How to visually enlarge a room: learning to play with space and colors. How to visually enlarge a small room: the correct use of color and lighting What patterns on the wall increase the space

Who among us has not dreamed of cozy cottage or an old manor like those where the heroines of Jane Austen’s novels live? Alas, the reality is harsh: many have to be content with modest studio apartment V panel house. But if we are unable to change the footage, then filling our home with light and at least visually making it more spacious is accessible to everyone.

Choosing wallpaper

With the help of correctly selected wallpaper, you can transform any room beyond recognition and even make a miniature room visually spacious.

You can increase the space of a room by covering the walls light wallpaper soft cool shades - blue, silver-gray, mint, ash-pink.

It is better if they are plain, with a small, discreet pattern or embossing. Wallpaper with large roses or wide stripes will create the opposite effect - it will turn an already cramped room into a box.

Room square shape It will acquire the missing depth if the wall farthest from the entrance is covered with photo wallpaper with a calm landscape.

A room with a low ceiling will become visually taller if you take wallpaper with vertical stripes. But there is a small nuance in their use. To achieve the desired effect, such wallpaper is applied to the walls up to the ceiling, with a narrow, laconic white design along the contour. ceiling plinth. Resist the temptation to run a strip cut from the same wallpaper along the top edge. This will make the ceiling in your room even lower.

Also, in a small room, it is undesirable to use wallpaper of two colors that are very different from one another, and to cover the junction with a noticeable border.
But almost the same technique will help increase the height of the ceiling if you take wallpaper of the same color, but for the upper part - plain, and for panels - with a pattern, or bottom part Make the walls plain, and the top and ceiling striped.

And one more trick: if you want the rooms to appear higher, during renovation, before painting the walls or gluing wallpaper, round the joints between the ceiling and the walls. Then you won’t have to resort to various tricks so often.

Laying the right floor

If you want the room to seem more spacious, opt for light floor shades: ceramic tiles– for the bathroom and toilet, laminate or parquet – for the bedroom or living room.

Pay attention to how the tiles or parquet blocks will be laid. Placed longitudinally, they will help make the room elongate, and if you lay them diagonally, the room will appear much larger than its actual size.

When choosing a carpet or rug, give preference to plain models in pastel shades. Catchy, with a contrasting pattern, visually reduces the already small space.

If you decide to visually expand the space, remember that longitudinal stripes look very elegant. By choosing this type of flooring, you certainly can’t go wrong.

Don't skimp on mirrors

With the help of mirrors you can create a real miracle, because the space reflected in them doubles! Of course, you shouldn’t turn an entire wall into a solid mirror, otherwise the room will look like a ballet class.

A low room will be made more spacious by a tall (from ceiling to floor) but not too wide mirror. You will immediately feel that the room has become different.

Do you want your living room to look not only fresh, but also balanced? Place the mirror so that your favorite plants are reflected in it: three or four flowerpots will turn a cramped room into a real greenhouse.

You can also visually enlarge the bathroom with the help of a mirror, which, according to the good old tradition, is hung above the sink. It is not only practical, but also beautiful. Light monochromatic tiles will enhance the effect.

Hanging curtains

In a small apartment, “clothing for windows” must comply with the same requirements - be plain or with a discreet pattern and, if possible, translucent. Curtains that are too voluminous, with heavy folds and a complex lambrequin will make an already small room even cramped.

When decorating windows, try to avoid multi-layering. Transparent tulle with light curtains can be successfully replaced with a denser material without adding anything to it.

If you feel too uncomfortable open space, you can limit yourself to only Roman blinds or textile roller blinds. By the way, it is not at all necessary to complement them with ordinary curtains, and tulle will be completely unnecessary.

Do you consider curtains an indispensable attribute of window decoration? Well, your right! Just try to use it wisely. In a room with low ceilings, window curtains should be attached just below the ceiling, allowing the lush folds to fall freely to the floor.

Have you had the dubious “luck” of living in a house with narrow windows? There's nothing you can do about it from the outside, but inside you can combine two of these windows with a common cornice, and use a translucent one as decoration. thick tulle. The room will look much more harmonious. But you should not use this technique if you have windows standard size: this is impractical; washing and ironing such huge curtains is very inconvenient, and hanging them up is a real pain. In addition, a long horizontal strip of fabric draping the entire wall does not decorate the interior at all.

Arranging furniture

Owners of small apartments need to pay attention great attention the choice of material from which the furniture is made. Coffee tables tabletops of the same size and shape, the tabletops of which are made of glass and wood, look completely different: wooden - solid and heavy, glass (although often heavier) - almost weightless.

