Do you feel a bit cramped in your home? Even if you designed your custom home yourself, you may discover that you feel as though it’s too small.

Sure, small rooms are cozy, but sometimes you want some extra space, right?

Believe it or not, there are plenty of ways to make your home feel larger than it is. We’re here with a few helpful interior design tricks that you can use next time you’re redesigning your space.

Keep reading to learn more.

1. Utilize Mirrors

Did you know that mirrors can make your home look larger? Mirrors can trick the eye and give your rooms more light (which makes them look larger). They aren’t just for decoration or checking your makeup, outfit, or hair!

Use a mirror at the end of a hallway to give it a larger appearance. Mirrors placed where they can reflect the light from windows will brighten a room and give it more depth.

If you can, try a mirrored wall or mirrored closet doors.

2. Use Bright Colors

When you’re trying to work on your home design in your new house, make sure that you choose the right colors for your space. While many people enjoy dark and cozy colors, they make rooms look smaller.

When it comes to your walls, use colors like white, pastels, and beige tones. These might seem “boring,” but they’ll make a big difference.

When it comes to furniture, you have options. If you want the room to look as large as possible, use white furniture.

You can also add contrast with furniture and rugs by choosing a darker color. It won’t open up the space quite as much, but it will still make a substantial difference.

3. Section Your Space

This might seem counterintuitive, but it can actually make a big difference. You’ll notice it if you look at popular designs for studio apartments, but you can still apply it to your custom home.

Use strategic methods to section off your rooms. You should be careful to avoid opaque room dividers, but you have other options that can keep the space feeling open and bright.

We love the idea of hanging sheer curtains inside your home that you can shift if you need to. If this still feels too closed-off, use rugs! Rugs with furniture placed around them to create multiple spaces will make the room feel larger even though you’re dividing it.

For example, consider having a rug under a small dining area or reading nook.

4. Choose Furniture Carefully

We already discussed the importance of furniture colors, but your furniture styles and how you arrange the furniture matters.

When you’re choosing furniture for your small rooms, make sure not to choose anything that will overpower your space. You may have to replace your large plush armchair with something more sleek and refined.

It’s a good idea to have multi-use items as well. This saves space without sacrificing function.

If you already have the perfect furniture for your space, but you’re still feeling stuck, try rearranging it. You’ll be shocked at how much of a difference it can make.

5. Try French Doors

Have you considered changing up your interior design by swapping out your current doors?

This isn’t a good choice for every room in your home. Rooms that require privacy (such as bedrooms) aren’t good choices for this tip. That said, if you have a separate dining room, office, or kitchen, this is a great way to open up your space.

The windows in French doors can open up your home. The doors allow light to pass through and allow you to see into the adjacent rooms, making the space seem larger.

If possible, consider removing doors completely between some rooms. Do you need a door between your kitchen and dining room? What about between your dining room and your living room?

6. Opt for Hidden Storage Options

Do you feel like your space looks cluttered? Whether this is due to actual clutter or because your shelves are too bulky, you can improve this situation by using hidden storage options.

When you utilize shelves, opt for ones that look sleek and refined. They should stay flush against your walls, so they don’t take up much space. Better yet, when you’re building or renovating your home, consider asking for built-in shelves.

For the items you don’t want to display, opt for storage to hide elsewhere. Ottomans are great for this because they serve a functional purpose, but you can still use them to store all of your things.

Take advantage of the space under your TV and look around for anywhere that you can hide boxes or drawers.

7. Take Advantage of Natural Light

We already mentioned that keeping your space brighter can make it look larger. While you should use mirrors and lighting fixtures to make this work for you, you can also use natural light to your advantage.

If you have large windows, keep them uncovered when you can. Not only will this save you money on your power bill (as long as it’s not too hot), but it will also open up your home.

When you want a little more coverage but don’t want to close off your space, use sheer curtains.

Try These Interior Design Tricks for Your Next Home Renovation Project

These interior design tricks and tips will make even the most compact room seem larger and more open. Whether you plan on sectioning off your space, adding more mirrors, or re-arranging your furniture, mixing and matching these ideas will totally change up your home design!

Are you thinking about doing a real home renovation to open up your space? What about building a new custom home? We want to help!

Contact us to learn all about our services so we can start working together on your dream home.