When starting a renovation, we want to not only update the interior of the house, but also adapt the space to suit ourselves, so that small rooms seem larger, brighter, and the ceilings are higher.
For large rooms, the opposite task is how to make the room not look like a ballet hall.
Everyone wants to have a large apartment with cozy and spacious rooms, but not everyone has access to this or this is possible. To expand the space, you can break the partitions, but why start a big renovation when some simple design solutions will help to visually expand the area of a small room.
To the question of how to visually increase space in a small room, the answer is simple, use available tricks to deceive the eye (optical illusions). Such visualization methods are effective and very important in design; they are often used by architects, interior designers and fashion designers.
Visually enlarging a room, even a very cramped one, can be achieved by combining such techniques as play of light, harmonics of color and its shades, correct selection wallpaper, increasing reflective mirrors in the room, using frescoes and photo wallpaper. This should include the correct layout and selection of furniture, interior items, the location of cornices and correctly selected tulles, curtains and curtains, as well as the use of textiles in the room, creating an atmosphere of freshness, softness and lightness.
First, let's remember the basic principles that guide designers:
- Light colors increase space dark colors reduce space
- Every time you draw a line, it breaks the space apart
- Every time you use a contrasting spot, it makes the space appear smaller.
- Any large object in small space reduces it even more
- How fewer items in the room, the bigger it looks
For many residents former USSR at least a question visual increase living space is very challenging, because as a legacy after the era of communism, we inherited many houses with standard small-sized apartments. Simple techniques that are accessible to everyone will help you visually enlarge the space and create the illusion of spaciousness.
Enlarge the space with mirrors
A mirror placed close to the floor will help add volume to the room; an interesting effect can be achieved if you use mirrors instead of a border. Perfectly able to cope with increased space and a mirrored ceiling. Moreover, today it is not at all necessary to use a mirror for this. The desired effect can be created stretch ceiling. In order to expand the space, they can occupy either almost the entire ceiling area or only a small part of it.
Wallpaper - is it possible to visually enlarge a room?
Most used finishing material for residential premises - this is wallpaper. In interior design, they play an important role. This or that wallpaper pattern can significantly change the appearance of the room, including visually reducing or expanding the space of the room.
To make the room seem larger, it is recommended to select wallpaper in light colors. If there is a pattern on them, it is worth considering that large images significantly narrow the space. For small rooms, a small or small ornament is more suitable; it visually removes the surface, as a result the room appears larger. A good effect can be achieved by combining wallpaper.
First, let's figure out how a drawing can change the optics of space.
Large drawing(image 1) brings the surfaces closer, and, therefore, visually makes the room smaller; if it is located only on the back wall, the room is shortened.
Small drawing(image 2), especially in light colors, as if expanding the space, thanks to this it enlarges the room.
Cross stripes(image 3) they move the walls apart, making the room appear lower. If they are located only on the back wall, the room is shortened.
Vertical stripes(image 4) lengthen the wall, making the room seem higher, and the wider the stripes, the more noticeable the effect will be.
Transverse stripes located on the floor(image 5) visually the room is made shorter and wider.
Longitudinal stripes located on the floor(image 6) lengthen the room, and the more pronounced their color and the wider they are, the stronger the effect.
Ways to expand space with wallpaper:
- To line a long, narrow room, you can use wallpaper that has a horizontal pattern, or bring the far wall closer with wallpaper in a warm, dark shade.
- Wallpaper with vertical stripes visually increases the height, but reduces the volume of the room. To avoid this effect, the walls can be decorated with contrasting narrow stripes.
- Wide and overly bright stripes will make the room look earthier, so try to use subtle colors. It is recommended to include bright pictures only in places, for example, to highlight zones.
- To enlarge a room with wallpaper, you can decorate smaller walls with a large pattern, and larger ones with a small one. Large patterns are also well suited for zoning a room and highlighting any part of it.
- Wallpaper without a pattern (plain color) or with a barely noticeable image creates depth of perception, thanks to which it highlights interior items well. Such wallpaper (but only in light colors) will not only increase the space, but will also create an ideal basis for further decorating the walls with photographs, paintings, etc.
- To enlarge small rooms with low ceilings and poor lighting, you can decorate their lower part with darker tones, the upper part with light ones, and make a horizontal stripe at the junction.