They seem just as light and airy glass shelves. The feeling of spaciousness will become even stronger if you place a white pot with a climbing plant (for example, cissus or Sprenger asparagus) on such a shelf and attach it to the wall large mirror in a discreet frame or without it at all.

Glass objects are a win-win option: they visually enlarge a small room. A well-groomed aquarium in the living room, beautiful glasses or original glasses in the kitchen, elegant photo frames in the bedroom are just a small part of where glass can be used.

Lifehacks for expanding space for different types of premises

And finally, one more piece of advice: without neglecting the words of professionals, listen to your own feelings. The designers' recommendations are general, but only you can make your home, even small, cozy and unique.

It would seem that there are many solutions to the not so simple question of how to enlarge a room. By playing with color, texture and lighting, you can significantly increase the lack of space in the room. These techniques are especially relevant in standard city apartments and Khrushchev-era buildings. Most suitable for decorating a compact apartment Scandinavian style, minimalism, hi-tech.

What colors increase space?

Everyone known fact that the lighter the shade, the larger the object appears. The same technique applies to interior solutions. In order to visually increase the area of the room, it is worth using finishing in light colors: white and cold pastel shades. Furniture should also be used light color, but different in tone from the walls, ceiling and floor. For example, it could be a soft pastel color scheme.

The photo shows a compact kitchen in a Khrushchev building. In order to visually increase the area, the room was decorated in light colors.

How to decorate the walls?

What wallpaper makes a room bigger?

Using some finishing tricks, you can expand the boundaries of the room and visually enlarge the room.

Vertical stripes elongate the space, making it taller;

Wallpaper with horizontal stripes will increase the width of the room;

In the photo, the wall is decorated with wallpaper with horizontal stripes; this type of decoration visually increases the width of the room.

One of the walls can be covered with wallpaper with a pattern or ornament; this technique will make a long room more proportional;

You should avoid flashy bright colors;
The walls can be decorated with wallpaper with a shiny surface;

On the picture accent wall The bedroom is decorated with gold wallpaper with a shiny surface.

You can use wallpaper with small pattern or a discreet pattern, they will increase volume.

What drawings make a room bigger?

It would seem that simple drawings and geometric shapes have a miraculous effect on our perception. The same pattern different colors, scale or location are radically changed appearance premises.

Three-dimensional drawing on one of the walls (photo 1). A large drawing shortens the room, visually bringing the wall on which it is located closer. Similar type finishes will suit for long narrow rooms. The image will shorten the length and expand the space.
Small patterns (photo 2). A small pattern of a light shade on the contrary visually enlarges the space, making it voluminous.
Horizontal stripes (photo 3). Transverse stripes can increase the width and lengthen the walls. However, there may be an effect low ceiling. If you decorate only one wall with wallpaper with horizontal stripes, the room will appear shorter.
Vertical stripes (photo 4). Vertical stripes, on the contrary, stretch the space, making it taller. The thickness of the strips enhances this effect.
Horizontal stripes on the floor (photo 5). As with wallpaper, horizontal stripes make a room appear wider but shorter. This finishing method is suitable for disproportionate rooms.
Longitudinal stripes (photo 6). Vertical stripes deepen the room, making it longer. Just like with wallpaper, the width of the stripes enhances the effect.

Photo wallpaper that enlarges the room

The image can increase or, conversely, reduce the area of the room.

Photo wallpaper with an image going into the distance will make the room larger;
An unpromising image will reduce the area of the room;
Photo wallpapers depicting different textures will create a play of light, which will also add volume;
Photo wallpaper with a shiny surface will increase the area due to its reflective properties;
Photo wallpaper with an image transitioning from dark to light shade will make the room taller;
You shouldn’t cover all the walls of the room with photo wallpapers, they will have the opposite effect, one or two will be enough.

Ways to increase using the ceiling

The simplest and most popular way to enlarge a room using a ceiling is to make a tension structure with a glossy surface. Mirror material due to its reflective properties will double the space. Interesting solution there will be a combined ceiling, a combination of matte and glossy material can create an unusual composition, increasing precious square meters.

In the photo the ceiling in the living room is decorated tension structure with a glossy surface.

A disproportionate room can be evened out by combining colors. A stripe of a darker shade across an elongated room will make it appear wider. The same effect can be achieved ceiling beams, several straight wooden beams will be sufficient.

Another way to increase space is to print photos of the sky.

Choosing a floor covering

Flooring, like other surfaces, are made mainly in light shades. For the living room, you can use laminate, linoleum or carpet; it is better to choose a solid color or with a small, discreet pattern.

