Your home should be a comfy, familiar space where you can relax after a long day. However, you also utilize that space for a productive daily routine. In small accommodations, things can feel pretty cramped.
If you need more space, some folks might tell you to move to a larger home. When you’re in a prime location like Pittsburgh, though, such planning doesn’t make sense. Instead of moving, why not try some tips to make your home feel and look more spacious?
Recent trends show Pittsburgh as a popular destination, with most residents looking to stay put. From May to July 2023, 79 percent of homebuyers in Pittsburgh were looking to stay inside its metropolitan area. This isn’t surprising, since this city’s housing cost is 7 percent lower than the national average.
With the median home price for Pittsburgh properties steadily increasing, it makes sense to fully utilize your current space. Not sure how to make your small space work? Here are some tips:
1. Change the windows
The windows in our homes serve at least two purposes: letting in fresh air and natural light. For privacy, they also need covering most of the time. The size, shape, and trim color of the windows can change the look of your place.
· A larger size
Tall, large windows let in more light and make a space feel larger. Look up the best replacement window company in Pittsburgh and see what changes you can make. Larger windows will also give you better views of the outside.
· Matching window treatments
The current window treatment might make your space look smaller and feel more cramped. Try keeping them the same color as your walls. It creates a seamless integration that provides an illusion of more space.
· Hanging the curtains high
Try to mount curtain tracks or rods as high as possible. Some folks might even put them on the ceiling instead of the walls. This way, the curtains or drapes fall further, creating a lovely look that feels more spacious.
2. Add mirrors
Use well-placed mirrors to reflect the light in your rooms. Some people might go for whole walls covered in mirrors. If you don’t want to commit, go for a few oversized mirrors. Hang them on the wall to create a similar effect. Of course, you have to make sure that they’re steady and in a safe place. The blob mirror is an interesting design choice; you may want to see how it looks in your home.
The location of the mirrors is an important point to consider. Consider the following:
- Put the mirror opposite a natural light source, like a window or door
- Go for groups of small mirrors or one large mirror for more impact
- The mirrors should be at eye level or a little higher to reflect more light
- Hang the mirror as the focal point of a room, where it catches the eye and creates depth
You can use mirrors in narrow spaces like hallways, on furniture, and even the ceiling! Try mirrored tiles in your kitchen or bathroom and see how they enhance the look of these rooms.
3. Go for one flooring style
Multiple types of flooring laid out might look nice, but they can make the rooms look and feel smaller. Instead, to make your home look and feel spacious, go for one flooring type that flows from one spot to the next. It will provide an uninterrupted look, giving you the feeling that all the rooms are in a single large space.
It might also help to choose the design based on the material of the floors. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- For timber floors, select wide boards
- For tiled floors, go for a large-format diagonal design to minimize the grout lines and add a sense of movement
- Select lighter wood shades for visual expansion
- Minimize the contrast to the wall colors
- Avoid any patterns at the edges; these can make the space look busies
- For carpets, use neural and light shades with minimal or no pattern
- For concrete floors, opt for light shades, a polished finish, and simple patterns (if any)
- Consider round rugs or smaller rectangular rugs to connect furniture pieces
4. Pale colors for the walls
Pale shades can make your room brighter, bigger, and less stuffy. You can stick to white or use some color to brighten the space. These will enhance the natural light in the room and reflect it to every corner.
· Low contrast
Ensure there’s a low contrast in the colors of various surfaces. The walls should be similar to the floor color. Opt for a slightly lighter hue for the window trims, door trims, skirtings, and so on. Keep the same tonal family to make the area feel more balanced and harmonized.
· Repaint the rooms
If your current walls don’t have the right paint shades, a DIY painting session is a cost-effective solution. Get permission for this if you live in a rental space. This shouldn’t be a problem if you’re using different shades of white. Try to keep two or three white shades in one place. The lightest shade should go on the ceiling, but keep the base and crown moldings the same color.
· A glossy finish
A high-gloss finish on the doors, baseboards, and trims can add depth to your rooms. The effect will bounce and reflect light into the space, making it seem bigger. Try using a pearlescent or metallic finish paint shade to achieve such finishes. When you’re done, the room will look brighter and more interesting, but don’t forget to test pain swatches first!
Conclusion
There are ample design choices that can make your home look and feel spacious more than ever before. Keep your preferences and the layout of your rooms in mind. What works for a friend’s home may not necessarily work for yours, so experiment with different looks. Most importantly, avoid major permanent changes without testing them out first. Once you follow some of the points above, your spaces will be less cramped and more welcoming for everyone.
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