It’s easy to make a small room look large

Savvy homeowners are becoming master illusionists these days, working with their smaller rooms to make them appear bigger and more spacious. Even a house with a maze of irregularly shaped rooms can be designed to enhance the flow from room to room, giving the impression of more space. So instead of dismissing your smaller rooms, embrace them.

According to Chris Sy, from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, smaller-sized rooms can be useful and beautiful.

"They make a house unique and with the right techniques, you can make the most of these areas. The goal is to create a room that you can use, is pleasing to the eye, and doesn't feel cramped."

Follow these tips to make the most of the smaller rooms in your home:

Walls

Paint the walls with lighter-color paints to make a room seem bigger. Lighter colors also reflect the natural light and help to open the space. Consider lighter tones such as nudes and natural colors, or use pastels such as powder blue or a light yellow.

Lighting

Lighting is an important element in small rooms. The room should be properly lit to expand the space. Consider replacing table and floor lamps with wall fixtures. If you cannot replace these items, look for ones that are space friendly and have small shades or no shades at all.

Floors

You may be surprised to learn that floors can make a world of difference in how large a room feels. Steer away from narrow floor boards. It may seem logical to use narrow boards in small rooms, but in actuality it makes the room appear busy and cluttered. Wide plank wood floors are great for smaller rooms because they are easy to keep clean and add visual character.

"Wider floor boards, some 8 to 10 inches, are being used in smaller rooms and they open up the space wonderfully. In older colonial homes, the widest boards were used on the second floor, where many of the smaller rooms were located," Sy said.

Wide plank wood floors provide the simplicity that is needed in rooms with limited space. By eliminating the majority of seams in the floor and choosing a lighter color, the room will appear open and airy.

"Look for boards with subtle grain patterns and fewer knots. At Carlisle, we suggest maple or eastern white pine because these woods have a less prominent grain."

Furniture

Whether a small living room, bedroom, office or den, there will be various pieces of furniture you will need to make the room functional. When working with a smaller area, determine what you need and what you want. Only using key pieces of furniture will ensure that the room is functional, but not cluttered.

When purchasing furniture, think about pieces that can perform multiple tasks. For example, an end table that has drawers can double for storing small items. Consider smaller pieces to open up space, such as choosing a love seat over a couch. Another helpful tip is to think vertically. Shelving and other items that bring the eye upward make the room feel larger.

Décor

When decorating a smaller room, it's best to keep things simple. Choose one or two pieces of art to display. On accessories such as pillows and drapes, choose fabrics that have minimal patterns or utilize solid colors. It's important to decorate every room with your personal tastes in mind, but the general rule to follow is less is more. Add too many items in your small room and it will end up feeling even smaller.

From wide plank wood flooring to wall fixture lights, if you follow these simple guidelines you'll be able to make your smaller rooms appear bigger and become your own master illusionist. For more information on flooring and style options, visit www.wideplankflooring.com or call (800) 595-9663.

Courtesy ARA Content