Laminate and parquet flooring can be laid out diagonally or in a herringbone pattern, so the room looks more spacious.

They also use already familiar stripes; direction in any direction will enlarge the room in the desired direction.

In the photo, horizontal stripes make narrow kitchen visually wider.

A self-leveling floor with a reflective effect will double the space.

How to increase the height of a room?

There are several ways to make a room taller. One of them is wall decoration. Vertical stripes or patterns on the wallpaper will “stretch” the wall. This can be wallpaper, painting or hand painting.

Photo wallpaper with a perspective image, such as a receding path in the forest or a tall waterfall, will have the same result.

The photo shows wallpaper with a perspective image (a receding pier), which helps to visually increase the height of a small bedroom.

You can increase the height of the room using high doors and window openings. Curtains or straight-cut tulle from ceiling to floor will also contribute to this.

Mirrors are a stylish way to significantly increase space, such as a tall mirror on the wall or a composition of small mirrors on the ceiling.

How to visually expand a narrow room?

Expand narrow room can be done by fairly simple means, without resorting to construction work. What to do if you get a room of imperfect proportions? You need to start “correcting” them already at the stage of repair and finishing.

Elements that can help visually expand a narrow room include: directing the gaze “across” space. Flooring with pronounced stripes, such as laminate or linoleum with a pattern, is best directed along short wall or at an angle. When laid along a long wall, such coverings will narrow the room even more. Another option is to use a single-color covering, for example, carpet, linoleum without a pattern, or cork.
Covering the walls will also help expand a narrow room. Feel free to use horizontal stripe on end surfaces. Wide stripes and cleverly chosen colors will help enhance the effect of expansion.
Alternatively, try paint short walls bright, rich colors, and long ones - neutral, or use wallpaper with an inconspicuous pattern on them. This technique will help “compress” the room in the desired direction, it will become more “square”.
Ceiling beams, parallel to the short sides of the room, will also help to perceive it differently and visually expand the narrow room. They can be purely decorative, made of plasterboard. Such a solution is very appropriate in today’s popular Mediterranean style housing registration.
Try it abandon the standard rectangular space. For example, suspended ceiling non-standard shape can change the look and expand a narrow room. Painting the walls not with planes, but with curly elements will support this effect. But such complex design options are best left to professional designers.

If you don’t plan to do any renovations, but want to visually expand a narrow room, you can use simple techniques that are accessible to everyone.

If possible, remove furniture from long walls, do not be afraid to place furniture elements across, for example, a closet at the end of a short wall, or place furniture against a wall with a window - you can put desk, it is functionally convenient and allows you to visually expand a narrow room.
Divide the total volume by functional areas using a shelving unit that is open on both sides and placed perpendicular to a long wall - this technique will allow you to break up the space and correct unfavorable proportions.
Play with light. It is better to abandon the standard chandelier in the center of the ceiling. Spot lamps placed in the center of the ceiling will help to expand a narrow room if their light is directed towards the walls.
Hang on end wall a painting, a striking poster or a large decorative element (for example, a clock with a large dial), this will attract attention; the rest of the walls should be in neutral colors.

Make a room larger with mirrors and glass

Reflective surfaces are the most common and effective way to increase the boundaries of space. With the help of mirrors, even the most compact room will seem spacious.

In the photo, the accent wall is decorated with mirrored canvases, which make the bedroom visually more spacious.

A tall mirror, starting from the floor itself, will add volume to the room, forming a passage to another room without any obstacles. It is worth considering that covering more than one wall with mirrors is not the best good option, instead of a stylish living room or bedroom, you will get a real ballet studio, devoid of comfort and homely atmosphere.

Mirrors may have different shapes and framing, with unusual frames they will also play the function of a decorative element of the apartment. Figured mirrors can form an unusual composition on the wall or ceiling; they will unobtrusively increase the volume.

Another common way to increase space is suspended ceiling with a glossy surface.

An excellent solution would be to install mirrored or glossy furniture.

A false fireplace with a mirror on the inner wall will be interesting design solution. This decoration takes minimal amount places, while creating the illusion of passage to another room.

If it is necessary to separate rooms, the wall function will be performed glass partition. It will not create the impression of a closed space, but will divide the room into zones.

Photos of compact furniture and decor

When choosing furniture for a small room, you should give preference to low items. For example, instead of high bar stools, put a stool or ottoman, a bed without a high headboard, or a sofa with a low back.