- To make the ceiling appear higher, glue the wallpaper only close to it. Wide borders on the walls, the same color as the ceiling, make the room lower, so it is better to avoid them. Only very thin borders are allowed.
- You can visually distance the ceiling by adding length to the walls. In this case, they should “go” a little to the ceiling. Simply apply wallpaper starting from the ceiling, or paint the ceiling near the walls to match the color of the walls. As a result, a strip with the same color, texture and pattern as the walls should form around the perimeter of the ceiling. The size of such a strip should not exceed thirty centimeters, for small rooms Five centimeters will be enough.
- You can raise the ceiling using photo wallpaper. If you decorate one of the walls with such wallpaper, the area of the room will visually increase. But remember, photo wallpapers that increase space should only have a perspective design, that is, they should not depict, for example, Brick wall, and the surface of the water, a field, a road stretching into the distance, mountain peaks, etc.
Expanding space with color
Scientists have long proven that color can influence a person in the most amazing ways. Some shades soothe and give peace of mind, others, on the contrary, irritate or even make a person aggressive, others increase appetite, etc. Color can also influence the visual perception of space.
Let's consider how paints can optically change space:
Dark floor(image 1) in combination with light walls and ceiling, pushes the room up and to the sides. The room will seem especially large if the walls and ceiling are the same.
Darkened floor and ceiling(image 2) will make the room wider and lower, its area will be perceived as larger than in reality.
Darkened back wall and floor(image 3), in this case the floor will be emphasized even more, this will push the room apart.
Darkened rear wall and ceiling(image 4) will make the room visually shorter, but at the same time expand to the sides.
Darkened walls and floor(image 5). In this version, the floor connects the walls and seems to pull them together, making the room smaller and longer.
Darkened back wall(image 6) deepens the room, in addition it is also a good background for furniture and interior items that need to be highlighted.
Darkened side walls(image 7) make the room narrower, it moves towards the back wall, floor and ceiling.
Darkened rear and side walls(image 8) expand the room down and up, but at the same time make it closed.
Blacked out side walls and ceiling(image 9) the room expands towards the back wall, it seems narrower and longer. At the same time, the light floor does not give a feeling of reliable support.
Colored back and side walls(image 10) make the room feel closed, but at the same time it seems higher.
Neutral floor and other colored surfaces(image 11) make the room cramped and cave-like.
All surfaces are colored(image 12) greatly narrow the room and make it gloomy.
Let's look at some designer tips on how to visually enlarge a room using color:
- Light colors expand space best pastel shades.
- Decorating the ceiling and walls in the same color will help make the room larger. You can also make the top the same as the walls, but just a couple of shades lighter.
- If the style of the room allows, you can visually raise the ceiling, and therefore increase the space, using the beams located on it. At the same time, it is recommended to make them white, and the ceiling itself smoky, slightly darkened.
- If you want to increase the space with color, and significantly, use blue tones, but keep in mind that such shades are not conducive to a long stay in the room. An alternative to blue can be any light, cool colors.
- Place some bright decorative item on the farthest wall of the room, this way you will be able to create a perspective effect and the room will be perceived as spacious.
- Try to paint low ceilings only in light colors, preferably white.
- In order to lengthen the room, decorate the opposite wall with a lighter, cooler shade.
- To increase the space, you can use the following technique - make a floor and decorative elements in one color, and decorate the walls in a calmer tone.
- Try to select large furniture that you plan to place along the walls in a color close to the walls, this way the room will be visually smoother.
- You can move the walls apart if you paint the shelves to match them and choose curtains of the same color. All these elements will merge and create a more airy space.
Wallpaper plays a role in the interior design of a small room important role. Small apartments in five-story buildings from the times of the USSR, which are usually called Khrushchev buildings, they cannot boast of large room dimensions. Solid walls inside the apartment do not allow increasing the square footage and in order to make small rooms seem larger, it is better to follow some proven tips. Properly selected wall coverings will not only expand the room, but also create a unique, memorable image for it.
What wallpaper color makes a room look bigger?
Using color or a combination of certain colors you can visually expand a small space.
- When decorating the ceiling in white, a small room will appear larger if you use cool colors for the walls.
- Blue, light gray walls will add air.
