Interiors & Decorating

Inspiration and advice on interior design, decorating styles, colour schemes and home aesthetics.

Top Tips to Make Your Home Feel Bigger

28th December 2018

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!

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Looking for more interiors & decorating advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common interiors & decorating questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What is the difference between a painter and a decorator?

A painter focuses on applying paint - walls, ceilings, woodwork. A decorator does all of that but also handles wallpaper, specialist finishes, surface prep, and can advise on colours and materials. Many professionals do both and call themselves painters and decorators. For a straightforward repaint, a painter is fine. If you want wallpaper, something specialist, or someone to help you make decisions about the finish, go with a decorator.
How many coats of paint does a professional decorator apply?

For most walls, it's a primer or mist coat, then two topcoats. New plaster, bare surfaces, or a big colour change might need more preparation or extra coats. Cutting corners on coats or using cheap paint are the most common ways to get a finish that looks fine at first and starts showing its age within a year. A trusted decorator always prepares the surface properly and won't rush between coats.
How do I prepare my home before a decorator arrives?

Move furniture away from the walls and take down pictures, mirrors, and anything fixed to the walls. If you can strip old wallpaper yourself beforehand, it'll save time on site. Make sure every part of the room is accessible and well-lit. Talk through surface prep with the decorator in advance - a good one will tell you exactly what they need before they can start.
How do I know if my walls need replastering before decorating?

If there are significant cracks, areas that sound hollow when you tap them, persistent damp, or large patches that are flaking or badly uneven - replastering first will give a much better result. Decorating over problem plaster looks fine initially but every imperfection tends to show through, especially with modern matt paints. A decorator can assess whether full replastering or careful preparation and skim coating will get you where you want to be.
What are the most popular interior design styles right now?

There's been a pretty clear shift away from the all-grey, everything-neutral look of the 2010s. Warmer tones are dominating - clay, terracotta, stone, off-white - with natural materials like linen, rattan, and solid timber replacing high-gloss finishes. Biophilic design (plants, natural light, organic shapes) has gone from trend to standard practice. There's also a real appetite for spaces that feel personal and collected rather than showroom-ready - bold wallpaper, layered textiles, and period features being celebrated rather than painted over.
How long does a full home decorating project typically take?

A single room in good condition typically takes a professional two to three days. A full house - particularly an older property that needs a little more care beforehand - can take several weeks. The part that often catches people off guard is the preparation: stripping wallpaper, filling, sanding, and priming all take a good amount of time, and doing them properly really does make all the difference to the finished result.

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