How to make a room look bigger: 9 designer tricks
You don't need a renovation to make a small room feel spacious. These are the simple changes our designers make in client rooms every week, from layout and colour to light, rugs and curtains.
01Start with the layout, not the shopping
Most rooms feel small because of where things are, not what they are. Before you buy anything, decide where the main pieces go.
Pull the sofa slightly away from the wall, group seating around one focal point and keep everyday walkways clear. About 75–90 cm is comfortable for a main path through a living room.
Designer tip: Sketch your room on paper with rough measurements first. It costs nothing and saves expensive mistakes.
02Keep the colour palette light and connected
Light, warm neutrals reflect daylight and make walls seem further away. The trick is to keep them connected: walls, skirting and doors in similar tones, with the ceiling a shade lighter.
Repeat two or three main colours through the room, in cushions, art and accessories. Fewer contrasting lines means the eye travels further and the room feels calmer.
03Choose a bigger rug than you think
A small rug floating in the middle of the floor cuts the room into pieces. A larger rug that sits under the front legs of every seat makes the whole area read as one generous space.
Leave a border of roughly 20–45 cm of floor around the edges, and pick a tone close to your flooring for a seamless look.
Designer tip: In a bedroom, let the rug extend about 60 cm beyond each side of the bed.
04Layer your lighting
One ceiling light leaves dark corners, and dark corners make walls feel closer. Use three layers instead: general light, task light for reading or working, and accent light for art or shelves.
Put a floor lamp in the darkest corner and choose warm bulbs of around 2700–3000K for a calm, natural glow in the evening.
5 mistakes that make a room feel small
Our designers' simple fixes for a calmer, airier room. Free to download.
05Hang curtains high and wide
Fix the curtain rail close to the ceiling, or at least 15–20 cm above the window frame, and extend it 15–25 cm beyond each side.
Floor-length curtains in a light, natural fabric draw the eye upwards, make the ceiling feel taller and let in every bit of daylight when they are open.
06Use mirrors to bounce the light
A large mirror placed opposite or beside a window doubles the daylight and the view. In a hallway or narrow room, a tall mirror on the long wall makes the space feel wider.
Choose one generous mirror rather than several small ones. A slim, natural frame in wood or brass keeps it calm and elegant.
07Pick furniture that shows the floor
Sofas, chairs and side tables on slim legs let light pass underneath, so the room feels more open. Low-backed seating keeps sight lines clear across the room.
Round or oval coffee tables are easier to move around than square ones, which helps in tight layouts.
08Edit your décor
Lots of small objects create visual noise. Choose fewer, larger pieces: one statement artwork instead of a gallery of small frames, a few grouped accessories instead of many scattered ones.
Leave some empty space on shelves and surfaces. Breathing room is what makes a room feel calm and expensive.
09Think vertically and hide the clutter
Tall bookcases, high shelves and artwork hung at a comfortable eye level draw the eye upwards. Closed storage, baskets and a bench with storage keep everyday things off the floor.
A clear floor is one of the quickest ways to make any room look bigger.
Bring it all together
Start with the layout, keep the palette light and connected, then add the right rug, layered lighting and well-hung curtains. Small changes, made in the right order, make the biggest difference.
If you would rather have a clear plan made for your room, send us a few photos and rough measurements. We design it around your space, style and budget, and send you a mood board, a furniture layout plan and a shopping list from stores near you, in 1–4 days.