Make Any Room Look Bigger

Your home has a very small living room, bathrooms, or kitchen. What do you do? Show off the best features of every room in it. Bring in the natural outside elements or plants. Look at each room for changes:

The Living Room

• Look at the furthest corner and put something there to draw the eye
• Use window coverings that are sheer, or pull them back to bring in more light.
• Don't block walking pathways and clear out too much furniture.
• Direct the eye to a focal point of the room, like a fireplace.
• Have no more than three items on a coffee table.
• Remove personal photos.

• Take all the leaves out of the dining table to make the room look bigger.
• Take out large rugs to create the illusion of more floor space.
• Keep only a few pieces in the china cabinet. Overcrowding with too many items will overpower the room.

The Kitchen

• Update an old kitchen to give it a more open, clean look.
• Clear off the counter as much as possible.
• Use just a couple of cookbooks for decoration, or fill a bowl with fruit and put it on the counter or a sideboard.

The Bedroom

• Take out the television set.
• Use neutral colors on the wall and bed to open up the room.
• Use throw pillows on the bed for color and warmth.
• Make sure all ironing boards, laundry baskets, and clothes are put away.

The Bathroom

• Pull shower curtains back. Use a light colored or transparent curtain.
• Clear everything off the counters.
• Use fresh flowers or live plants and a scented candle.
• Remove all area rugs to create the illusion of greater space.