By Everyone who has designed a room-or at least enlisted someone to-knows all too well that sometimes, size can be a hindrance in the decorating process. A good designer will have a slew of tricks up her sleeve to deal with that. So, how do you make a small room seem large? There are many ways to do it. Find five amazing ways to add height to any room, from color-related suggestions to innovative furniture ideas, courtesy of the pros below.
Adding Some Pattern
At this year’s Dorothy Draper Decorating Weekend at the iconic Greenbrier Resort, designer Carleton Varney shared his favorite method for adding height to a space: stripes. Varney tests this method in the State Suite at The Greenbrier (pictured above), which has vertically striped wallpaper. In fact, Princess Grace of Monaco (AKA Grace Kelly) stayed in this suite with her husband, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and their three children, Princess Caroline of Hanover, Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Princess Stéphanie of Monaco-so this design idea is certainly royally approved!
Remove Visual Barriers
In rooms of less than monumental scale, horizontal lines can serve as a visual shortener instead of crown molding, which adds character. This doesn’t have to mean removing them, as Rickert suggests: “Paint walls and trim the same color so as not to create horizontal boundaries that can make a room appear smaller.”
Incorporate a Mix of Mirrors
“Big size mirrors reflect the natural light and make a space seem larger,” suggests Gemma Pope, Head of Design at Andrew Henry Interiors. “A cleverly placed mirror can blend into the room and increase the illusion of space.” This design hack works especially well in hallways and landings.
Use Shorter Furnishings
It might seem easy, but sometimes the easiest &simplest tricks are the best! Use lower furniture pieces such as sideboards with short legs and sofas that are closer to the floor can give the illusion of more wall space, says interior designer Jennifer Kay of the Mini Interior Design Company.
Opt for Dark Floors
Yvonne Keal, Senior Product Manager at Hillarys, says that a dark floor will ground any small room in the house, extending it. In addition, if you’re renting a home and can’t replace the flooring, Keal recommends incorporating a dark-colored rug instead. Make sure the carpet is large enough to take away from your ceiling height, she recommends. In case you don’t have the funds for a large room, combining several smaller rugs will create the same effect.
