9 Secrets Designers Always Use to Instantly Make a Small Room Look Bigger

Designing small spaces to feel larger can be quite a creative challenge. For example, in a small powder room, using a floating vanity with under-cabinet lighting and light-colored wallpaper or paint works best.

Whether you want to maximize the space in your entire home or just one room, take a look at these nine must-read tips from interior designers.

Make the Most of Natural Light

In small spaces, maximizing natural light is crucial. Leave windows uncovered or use light window treatments like roll-down mesh shades or linen curtains.

In this space, color blocking separates the ceiling from the walls, creating a foreground and background. Plus, a custom-designed bed with built-in storage and a desk focuses on functionality and saving space.

Hang a Statement Mirror

Living in a 350-square-foot Manhattan studio, writer and creative consultant Natasha Nyanin had to be strategic in making her home feel larger.

"Hanging a statement mirror in a space is a fantastic way to assert bold style while also making a room feel more spacious due to its light-reflecting properties," she says.

When it comes to hanging curtains, she always opts to attach them as close to the ceiling as possible.

"This draws the eye upward and makes the ceiling feel higher," Nyanin explains.

Get Creative With Paint

A little paint can go a long way, and the right choice can make a space feel larger. The hallway in this apartment is long and narrow with no natural light, but paint adjustments make it feel longer and taller.

Though dark colors usually make a room feel smaller, black can trick the eye. Rather than standing out, the black-painted space recedes, making the hallway feel longer and the ceiling taller.

Opt for Built-Ins

Just like hanging curtains high or painting up to the ceiling can make a room feel taller, built-in cabinets can achieve the same effect.

"I love how built-ins maximize usable space while adding architectural detail to a room," says Alicia Hassen Roche, lead designer at Brooklinteriors. "There are endless ways to get creative with size, shape, and even the backdrop using textured or printed wallpaper."

This cozy and colorful reading nook demonstrates how to make a small room pop while ensuring ample storage. From a functional perspective, built-ins are perfect for housing a built-in desk for books and paperwork.

Embrace Dark Colors

Sometimes, a moody and dark color scheme can make a space feel larger just as effectively as a light and airy one.

This kitchen started out small with poor lighting, but the designer embraced the cozy feel with midnight blue cabinets and matching tiles. Now, the wood accents and rich colors make the space feel expansive and luxurious.

Choose Space-Saving Furniture

In a south Austin bungalow, interior designer Lauren Ramirez used two tips to keep the living room and kitchen from feeling too close: keep large surfaces like walls and countertops white, and choose compact furnishings.

Using a narrow coffee table provides ample seating and walking space in the living area without making the room feel cramped or encroaching on the kitchen island.

Keep Some Walls Blank

Be careful not to overfill small spaces. Leave some counters and wall spaces empty.

For small living spaces, use large, roomy furniture as focal points and fill in around them. If you choose smaller furniture, they can take up unclear space and disrupt the flow of the room.

Create Different Zones

Native New Yorker and designer Jenny Davis knows a thing or two about small-space living.

"Creating zones within a room can make it look and feel bigger, as long as it’s done right," she says.

Delineating different areas with furniture can help make one room function as multiple purposeful zones, making it feel bigger and more versatile.

"In the living room, I use a toy hub to divide the kids’ play area from the living space. It has an open back, so it doesn't block light or how far the eye can see," she explains.

Scale Up

Making the most of a large wall can do wonders in a small space. Using a large piece of art, like in this apartment, lets the chosen piece infuse its essence into the entire room. An impactful piece on a big wall can give a small room a sense of spaciousness and grandeur.