How the Right Colors and Decorating Techniques Can Make Any Room Look Bigger

Decorating matters. Your use of color, along with deliberate furniture placement and selection, can make a small room appear more bigger. “Colors can help create the illusion of a bigger space. Light and neutral colors are known to make a room appear larger, while dark and bold colors tend to make it feel smaller,” said Ana Coddington, the lead interior designer for Archival Designs.

Implementing such color strategies, along with the right furniture placement, can turn your cramped living room into a bigger, brighter room.

Photo credit: Kristin Patrician

Why color makes rooms seem more spacious

Lighter shades reflect light, both natural and artificial, making a room feel more open “By reflecting light, these colors help create the illusion of a more expansive area,” said Denisa Melusova of Dendo Design. “… Cool colors like blue, green, and purple have the unique ability to make walls seem as if they are further away than they actually are, which can visually expand the space in a room.”

Monochromatic colors, in which you use different shades of a color for walls, trim and detailing, can also make a room’s dimensions seem bigger, according to Sheila Gholami Leatham, co-owner of Premier Painting Palm Coast. “Using different shades of the same color throughout the room creates a cohesive, unbroken visual flow, which can make the space feel larger,” she said. “It avoids abrupt transitions between colors that can visually divide the room.”

This doesn’t mean you should avoid dark colors, though. As Kristin Patrician, owner and principal designer of Dwelling Envy Interiors, pointed out, dark colors absorb light, which gives off the illusion that a room feels smaller. But the room offers a homier feeling because of that. So, determine the ambience you are seeking before dismissing more saturated hues.

Photo credit: Thomas Sanderson

What colors work best?

In general lighter colors, especially pastels, work best. Coddington likes cream and light wood because the color creates a good base and light wood, such as a birch or maple complements it well. Another color combination she recommended was pastel and white. “Pastel colors, like light pink, pale blue, or mint green, are soft and gentle hues that add a touch of elegance to any room,” she explained. “When paired with crisp white accents, they create a fresh and airy feel that can make even the tiniest of spaces look bigger.”

Lisa Cooper, head of product at Thomas Sanderson agreed that soft colors such as pink, cream and blue work well for smaller rooms. “These lighter, airy shades help reflect natural light around the room making the space seem larger than it actually is,” she said. 

However, it’s not just about the paint on the walls. “High-gloss finishes can help reflect light, further enhancing the spacious feel,” said Courtney Cole, interior designer at TileCloud. “For furniture, choosing pieces that match the wall color can blur the boundaries between the furniture and walls, giving an uninterrupted flow to the room.” 

Photo credit: Thomas Sanderson

Use furniture placement to create openness

Choosing the right furniture can open up a room. For example, Melusova recommended selecting low-profile sofas and chairs because their lower height and exposed legs can reveal more of the room, enhancing the sense of space.

Playing with shapes can also help in your furniture layout. “If you have a lot of straight lines and boxy sofas in your space, try incorporating a round coffee table or add chairs with a more rounded back to break up those harsh lines,” said Patrician. It's all about softening the scene and giving your space a better flow to create that illusion of more space.

Additionally, the placement of furniture can impact how spacious a room appears. “To make a small living room appear larger, consider placing furniture against walls or in corners to create an open flow and leave empty space in the middle of the room,” suggested Coddington. “This helps avoid clutter and makes the room feel more expansive.”

Coddington also recommended placing just the front two legs of your furniture on a rug to create an illusion of more space. “This technique cleverly defines your sitting area without the rug swallowing up the entire floor space,” she said. “It's kind of like giving your furniture a little ‘landing pad.’” This method will make the room feel airy rather than cramped because it visually connects the pieces of furniture while showing more of your floor.

Vertical lines and well-placed accents create depth in a room

Using vertical lines, either in wallpaper patterns or tall furniture pieces, create a sense of height by drawing the eye upward and making the room feel taller, according to Gholami Leatham. “This vertical emphasis can counteract the perceived horizontal compression of a small space,” she explained.

You can also strategically place accent points to increase the feeling of space, she recommended. For example, placing mirrors on walls opposite windows can reflect natural light and create an illusion of depth. Large mirrors or mirrored furniture maximize this effect. Metallic materials or glass accessories will also bounce light around the room, creating that same sense of openness.

While accessories and wall art work a small room, you need to be mindful about their placement. “The key is to avoid overcrowding the space and to opt for pieces that complement the room’s color scheme and overall design,” said Stephanie Edenburgh, CEO of Bizzie Mommy.

She recommends selecting a few pieces that add to the room’s character without dominating the space. For instance, a single large painting or a statement art piece might act as a focal point, drawing the eye, and making the room feel larger. Always opt for functionality, too. For example, wall-mounted shelves can display cherished items while providing that valuable storage.

Want to learn how to create a better guest room or game room? Fabrics and Home has all the materials you need.

Featured photo: Thomas Sanderson