- Walls in shades of gold will make the room sunny and bright, but will not increase its size.
- Black and dark Blue colour not suitable for a small room. Walls or ceilings of this color will make it even smaller.
For a bright room
If the room is bright, the walls may be saturated bright colors- blue, turquoise or green. It is better for small rooms, even light ones, not to use wallpaper in dark shades.
In the photo there is a light children's room with large window. Pink and blue wallpaper with plant motifs brought sophistication and coziness to a small room.
For a dark room
To make a dark small room seem larger, the ceiling and walls should be as light as possible. Sometimes the best design trick is to make them white. Then, against their background, the furniture will not seem bulky and may be dark.
Which pattern makes the room bigger?
Every year, wallpaper factories offer new collections with a variety of patterns and textures. With the help of some types of drawings you can change the visual impression of a room.
- Plain wallpaper with small details floral pattern They give even a small room lightness and coziness.
- A vertical stripe adds the missing height to a low room.
- If the pattern on the wall does not contrast with the background, but harmonizes with it, then even if the pattern is large, it is an advantageous background for furniture and decorative items.
The photo shows a successful use of wallpaper with a small geometric pattern to decorate the corridor of a small apartment. A white ceiling balances the proportions of the room and relieves the saturation of the walls.
Room design ideas that expand space
There are several design techniques that can visually increase the area of a small room. One of these techniques is to cover the view wall of the room with photo wallpaper or 3D wallpaper. Appeared in last years high-quality photographic images are not inferior to frescoes in terms of the impression they make, and benefit in price and speed of execution. 3D walls can change a room small hall or studio beyond recognition.
Wallpaper for a small living room
The living room is the main room in the house and should be decorated most expressively. To decorate and expand the space of a small room, you can use photo wallpaper. Most often, the wall against which the sofa is located is most suitable for this purpose.
In the photo, the wall of a small living room is effectively decorated with vintage photo wallpaper and images of predatory animals, which adds dynamics and originality to the interior.
On the picture end wall The small hall is decorated with photo wallpapers, on which images of bright house facades look very attractive. Such design technique will not leave any guest indifferent.
The photo shows a combination of stripes and plain wallpaper not only added rigor to a boy’s children’s room, but also brought dynamics and variety to the small room.
The photo shows a nursery for a little princess. The walls are covered with wallpaper with birds. The small room looks gentle, bright and sunny.
A small toilet is characteristic small-sized Khrushchev buildings. Wallpaper in such toilets is an interesting design technique that can refresh the room. In these small rooms there is no furniture and you can make the walls bright and expressive.
In the photo on the left is a toilet with exquisite patterns on the walls. The room gained style and expressiveness and gained in visual impression.
Visually expand a small bathroom
The use of wallpaper in bathrooms is becoming increasingly important. From this bold decision these small spaces only benefit. Here the wallpaper on the walls looks like frescoes or artistic painting.
When you want to decorate the dining room in an unusual way, but there is not enough space in a small apartment, you can use images that will expand the space and effectively highlight the eating area. The dining area in studio apartments, covered with expressive wallpaper, looks very nice.
Design options for the dressing room
Even the dressing room can be decorated with taste. Interesting patterns will expand the space of a small room reserved for cabinets and shelves. Suitable for this purpose bright wallpaper, light or dark depends on the designer's idea.
Small kitchens, especially kitchens in Khrushchev-era buildings, can be visually enlarged in size if you do not limit yourself to traditional tiles when decorating the walls, but use expressive, bright wallpaper. Geometric patterns, stripes or shapes perfectly emphasize the geometry of kitchen appliances and appliances. A bright accents Add speakers and a small room seems larger.
Ways to visually enlarge the hallway
The entrance hall in the house is the first room that welcomes owners and guests. To visually enlarge the hallway, the pattern on the walls can be chosen with horizontal stripes or a small pattern. To make the corridor seem larger, a design technique using horizontal stripes will reduce the height and move the walls apart.
How to visually enlarge a small bedroom?
When choosing wallpaper for a small bedroom, it is better to decorate it in unobtrusive colors and patterns that are pleasing to the eye, promoting relaxation and restful sleep.
One of the design techniques for expanding space in small apartments and studio apartments is the use of photo wallpaper. When it is not possible to purchase a ready-made fresco or invite an artist to paint it, you can cover the view wall with photo wallpaper.
