Making a Small Home Seem Larger

In this economy, many home buyers have chosen to move into smaller homes. The truth is, smaller homes are easier to afford - they sell for less, they're cheaper to cool and heat and they're cheaper to maintain. But maybe you miss all that space? Don't worry, there are some easy and affordable ways to make that smaller home seem larger and maximize the space you have.

Planning Ahead

Maximizing your space starts at the very beginning. When you are planning how the interior of your home will look, think of the entire house as a whole. Carrying wall and floor colors from room to room will make them seem like parts of a larger area than smaller, separate rooms. Stay away from darker colors. They will soak up the light and make rooms seem smaller. Instead, go for lighter, more inviting colors.

Furniture

Choosing the right furniture can make all the difference. The trick to making a room seem larger is floor space. The more floor space you have, the bigger the room will seem. With this in mind, try to use built-in cabinets and stacking shelves on the walls to keep the middle of the room open. Using smaller furniture makes a big difference too. You might consider swapping that full-size bed in the guest room for a day bed, or replacing that enormous pull-out couch for a love seat and a comfortable chair.

You should also keep the traffic areas of your home free. Don't block doorways or hallways.

Mirrors

One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to add the illusion of space is to add mirrors. Strategically places mirrors can make your rooms seem larger. For maximum effect, try to set up a mirror so that it will reflect the outdoors through a window or sliding glass door.

Storage

The enemy of a small home is clutter. I know how easily it happens. Smaller homes mean fewer places to put your things so they get closer and closer together and eventually it just becomes clutter. Being efficient with your storage use can help that. Think of creative ways to store things out of site - stackable bins in the closets, a flat storage bin under the bed. And you might want to think about de-cluttering. Go through your things and decide what you need, what can be stored and what can be gotten rid of completely. Without the clutter, you'll be surprised at how much bigger your home looks.

Opening Up the Kitchen

The kitchen often becomes a gathering point for families, but this isn't possible in smaller kitchens. The most effective solution is often to open the kitchen up. If possible, knock down a wall between the kitchen and the dining room or family room. It might be enough to simply widen the doorway or add an opening in the wall. Not only will this make the room seem more open and less cramped, but it will also allow for more social interaction between the rooms.

Going Outdoors

When you feel cramped in your house, stepping outside can feel like, well, a breath a fresh air. Why not find a way to bring that feeling into your home? Adding on a porch or a sun room can add an extra room to your house and bring a little bit of that outdoor feeling in. Adding a sliding class door to the backyard can also be effective, not only giving you lots of added depth but light as well.

Lighting

Speaking of light, the brightness of a room can have a huge impact on how small and cramped it feels. Whenever possible, try to bring sunlight into your home. Don't use heavy, oppressive curtains on the windows. Adding sliding glass doors, larger or extra windows or skylights can also make a huge difference. If none of those are possible, simply increase the amount of comfortable artificial lighting. Try to use warmer, softer lights to give it that sun-lit feel.

You should always feel comfortable in your home, no matter the size. With some careful planning and a little work, you can make a home of any size feel right for you.