How to Make a Room Look Bigger: 20 Tricks That Work

How to Make a Room Look Bigger: 20 Tricks That Work

How do you make a room look bigger? Let in as much natural light as possible, use light, cohesive colors on walls, trim and ceiling, and choose fewer, well-scaled pieces of furniture, ideally raised on legs. Add a large mirror opposite or beside a window, use a rug big enough to sit under the furniture, hang curtains high and wide, and keep surfaces free of visual clutter. Together, these tricks make a small room feel bigger without moving a single wall.

Below are 20 ways to make a small room look bigger, organized by light, color, furniture and decor, plus specific tips for small living rooms and small bedrooms and answers to common questions such as whether mirrors really make a room bigger.

Large rectangular wall mirror with a pearly white frame leaning on a rustic wood console, reflecting a bright window and curtains, with a leafy branch in a dark vase and small white gourds

Light: The Fastest Way to Make a Room Feel Bigger

  1. Maximize natural light: clean the windows, trim plants or blinds that block them, and keep furniture from sitting in front of the glass.
  2. Choose light window treatments: sheer curtains, light linen or shades that disappear when raised. See window treatment ideas.
  3. Hang curtains high and wide: mount the rod close to the ceiling and extend it past the window frame so panels stack on the wall, not the glass. Floor-to-ceiling curtains make windows and ceilings look taller. See how to hang curtains.
  4. Add mirrors: a large mirror reflects light and views and creates the illusion of depth. Place it across from or next to a window, or behind a lamp.
  5. Layer lighting: one overhead light leaves dark corners that shrink the room. Add table lamps, floor lamps and wall sconces so light reaches the edges. See living room lighting ideas.

Color: Blur the Edges

  1. Paint walls a light color: soft white, cream, pale gray, light greige and pale blue reflect light. See how to choose paint colors.
  2. Paint the trim and ceiling the same shade (or close to it) so the eye doesn't stop at hard lines.
  3. Use a monochromatic palette: furniture, curtains and walls in tones of the same color make the space feel expansive and calm.
  4. Or go dark on purpose: in a tiny room, a deep color on walls, trim and ceiling can blur corners and make the walls seem to recede. It's a designer trick that works best with good lighting.
  5. Keep the floor light and continuous: the same flooring or a light rug across adjoining rooms makes them read as one larger space.
Long black metal display cabinet with glass doors and glass shelves on slim legs, holding wine glasses and plates, in a bright room with a light rug, large black-framed windows and a woman setting a table

Furniture: Scale, Legs and Layout

  1. Choose furniture in scale with the room: an apartment-size sofa, a smaller coffee table and slim side tables. Measure before you buy; see how to measure a sofa.
  2. Pick pieces that show some leg: furniture raised on legs reveals more floor, which tricks the eye into seeing more square footage. A glass display cabinet on metal legs stores a lot without looking heavy.
  3. Use see-through materials: glass doors, glass or acrylic tables, open shelving and cane let light pass through.
  4. Use fewer, larger pieces: one large piece of art or one generous sofa often looks better than many small items, which create visual clutter.
  5. Float furniture away from walls: even a few inches of space behind the sofa makes the room feel less cramped. In a very small room, keep large furniture on the walls and the center open.
  6. Build up, not across: tall bookcases and floor-to-ceiling built-ins draw the eye upward and add storage without using more floor. See built-in bookshelves.
  7. Choose multi-use furniture: storage ottomans, coffee tables with storage, a desk that doubles as a dining table.

Decor: Edit and Focus

  1. Cut the clutter: clear surfaces make a room feel bigger instantly. Use closed storage for everyday things; see living room storage ideas.
  2. Use a large rug: a rug big enough for the front legs of all seating makes the room feel bigger than a small rug floating in the middle. See our rug size guide.
  3. Create one focal point: a fireplace, a large piece of art or a window view gives the eye somewhere to land instead of jumping between small items. Vertical stripes, tall plants and artwork hung slightly higher draw the eye upward too; see how high to hang pictures.

