During the winter months, it is not uncommon for homes to feel a little more cramped than usual. The combination of having to spend time at home inside instead of in the garden, the house filling up with festive trinkets and decorations, not to mention an influx of gifts over Christmas, means that your home can feel smaller than ever. If you feel like the walls are closing in on you, take a look at our top tips to make the most of your home and make it feel more spacious.
Paint your home bigger
There are a number of painting and decorating tricks that can help your home feel more spacious. We all know that lighter colours will make a room feel bigger, but take it a few steps further with these handy painting tips:
- Choose cooler colours (whites, greens and blues, or colours with green/blue bases)
- Choose several tones of the same hue and use the slightly darker colour on the walls. Paint covings, dado rails, picture rails and skirting boards the slightly lighter colour; this makes the walls seems further away. Paint your ceiling the lightest of your colours, or white, to make it seem higher.
- By painting your walls a similar colour to large furniture, such as sofas and chairs, the furniture will seem less bulky and the room will appear bigger.
Painting your home can transform a space. If you want a high quality, professional finish that will last for years to come, consider investing in a professional painter and decorator.
Light it up
Lighting is key when it comes to making the most of a space. Natural light is, of course, the best way to make a room look bigger and if you have large windows, make sure that the light can get in.
If you don’t have lots of natural light, some well-placed light fittings and lamps can help to create the illusion of space by lighting up every corner of the room. Traditional ceiling light fixtures can make a room look smaller, as they pool all the lights in one place. Consider getting some interesting wall lights, which will help to shed light on every corner of the room. Standard lamps are great for creating the illusion of space, too.
Messing around with electricity can be a risky business; if you are in any doubt at all about what you are doing, consider getting a professional electrician. Not only will they be able to do the job without a hitch, they will be able to pass on lots of handy tips and hints that they have borrowed from other clients!
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to keep an eye out for next week’s handy hints on making your home feel like a palace.