Sarah Baeumler’s 10 Staging Tricks That Will Make a Tiny Room Look Bigger

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Related: How to Pick Art for Every Room in Your Home