How To Spruce Up A Small Home

Living in the city does not give you the same liberty as that of living anywhere else in the country. Houses are smaller and spaces to move around seem to disappear every day.  Lots of people live in small spaces, with belongings overflowing on all sides. This leads to clutter and therefore, to chaos! We tend to forget that small can be beautiful too - what it needs is good planning and organization! Maintenance cost, and intimacy aside, smaller spaces are also financially more practical. Still, living in a small space may make you compromise on your decorating, and organize to live more efficiently.  Nevertheless, you can always maximize your square footage with these quick fix room-expanding tricks:

For the illusion of a larger room, use a color scheme that's light rather than bright or dark. Pastels, neutrals and white are all color possibilities- the room tends to look airier, and warmer, which is not possible with dark shades or cooler tones. 

At the same time, intelligent use of light coloured paint and tiles, for the ceiling and flooring respectively can widely create a freer space in your home. Usually white is the best option to ‘open up’ the space. However, maintaining a white surface is always a tad more difficult.

Besides paint options, one of the simplest room-expanding illusions is the clever use of mirrors and reflecting surfaces at home. Wall mirrors not only reflect images, but also reflect light and colour, opening out the room into a seemingly free-flowing space. If you are on a budget, and want to experiment with something kitsch, then you can always buy vintage style mirror options at the neighborhood flea market.

Correspondingly, using a glass centre table or dining table is better than using one that is made solid wood. It helps maintain the appearance of an open, airy space, free of clutter and chaos. The transparency of the glass lends visual lightness. 

Lighting, in fact, is another key element of decor, and assists in opening up a cramped-up space. Recessed spot lighting is a viable solution for small spaces, and is aesthetically appealing too. One can use such lighting elements to create focal points at home, highlighting some areas of interest, in your home.

On the other hand, all the furniture should be of a similar monochromatic colour scheme. Use a favourite colour, and work with different shades and textures for the same. Fewer colour variations help in keeping the space seem larger. However, spalshes of colour (one or more brighter hues) by way of cushions and accessories also enhances the aesthetics, without compromising on the intention of opening up a small space.

Similarly, the visual balance of a room is also very crucial. Large bright-coloured architectural elements may make the room seem devastatingly small. Monochromatic colour schemes in lighter tones go well with wall-hung cabinets and low seating. Streamlining the edges of different furniture items along the walls allows a visually less clutter-free space.

The last and cheapest way to make your home seem bigger is to go easy on the blinds and curtains we are used to putting over windows. Leaving windows uncovered tricks the eye into thinking that a home has depth. However, that is not a practical solution; some form of window treatment is often inevitable! However, many people tend to pick up heavy fabrics with ornate motifs - this is sure to make the room appear claustrophobic. Go for lighter materials and plain fabrics, with simple trimmings for an open look! Lace curtains are also great - but they do give a slightly feminine touch to the space. Opt for them if they suit the other elements of decor.

These key steps not only help you open up your home, but make you more design-conscious and enable you to make more informed decisions about your decor!