, opt for a neutral carpet. A carpet also helps define an area, but it should be in the same tone as the floor.

8. Reduce the number of chairs

Six or eight chairs placed permanently around the table reduce space and suffocate a room. Remove the chairs at either end of the table if your table is rectangular, or reduce to four if it is round.

The others can be used as occasional seating in the living room. Alternatively, only buy four beautiful chairs and add folding models that are easy to store.

9. Invest in custom-made storage

Custom-made storage furniture is particularly effective at making the most of every square inch. It offers optimum storage volume while blending harmoniously into your space. 

If you’re looking for a more affordable way to achieve the custom-made look, opt for modular wardrobes where shelves and drawers can be integrated behind closed doors. You should devote a whole wall to this type of storage, so nothing is left lying around and the other walls are clutter-free.

10. Play with mirrors

A large wall mirror is ideal for reflecting light and giving the illusion of depth in a narrow hallway. It can also provide a nice contrast on a dark wall and give the impression of a bigger space when it covers the entire width of a wall.

In communal areas, such as the living room or dining room, make sure that what's reflected there is worth seeing twice!

11. Clear the windows

It's important to keep window coverings to a minimum, because light is essential if you want your space to appear larger. You can choose ultra-discreet, light-coloured floor-to-ceiling curtains, and avoid thick curtains, valances and other ornaments that weigh things down.

12. Accent wall

Although light colours are the best choice for a small room, if you love strong and bold colours, compromise by integrating a darker accent wall. A trompe-l'œil mural is also an excellent option and can add a personal touch to your decor.

13. Prioritize good lighting

There's nothing worse than bad lighting to make a space look small! Light has a way of making a space feel bigger, so add accent, table and floor lamps whenever possible. You can also install recessed lighting, particularly in the basement, to reduce ceiling clutter and provide effective lighting.

In the bedroom or dining room, go for an oversized chandelier with character: it’ll draw the eye towards the ceiling and create a sense of height.

You can also play with natural light by partially opening a partition. For example, cut a 120 cm hole in the wall separating the kitchen from the living room to create a bar counter. Or make vertical trenches about 20 cm wide in a wall to partially preserve the privacy between two rooms while allowing light to penetrate—something we love between the entrance and the living room.