A combined kitchen, dining and living room area in about 500 square foot, presents an intriguing challenge to give the space an expansive feeling without being busy. While physical dividers in the kind of decorative panels can separate the space, they also produce a feeling of disruption and might make the room appear smaller. But if you reduce litter and open the floor area, choosing vertical storage or shelving, these procedures offer easy and affordable ways to expand the space. Beyond these procedures, a few decorating hints can also allow you to create a perception of increased distance. Even a minor shift in perspective, like installing a wall-mounted television to draw attention upwards, makes multi purpose rooms appear more open and friendly.
Color Choices
Light colors and their varying shades create a sense of space, while dark colors make rooms appear smaller. Should you crave walls with nature, remember that lively patterned wallpaper can pull the viewer inward, creating a closed feeling, but sparsely patterned layouts in pastel colors might help build a feeling of spaciousness. Light ceiling and wall colors work best to start the space up, as simplifying your color scheme can unify the space, which makes it seem larger. Sharp contrasts — little black tables in a neutral, dove gray space — can also accentuate roominess. Especially effective when put far apart, small touches of bright or contrasting colors in furnishings accentuate the difference between them.
Bright Light
Ample light makes a room appear larger. Take advantage of natural daylight by having window therapies that provide privacy when required, but open wide to chase off shadows. If shadowy corners are an issue, install monitor lights or put lamps to enhance ambient lighting. You can also reposition different furnishings to reduce shadows. A long horizontal mirror on the wall on one end of this room reflects artificial and natural light, as well as creates the illusion of an expanded space.
Room Furnishings
Rug positioning or floor coverings can also define functional areas inside the room. Working within the confines of existing floors, group furniture so there’s a central point of focus for each region. Select furniture with a common function between rooms, like a sofa table behind a sofa that can double as a dining room buffet when facing the dining room area. Double-duty furniture that’s functional, but offers hidden storage reduces the quantity of furniture in the space. Hardwood flooring may have a large impact on room size: Lengthwise stripes or patterns elongate an area, while busy tile patterns can make the flooring area appear smaller. Vary the floors surfaces for textural interest, but utilize similar shades of light or neutral colors if you want the room to appear larger.
Decrease Clutter
Organize belongings using shelves or vertical cabinet storage to decrease the total amount of floor space occupied. Decluttering and storing objects from sight makes it possible to develop smooth shapes and straight design lines — another fool-the-eye trick to increase space. Shallow storage tubs hidden beneath a sofa can keep games, toys and other little litter items from sight, but close at hand. Double-sided storage cupboards, like those beneath a kitchen peninsula, also function as a room divider or a pass-through between kitchen and dining areas, leaving an open and spacious eye-level view between functional areas of the room. Cut down on accessories and decor to open up the room. Massive paintings include bold color touches without cluttering up the space.