Perspective image of nature or city panorama with plans different sizes will create a certain mood in the room. In a studio apartment, proper zoning with photo wallpaper will help avoid clutter.
Style features to visually enlarge the room
Different interior styles have their own characteristics of using wallpaper for visual magnification small space
Provence
To make a small Provence style room seem larger, you can use light furniture. If the walls are covered with dark wallpaper, it would be appropriate to complement them with a white ceiling cornice.
The photo shows an office in Provence style, the walls are successfully combined with furniture and a white ceiling. The room does not look small and cramped.
Classic
For classic style typical use of wallpaper. Silky wallpaper with patterns, monograms and floral designs decorate this style.
The photo shows a bedroom in a classic style. The color of the walls follows the color of the furniture, which creates unity and adds sophistication to the interior. In small rooms this technique will always be relevant.
Minimalism
Style is also not complete without this decorative material like wallpaper. This coating is ideal for decorating accent walls and highlighting important surfaces.
In the photo there is a bedroom with accent wall imitating mosaic. This technique creates a feeling of greater depth and size of the room.
Modern
Modern style or modern is exactly the style in which wallpaper is used in almost all rooms of the house. Light pastel colors on the walls create a feeling of airiness and lightness, which increases the size of a small room.
In the photo, light furniture in the Art Nouveau style is harmoniously combined with wallpaper of the same shade in calm geometric patterns. The absence of lines and colors that disrupt the composition creates a feeling of spaciousness and transparency.
Design options for a long narrow room
Long, narrow rooms can be made to look larger by using the right color and pattern on the walls. Geometry, especially with clear graphic contours, can create a feeling of freedom and permeability in a small room. Light walls with a glossy surface add light and space.
In the photo, the wall at the head of the bed is covered with wide striped wallpaper. This design technique allowed us to visually expand the narrow space of a small room.
You can see in the photo interesting solution to expand a narrow small room for a child. A long boring wall of a small room is decorated with expressive 3D wallpaper with imitation shelves with books in cheerful colors.
In the photo in a narrow arch, bright inserts in certain places serve both as a visual accent and to expand the long narrow passage. The use of expressive, sunny wallpaper adds light and joy to a small room.
In order to visually raise the height of ceilings, there are some design techniques. Wallpaper with vertical stripes and a dark wide cornice between the wall and the white ceiling will help achieve the desired effect
The photo shows a small bedroom with a low ceiling. The stripes on the walls evened out the proportions of the room and added lightness and comfort to it.
The photo shows an example of using wallpaper in small hall with a low ceiling. The white walls were highlighted with maps filled with colorful wallpaper. The vertical arrangement of the cards added height and originality to the room.
How to combine wallpaper for visual enhancement?
We cannot ignore such a design technique for visually expanding space as combining different wallpapers.
There are several ways to combine:
- Contrasting combination of wallpaper on opposite walls of the room,
- Highlighting an accent wall with photographs or contrasting colors,
- A combination of different colored walls to zone a room,
- Combination different colors and drawings for horizontal division of walls,
- Highlighting with active wallpaper - bright against a pale background, with a pattern against a plain background to highlight the main area of the room.
Ideas for combining two colors
You can expand a small room by using two types of wallpaper to decorate the walls. More often good result It is obtained from a combination of plain and colored or contrasting coatings.
The photo shows an example of a small room in which wallpaper from the same collection is combined on the walls. Accent wall highlighted with wallpaper with ornaments.
Photo gallery
Using wallpaper, you can experiment with the interior of a small room, decorate the walls in an original way and visually expand the space. Below are photo examples of the use of wallpaper on walls in rooms for various functional purposes.
As is known, the most The best way to expand a room is to connect it to an adjacent room by knocking out partitions. But this decision is not easy for everyone: the volumes are scary construction work, problems with legalization, and sometimes there is nothing to connect the existing premises to. What to do then? In this case, you need to think about how to visually enlarge the room and what techniques to use to make it visually appear larger and lighter. It is these secrets that we will reveal to you today on the “Dream House” website.