Designer Tricks That Seem Backwards (But Work)

  • Go oversized on a few pieces. Interior designers often use one oversized mirror, a large piece of art or a big rug in a small room. Fewer, larger elements create less visual clutter than many small ones, so the room feels more expansive.
  • Hang ceiling curtains. Curtains mounted on a ceiling track or right below the ceiling draw the eye upward and make the walls look taller than they are.
  • Choose one tall piece. A tall bookcase, a tall plant or floor-to-ceiling built ins in a corner adds height without taking much floor space.
  • Use a bed or sofa with a low profile so there's more wall visible above it.

Tiny Room Ideas

In a tiny room, every piece needs to earn its square footage:

  • Build a window seat with storage underneath; it adds seating and storage without blocking the window.
  • Use wall-mounted pieces: a floating desk, floating shelves, wall sconces and a wall-mounted TV all keep the floor clear.
  • Choose furniture that does two jobs: a storage ottoman that doubles as a coffee table, a console that works as a desk, or a daybed for a guest room or office.
  • Put doors on a diet: a sliding or pocket door, or simply removing a closet door and adding a curtain, frees up swing space.
  • Keep the palette tight: two or three colors used throughout make a tiny room feel calm and larger.

Mistakes That Make a Room Feel Smaller

  • A rug that's too small, floating in the middle of the floor.
  • Curtains hung just above the window frame or ending above the floor.
  • Bulky, overstuffed furniture with skirts that hide the floor.
  • Lots of small decorative objects on every surface.
  • Furniture blocking windows or natural light.
  • One harsh overhead light that leaves dark corners.
  • Too many competing patterns and colors.

How to Make a Small Living Room Look Bigger

  • Choose a sofa with slim arms and raised legs, and skip the oversized sectional.
  • Use a round or oval coffee table for easier movement.
  • Mount the TV on the wall or use a slim console. See how high to mount a TV.
  • Put a mirror or glass-front cabinet where it reflects the window.
  • Keep the walkway from the door to the seating clear.

More layouts in our small living room layout guide.

How to Make a Small Bedroom Look Bigger

  • Use simple, light bedding and a low-profile headboard.
  • Choose wall sconces or a pendant instead of bulky table lamps.
  • Use tall storage, such as a wardrobe or a tall chest, instead of a wide dresser.
  • Keep the floor under the bed clear or use closed under-bed storage.
  • Place a full-length mirror on a wall or the back of the door.

See also dressers for a small bedroom and bedroom storage ideas. For studios, see our studio apartment layout guide.

Make a Room Look Bigger FAQ

Do mirrors make a room look bigger?

Yes. A large mirror reflects light and the room itself, which adds a sense of depth. It works best across from or beside a window and when it reflects something pleasant, not clutter.

What colors make a small room look bigger?

Light, cool or neutral colors such as soft white, pale gray, light blue and pale green reflect the most light. Painting walls, trim and ceiling in similar shades helps more than the exact color.

What kind of paint makes a room look bigger?

A light color in an eggshell or satin finish reflects a little more light than flat paint on walls, while a flat finish on the ceiling hides imperfections.

What is the 3-5-7 rule in decorating?

It's a guideline to group decorative items in odd numbers (three, five or seven), which looks more natural and less cluttered than even-numbered groups.

What is the 70/20/10 rule in decorating?

It's a variation of the 60-30-10 rule: about 70% main color, 20% secondary color and 10% accent. See the 60-30-10 rule for how to apply it.

Is a 10x10 bedroom too small?

No. A 10 by 10 foot bedroom fits a queen bed with space for a nightstand and walkway, or a full bed with more room for storage. Keep furniture slim and use vertical storage.

What makes a room look cheap or cramped?

Too many small decorative items, furniture that's too large or too small for the room, rugs that are too small, curtains hung too low and a single harsh overhead light.

How can I make a small room feel bigger without buying anything?

Declutter surfaces, move furniture away from windows, pull pieces a few inches off the walls, raise the curtain rod, move a mirror opposite the window and turn on lamps in the corners. Rearranging what you have often makes the biggest difference.

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