Do you have a closed floor plan? Open concept floor plans have been popular for the past decade or so, and they can give the illusion of a spacious home interior. However, sometimes you aren't able to knock down walls to achieve one large open space. So, how can you make your home seem more spacious? Try these tips and tricks for opening up your closed-in interior spaces.
Cut the clutter with hidden storage.
Clutter makes a room seem smaller and more closed-in. By simply removing clutter and storing it behind closed doors, you can give your home the illusion of added space. Rather than piling toys and mail in baskets or on a shelf, store then in a cabinet with doors that close.
Consider your color scheme choices.
Colors have a huge impact on the way you feel when you enter a room. Dark, dingy colors can make a small space appear smaller. Choose light, neutral or bright colors for your small rooms to make them seem more spacious. Colors with yellow undertones reflect natural light and make a room seem brighter.
Make a window pass-through.
Can't knock down an entire wall to add space? Why not make a pass-through from one room to another, instead. This way, you can see the other room and feel like you are in one large room--even when the two rooms are separated by a wall.
Carefully plan furniture layouts.
To give your small home a more spacious feel, plan your furniture layout carefully. Don't block traffic flow by placing the sofa where people will have to go out of their way to walk around it. If there are two doors in a room, leave the path from one to the other clear of furniture. In this case, you might have to arrange furniture along the walls, around the perimeter of the room.
Let in the natural light.
Natural light is the best type of lighting for giving any room a more spacious atmosphere. Replace dark, opaque curtains with sheers. Let in the sun with a skylight. If nothing else, use strategically-placed mirrors to reflect the light you do have coming into a room.
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