Use light colours on walls and floors: while darker colours make a room seem cosy, they absorb light instead of reflecting it, making a room appear smaller. Choose light coloured walls and floors to make the room feel more spacious.
Paint or wallpaper the ceiling to make the room look taller: anything that draws the eye upwards can make a room feel larger.
Make use of hidden storage spaces and multi-purpose items: you can purchase coffee tables, ottomans, bookshelves, sofas, etc with hidden storage.
Use these hidden spaces for your small items or items that make your place look cluttered if in sight. pushing furniture against the walls makes everything look and feel cramped. Placing your larger furniture just a few inches away from a wall can make space appear more open.
Hang shelves near the ceiling to draw the eye upwards: this also makes a room appear larger creating the illusion of higher ceilings.
The Cantaloupe Rule: if decorative items are smaller than the size of a cantaloupe, then they could create the appearance of the cluttered room. Instead, go for fewer decorations that are larger.
Choose statement furniture to fill the room: in small living rooms for example, one large sofa instead of small multiple pieces decreases the look of clutter and makes a room feel bigger.
The use of stripes to elongate space: vertical stripes on a rug can make a room appear longer. Situate the stripes to go with the length of the room for optimal effect.
Colour-code shelves to create a structured look: this can be according to size/colour/type. Anything that makes a group of smaller items appear intentionally organised will make it fell more streamlined.
Leave windows uncovered to create more room depth: more light gives more space depth. For privacy use roman shades or blinds instead of curtains as they look less crowded.
Use dramatic art pieces to make a room feel more expensive: choose art pieces that are bold and large instead of a gallery wall.
Use glass and lucite items: these items are currently in trend and can provide an added function of not taking up took much visual space.
Use rugs to separate one room into separate spaces: this is especially useful in apartments. It creates the appearance of having more than one space in a large room.
Use different shades of the same colour to create unity: this rule can be applied to walls, rugs, artwork, and furniture.
Use furniture with exposed legs: instead of a sofa with hidden legs or a skirt of thick stumps, opt for your bigger pieces to have exposed legs. This small change will reveal more floor, giving the illusion of a larger space.
Strategically placed mirrors: across from a window is best as it reflects light making the room feel larger.
