Updated from the Home Staging archive. Originally posted on May 08, 2007.
Small rooms are the bane of the home decorator. How do you achieve a pleasing look that doesn’t feel cramped and claustrophobic? Without to have to build an addition or knock down walls, you are limited to a few, but effective, decorating tricks that create the illusion of space.
Use color to your advantage
The strategic use of colour and light is the best way to achieve this. Choose light shades of paint or wallpaper for the walls. Lighter colours reflect light making for a brighter room. Use an even lighter shade of the same colour or white for ceilings and floors. A darker colour on the ceiling will make the ceiling look lower and tends to make the walls look as though they are closing in.
Avoid harshly contrasting colours. In fact, a monochromatic colour scheme that carries throughout the room into fabrics and accessories is very effective. Steer away from too many patterned items. The goal here is to blur perspective.
Anything you can do to bring light into the room will also give the effect of increased space.Try to vary lighting effects for interest. A skylight is a great way to add light to a room, but isn’t always practical or affordable.
Mirrors are a great solution for small rooms.
Place mirrors directly across from another for maximum impact. A mirror placed across from a window is also effective. Place a lamp in front of a mirror to add more light to your room.
If you have wood or patterned flooring, have it installed so that the lines run diagonally across the room. This makes for longer lines, which give the appearance of a larger space.
Furniture Size Matters
When furnishing the room, pick objects that are proportioned to the size of the room. For example, opt for a loveseat over a full-sized sofa.
Keep it tidy, keep it clean
Lastly, keep the clutter to a minimum. Avoid using a lot of knick-knacks and keep the room tidy and well organized.
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Posted by: Deya Bautista - Real Estate Broker working as part of the McGill Immobilier team. Specializing in high end condos in downtown and Old Montreal. For buying or selling contact Deya at: 514.917.7889 
I obviously think this is very interesting. I think keeping the clutter to a minimum is one of the biggest most important pieces of advice here.
Excellent post , You’ve hit the nail on the head, I just don’t understand why people quite get what you’re saying.
I’m not for sure how many individuals I’ve talked to concerning this very thing in the past month, and they just don’t grasp it.
Excellent post!
I just came across your post/article. Very nice post about making the room look bigger. I am a painting contractor and I tell many of my clients that the paint color can make a huge difference in making a room feel small or large.
Great post, I often find it frustrating that the seller will not do the simple thing of painting a room in order to ensure it shows the best that it can. It is one of the most affordable ways to improve the ability of a listing to sell. That and yes of course get the clutter away.
New paint job goes a long way. And so inexpensive. but a lot of sellers hate the mess that painting involves. Alas, it is necessary evil :)
Great article! I agree. I love the part about making your rooms look bigger. It's easy for a room to look cluttered. Sometimes it's even as simple as moving the furniture around too!
Moving furniture. Hiding the knick knacks.. taking down the excessive photo frames from a counter top…I could go on..
Superb Article very useful for those who are seeking these type of tips and for those who has less space n want to enlarge it.
Some great tips! Going to pass this onto one of my clients who is renovating a studio unit in Downtown Vancouver!
Cheers,
Adam