Weightless transparent furniture performs its direct functions without overloading the space; these can be plastic chairs and a table with a glass surface.

Transparent in the photo lunch group in the interior of a small kitchen.

Furniture should be placed along the walls so that central part the premises remained vacant.

It is better to use vertical shapes for interior details and accessories. Such techniques will help to visually increase the height of the ceiling.

Concerning decorative elements, then there should not be a lot of them, otherwise you can get a feeling of clutter.

Selecting curtains

Window decoration plays an important role in the design of an apartment. The selected material and cut will fill the room with space or, on the contrary, overload it.

Tulle white from the ceiling to the floor, the windows will visually enlarge, respectively, filling the room with light and stretching the space;

Light textile curtains with small patterns are suitable for decorating the windows of the living room and children's room;

Roller or Roman blinds will save space and become ideal option for the kitchen or nursery;

Some styles allow you not to use curtains at all, for example: minimalism, loft, Scandinavian.

Choosing the right lighting

In conditions small apartment It is worth using diffused light. Bright chandeliers with transparent shades or open light are not suitable for small room. It is more appropriate to use lamps and chandeliers with frosted glass shades or light shades.

To increase the width of the room use the system spot lighting around the entire perimeter.

An interesting effect will be achieved by LED strip lighting. Tape recessed in two-tier design, will create the impression of a floating ceiling.

Also LED strip pieces of furniture can be finished.

In the photo, the bed in the children's room is illuminated with an LED strip.

How to visually make a bathroom larger?

In a small bath best idea will finish the walls and floors tiles light shades. White tiles will fill the bathroom with light as much as possible and visually increase the area.

Combining two colors good option the horizontal line will become more bright shade, this will expand the walls.

Ceiling finishing metal panels with a mirror finish will increase the space.

A large mirror above the sink will also play a role.

On the picture white tiles fills the bathroom with light, the mirror above the sink visually increases its area.

For lighting you should choose Spotlights and mirror lighting.

Furniture plays an important role, for example, shelves recessed into the wall and a narrow sink. You can save useful space by placing washing machine under the sink.

Even the most compact apartment can be made comfortable by placing everything you need for life. Modern technologies allow you to create miniature equipment and mobile furniture, which save the maximum amount free space. And the renovation in the right shades will increase the space and make the house cozy.

How to visually enlarge a room is something that every third resident of our country has thought about. Everyone dreams of having their own corner, and not a rented apartment. And if you are lucky enough to have own apartment, no matter what size and parameters it is. IN modern world correct any planning errors possible using minimum costs, simply by correctly using certain decorative means.

How to visually enlarge a room? It's actually not that difficult. In order to expand, lengthen or extend a room, you need a very small amount of funds and their reasonable use. Of course, you can expand the space in the room by removing partitions, but these are drastic measures. We will advise you how to do this more humanely. The basic principles of creating visual space in decor include:

Play of colors and optical illusions.
and other prints on the walls can visually both lengthen and narrow the room.
Mirrors or glossy surfaces will significantly expand, if necessary, the space. But their use should be approached very responsibly and carefully. After all, it’s important not to overdo it here. An abundance of reflective materials can create discomfort for people present in the room.
Play of light and shadow.
Furniture and its correct location.
Decor elements.

To achieve the desired goal, you can use any of these methods separately or combine them.

Wallpapers and prints for rooms

Wallpaper is perhaps one of the most available ways expanding the space of the room. But not everyone knows how to do it visually correctly. The first thing you should pay attention to is the drawing. It can play a cruel joke if you don't know how to choose it correctly. It is important to remember a few rules:

A strip or other pattern is characterized by its thickness, diameter, and the distance between them. Very thick lines can cause the opposite effect to what you wanted. Thin lines will not only help make the room taller, but if used correctly, they will visually open up the walls. Drawings that are too large can significantly reduce space.

It would seem that there are many solutions to the not so simple question of how to enlarge a room. By playing with color, texture and lighting, you can significantly increase the lack of space in the room. These techniques are especially relevant in standard city apartments and Khrushchev-era buildings. Scandinavian style, minimalism, and hi-tech are most suitable for decorating a compact apartment.

What colors increase space?

It is a well-known fact that the lighter the shade, the larger the object appears. The same technique applies to interior solutions. In order to visually increase the area of the room, it is worth using decoration in light colors: white and cold pastel shades. Furniture should also be used in a light color, but different in tone from the walls, ceiling and floor. For example, it could be a soft pastel color scheme.

The photo shows a compact kitchen in a Khrushchev building. In order to visually increase the area, the room was decorated in light colors.