Expanding the space: room colors and geometric patterns
Probably everyone knows from their school days that light color makes the object visually larger, while dark objects visually decrease in volume. We definitely apply this postulate in the design of a small room, pasting it light wallpaper and not placing too much dark furniture. By the way, if you think that light walls and light furniture will merge into a single spot, then you are mistaken. They combine perfectly with each other, the main thing is to choose furniture that is several tones darker or a different shade than the same walls.
If we talk about preferable color scheme, then it is better to choose pastel neutral shades and cool colors that expand the space. But you should completely avoid contrasting, flashy colors; they not only attract attention to themselves, but also emphasize the small dimensions of the room.
Professional designers use an interesting technique to visually enlarge the space. To do this, they cover one wall with wallpaper with a contrasting geometric pattern, while the other three remain in neutral colors. At the same time, the effect of optical illusion is activated, we move our gaze from one wall to another and on a subconscious level we perceive the room to be wider than it actually is.
Continuing the theme of drawings, it should be recalled that it is inappropriate to use large contrasting patterns on wallpaper, for example, on beige wallpaper dark blue flowers. It is extremely unpleasant to be in such a room; it not only looks even smaller than its size, but also puts pressure on a person; it is difficult to breathe in such a room. You also need to be careful with small designs. If it is miniature and often repeated, then after a while it begins to dazzle the eyes.
If you don’t know how to visually increase the height of the ceiling, then wallpaper with a vertical stripe or wallpaper with a small ornament located vertically will come to the rescue. They will visually stretch the room up, and the ceiling will seem higher. By the way, if your apartment has low ceilings, then do not use a contrasting border underneath (it will visually reduce the height of the walls), it is better to stick and paint them white.
How to visually increase the height of the ceiling
What furniture to use to visually enlarge the room
Logic dictates the use of multifunctional furniture in small spaces - furniture that takes up minimal space when folded. Among such furniture one can highlight a sofa bed, a chair bed, all kinds of tables, etc. They all save valuable square meters, while delivering a minimum of discomfort to household members.
If we talk about dimensions, then there is no need to choose bulky sofas, cabinets and tables. It is better to give preference to neat models made from light and weightless materials, such as rattan and glass. But even a classic sofa will fit well into a small room if you choose the right size. Use your imagination and calculate different variants, the main thing is to maintain the proportions of the room and furniture.
Upholstered furniture should not be too “lush” or voluminous. It is better to adhere to its strict forms.
Using mirrors and glass in the interior of a small room
Even our grandmothers used this well-known design technique using mirrors. It is clear that large mirror, placed on the wall, reflects the decor of the room and, therefore, doubles it. If you don’t know how to visually enlarge a small room, then hang it on one of the walls. Moreover, in the case of a rectangular room, placing a mirror on a long wall will visually turn the rectangle into a square.
If we are talking about rooms such as a bathroom and a bathroom, then it is more advisable to replace the mirror with mirrored or simply glossy panels. Not only are they not afraid of moisture, but they are also quite easy to care for. Can the ceiling be sewn up? mirror tiles or panels, so it will seem even higher. Just don’t use mirror panels to decorate the entire room, otherwise you won’t be able to avoid the feeling of enclosure. Better than walls sheathe with glossy ones, and the ceiling with mirrored ones.
It can be done with lighting, which imitates the presence of the present and seems to flood the room with daylight - so visually the bathroom space becomes larger.
Along with a mirror, the idea of glass is also very successfully used in small rooms. At the same time it is placed, the facades are decorated glass elements or, doors with glass inserts are used, as well as transparent lamps and small ones. All these interior elements are designed to make it lighter, airier and weightless, not to clutter up a small room with furniture, but, on the contrary, to unload it.
Don't ignore modern technologies ceiling finishing - we're talking about o glossy with good reflectivity. Such ceilings will visually expand the space, make it larger, the main thing is to choose light shades and glossy surface. And for those who are not afraid of bold ideas, we can advise you to stretch a mirrored ceiling, which reflects the entire room, visually expanding its boundaries.
Other designer tricks to increase space
Designers strongly recommend that all owners of small apartments decorate it in a minimalist style, getting rid of unnecessary trash and trinkets placed on the shelves. Laconicism in decoration and furniture, a single color scheme with several accents - this is what you need for small rooms. All kinds of figurines, candlesticks, photographs in frames, small paintings distract attention and cause a feeling of clutter. On the contrary, instead of several small paintings, hang one medium-sized one, and free the open shelves from unnecessary decor.
