Feature

If you have an uneasy sensation that your walls are closing in on you, you are not alone. With rooms appearing to get smaller and smaller in new properties, many homeowners are crying out for some precious space.

The most important rule for styling small areas to maximise space is to keep the room light and airy, which lends itself to a contemporary look.

If this worries you, remember that contemporary is not necessarily modern. You can achieve a light and airy space using natural and warm elements won’t make it seem impersonal.

Here are some tips on achieving that sense of spaciousness in your rooms.


Lighting
To create a feeling of greater space in your room, you will want to eliminate the shadows that tend to slice a room up into smaller spaces. Work on lighting the room with a soft, even light. Avoid ceiling lights, as they tend to make the ceiling feel lower. Diffused, ambient lighting will tend to enlarge the room.

Colour
The most effective colour scheme uses soft colours and monochromatic colour schemes. Use cream, beige, grey or cool pastels on your walls and floors to make them appear to recede. Remember that soft colours can still include warm tones, which will add to the ambiance of your room.

Many people are tempted to paint the walls and ceilings white in a bid to maximise space. This is a mistake. White is actually quite a harsh and cold colour that won’t recede very easily. On ceilings, however, white is fine. If you do opt for a ceiling colour other than white, make sure it is the lightest colour in the room.

Avoid dark wood or carpet flooring as they will make the room appear smaller.

Textures
Keep your surfaces free of heavy textures. Smoother surfaces tend to reflect more light and make the room feel larger. Also, avoid heavy textured flooring, which will have the same effect. Reflective and shiny surfaces, such as mirrors and chrome, can also be very effective.

Patterns
Limit the use of patterns in the room to create a more airy feeling. The idea is not to stop the eye as it travels across the room. A typical application of a pattern might be to reserve it for an accent piece. Pillows and/or accessories might be a good choice.

Furniture
Selection and placement of furniture in a room is crucial in defining the space. Keep the largest pieces against the walls whenever possible. Choose furniture colours that are the same or similar to those selected for the walls and floors. Select pieces that stand off the floor on legs and are made of materials that reflect or let light through. And above all, use as few furniture pieces as possible in the room to avoid overcrowding.


Picture caption: Make the most of spaces by choosing the right furniture and colours and using light cleverly.

MyVillage, 30th June