Many of us have a room in our home that is smaller than we’d like it to be. Unless we knock down walls and take on a larger renovation, we just have to live with it. That’s okay. Sometimes the best things come in small packages – it might just mean you have to reevaluate its use and/or rethink the way in which you will decorate it. Here are a handful of strategic home staging tips to maximize a tiny space when looking to sell.
Sarah Baeumler has an eye for all things design. She has starred in Home to Win, Bryan Inc. and Island of Bryan alongside Bryan.
Published October 22, 2018, Updated October 17, 2021
Furniture That’s to Scale
People often attempt to fit oversized furniture into a small space. This will only make your small room look even smaller. Invest in furniture that fits the size of the space you have, as we showed in this cozy Island of Bryan living room (here’s a handy furniture price breakdown).
Related: How to Brighten up Your Home When It’s Getting Darker Outside
Less is More
Just as you typically shouldn’t add large furniture to small spaces, it is also important not to fill a tiny room with too many items. Keep furniture and decor to a minimum. These 10 design mistakes are making your home look cluttered.
More Mirrors
Creating a sense of spaciousness is often a matter of creating light where there isn’t much. Mirrors are an excellent way to bounce light around and visually expand your living space.
Befriend Solids, Not Patterns
Patterns can make a space look busy and result in a cramped feel. Instead, opt for solid shades that will lend a sense of spaciousness. Here are 10 painting secrets to help sell your home.
Create Height
Creating space isn’t just about square footage – height can add to a room’s sense of size as well. One trick is to hang drapery right up to the ceiling, which will naturally draw the eye upward and make the room feel taller, as Samantha Pynn and Sebastian Clovis show with floor-to-ceiling window treatments in this Family Home Overhaul bedroom.
Use Pot Lights and Sconces
When possible, avoid using floor or table lamps in small spaces as they take up space. Pot lights and sconces are the best way to increase the amount of floor space you have for the essential items, as Brian McCourt and Sarah Keenleyside show with this compact Backyard Builds space. Check out these 8 cool lighting trends that will transform any room.
Glass or Lucite Furniture/Accessories
Using translucent materials is a great way to add light to a small space. Introducing mirrors or lucite furniture pieces to a room is a simple and effective way to do this. For more inspiration, here are 12 ultra-chic acrylic pieces you’ll love.
A Neutral Colour Scheme
Keep any colour scheme neutral. Bold colours in small spaces can create a sense of cosiness, but it won’t necessarily make your room feel more spacious.
Related: 15 Grey Living Room Ideas That Are Anything But Dull
Use Light Woods or Stones
If you want to add natural materials to your small space, use lighter woods and stone. Again, this will lend a sense of airiness and therefore an impression of more space.
Acrylic Art
Adding art to a small space is a good idea, but you don’t want it to engulf the room. By using acrylic art you can add large pieces without it feeling oversized (as Samantha Pynn and Sebastian Clovis show in this Save My Reno basement). Acrylic art often has a sheen to it, so it will also reflect light.
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