Here's another tip from the pros: make the room as bright as possible. To do this, you need to remove dark and thick curtains, you may even have to free the window sill from large curtains. The room should receive as much natural light as possible.
A good idea is to stick it on one of the walls. Don't know what wallpaper will make a room appear larger? The unequivocal answer is with an image of a landscape in perspective, for example, the horizon of a field or sea, mountain peaks or forest edge, a view of a city at night. Also from latest news On the construction market, you can note photo wallpapers with a three-dimensional three-dimensional pattern that create a spatial effect.
If you are the owner small apartment, you are faced with the question of how to make it more spacious and comfortable. This article will help you understand how to visually expand a room and make it unique. Decide what you want your room to look like. Create stylish interior 2017, based on fashion trends.
Colors that expand space
Choose a color for the walls. If you bright girl, a sunny bright color or creamy white will suit you. If you are confident, then light green or blue. If you creative person, then pink or purple. Think about big picture your room. Don’t forget, the colors that expand the space are beige, cream, and pudding shades.
Think about your interests. Some examples are: music, art, movies, animals, etc. Write that list. This will be useful for choosing the design of your room. How to visually expand a narrow room - stick to light colors!
Start by moving the furniture. Find good new positions and make sure all your favorite furniture will fit. Move only empty tables and drawers, and temporarily place things on the bed. Donate or throw away any unnecessary items to clear out space and free up drawers.
Color scheme to expand the room
Who wouldn't want to big house with spacious rooms? But often a person cannot afford such a pleasure as buying a large living space, so he has to huddle in small rooms.
But if you look at the situation from a different angle, then you can understand that in fact not everything is so bad, and a small room has its advantages. Firstly, they are easier to clean, secondly, they are cheaper in terms of heating, thirdly, if you approach the design of the room correctly, then you can create a truly cozy and visually large room.
To create a visual space, you can use a simple “optical illusion”, the possibilities of optical illusions. In order to recreate visual space required:
- Wallpaper light, cold or pastel colors.
Photo wallpaper.
Mirrors and lamps.
Curtains and furniture.
What wallpaper expands the room
For a small room, you should give preference to light colors; it is also strongly recommended to “play” with contrasts. For example, if the room is longer and narrower, a perfect option would be to make long walls in light colors to distance them from each other and visually expand the space.
And the smaller ones, on the contrary, should be darkened to bring them closer to each other. Or make a contrast - stick wallpaper with small patterns on one wall, and large ones on the opposite wall. Fine pattern on wallpaper makes the room visually larger.
What wallpaper expands a room with low ceilings? You can wallpaper it with vertical lines. This technique will visually make the ceiling higher. Or paint the ceiling a couple of shades lighter. If you decorate the entire room in monochromatic light colors, it will create a unique, airy atmosphere.
Photo wallpaper
Photo wallpapers with a view of a receding forest path, the sea with small boats in the distance, a mountain landscape, etc. will fit perfectly into the interior of a small room. In general, everything that depicts perspective.
Also great solution there will be a selection of photo wallpapers with an enlarged image of something, for example, a shell, some plant, a bird, and so on. The main thing is that the photo wallpaper should be pasted on a wall that is not filled with furniture, especially high furniture, because this will spoil the whole effect.
Furniture
It is advisable to install furniture that is multifunctional, light, and uses colors to expand the space. An excellent choice would be a folding sofa, in which you can fold your bedding for the day and put it away so that it doesn’t take up space. Shelves on the walls can be painted to match the walls themselves. It is strongly recommended, if possible, to collect things in a closet so that they do not clutter the room.
Curtains
How to visually expand a narrow room? Curtains, just like wallpaper, should be chosen light, with small patterns. A great option there will be a choice of longer curtains that lie slightly on the floor. This length will visually make the room taller. You cannot use huge curtains, large and heavy curtains, great amount ruffles and bows, because they create the visual feeling of a small space.
Cleaning.
It may sound boring, but it actually can be a fun activity, if you imagine what your room will look like later. Remove dust, dirt, cobwebs... Do everything you can.
Put all your books on bookshelves. What about soft toy on the next shelf or on the bed? Organize the room as you wish.
And finally, in the final part, accessories! Create your own stylish interior for 2017.