Are you wondering how to make a small room look bigger? If so, then I’ve got good news!
Today we’re going to actually talk about how to make a small room look bigger and how you can create the illusion of extra space using a technique I like to call the top-to-bottom strategy.
Whether you live in a studio, dorm, or small home, every inch of space counts. So it is my goal to introduce you to three simple levels that may help you overcome small space trials that you may be facing.
The most beneficial part of this idea is that it can be customized to your preference.
It is a simple 3-step procedure that will help you reevaluate your thought process. Each level can be used to help you learn how to conserve more space by simply weighing any item you want or own against the top-to-bottom strategy.
So let’s get started.
The 3 levels of the top-to-bottom strategy are…
When you incorporate this idea, you’ll notice with each level you move from top to bottom (from the ceiling to the floor). You may also want to note that each level moves from (only) taking up air space to taking up air and walking space.
The further up your item is positioned the freer your walking zone will be and the more space you will have in your home.
You’ll notice that the highest level is level three, which is the ceiling.
The Nuts and Bolts of How it Works
When you had ideas in the past you may have encountered furnishing your home using these three levels but perhaps it didn’t occur to you to judge all items in this way. If so, the reason for this is easy to understand.
The typical way of purchasing items are:
Who really thinks too much about it past that, right? The truth is most people don’t, because it’s easy to overlook—that is unless your home dictates what you purchase a bit more than usual.
In which case most small homes do.
So in light of that, today I’d like to help you see a little bit beyond the usual purchasing circumstances by offering you some pointers that you can keep in mind for future purchases.
From this day forward when you recognize that you want something you’ll look a little closer under the microscope.
And once you’ve learned how to do this it’ll be a heck of a lot easier to understand how to make a small room look bigger. And you’ll be an old pro before you know it.
So let’s start with an example that you can use to understand the nuts and bolts of how it works.
Take a television for example. Let’s use the top-to-bottom strategy to learn about level one.
How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger
Using Level One ==> Floor Space
Chances are good that you have a television in your home but for the sake of example let’s say you’re interested in purchasing a new television for your home. Your home is somewhat small so you’re looking for the most space efficient way to display it.
Right now you may be considering that your only option is the usual TV because it’s within your price range, but that still doesn’t take care of how you want to display it.
You’re looking for several options. You find what you’re looking for and within those options you want a TV stand that appears to give your home a little more space. That presents you with the following choices.
You can go with the…
- TV/Entertainment Stand [?]
The bulkiest option in appearance. Although it doesn’t technically take up much more space than your other two options, visually it could make a significant enough difference in your home, especially in small homes. - Ceiling Mounted TV Pole [?]
This option most likely will not save you any more space than your basic TV/Entertainment stand. However, it could offer a slight advantage visually when it comes to making a small room look larger. - Pedestal TV Stand [?]
It may save a bit more space. However, most likely not much more than the other two options. But what may make this choice more appealing is that visually it looks a bit more space conservative than the other two options.
When faced with choices like this, ultimately, in the end you may realize it is a choice between how much money you want to spend versus how much space you want to save.
With the examples above, it is a specific scenario in which it’s not how much space you really save but how much space you "appear" to save. To cut to the chase, it’s all about creating visual illusion more than anything else.
With many level one items you will find that this will be the case. You’ll have plenty of opportunities in which you consider items that actually save your home real space just as often as you’ll deal with items that will offer you the advantages of putting up "appearances."
And in the end the illusion of more space is just as vital as the ability to actually save space.
And say you were faced with this choice. What would be the choice to make? Well, really it’s up to you, but I can speak for myself.
If I was personally faced with this choice, the first thing I would do was weigh my needs against my wants.
Truthfully, the entertainment stand looks bulkier but overall would it help me store items that would otherwise be difficult to store elsewhere? If so, then maybe it would be a better choice.
However, is it possible that I could get away with a more slender looking choice like the pedestal stand and store my other items elsewhere? If so, then the pedestal stand would be what I decided to go with.
Overall, my first choice would be the pedestal TV stand and my second choice would be the TV/entertainment stand.
I would purchase the TV pedestal stand only if my needs didn’t require otherwise and only if I could find the pedestal stand within a comfortable price range. If not, I would go with the most space conservative entertainment stand I could find and cross the pedestal stand off of my list.
You may be wondering why I never even considered the ceiling mounted TV pole. Well, it was personal preference really. I would rule out the ceiling mounted TV pole simply because I wouldn’t enjoy the look of a pole extending from my ceiling to my floor. I would consider it a major eye sore and it would annoy me.
So now that you understand the type of options you may be faced with using level one, like the example above, you’ll also want to select the most comfortable choice for you. One that will do the job and be cost effective in the process.
The truth is that some items may save you space in your home but they will not always be the most suitable item for you due to your specific needs, wants, and spending capabilities.
Now that we’ve talked about level one, let’s move on to level two using the same example.
How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger
Using Level Two ==> Wall Space
These days with LCDs, plasma TVs and wall mounts, a home can easily be furnished with a television using level two. So in the case of level two, say you were interested in applying some space saving techniques to your home.
You’re interested in level two because it saves you floor space and that means a lot in your small home.
In this case, your options are very similar to level one but also quite different.
The three options you’d be faced with would be…
As you may now be aware, creating a home that saves space is about illusion just as much as it is about reality. Not all things that appear to save your home more space actually do, but as I said above it’s all about keeping up appearances. With space, illusion is just as important as reality.
Level two is no different than level one in the sense that you’ll have to make a balanced choice by factoring in financial costs versus the illusion or reality of space saved.
If I was personally faced with these choices it would be a comparison against a basic television and an LCD. Chances are if you have a small home, a plasma TV would never be an option. Unless for some reason you’re the exception to the rule. But most people who live in small homes wouldn’t buy a huge plasma TV for their wall.
It wouldn’t make much sense.
Because if you could buy a huge plasma TV, chances are you could buy or rent a much bigger home.
But let’s say I was in this situation and had to make a choice. Between the basic TV and the LCD there would be no competition.
The basic TV would win hands down if I was on a budget.
However, I would upgrade to an LCD when finances permitted. Since LCDs are capable of using less energy (ranging from up to one half the amount of CRT TVs) so the money spent on the LCD TV would return to me over time with a lower bill.
How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger
Using Level Three ==> Ceiling Space
Using the same example. Say you wanted a new TV and you wanted to consider level three. You have three options with level three.
However, these options aren’t much different than level two. So, chances are level two may be your preferred choice in the end. But let’s go through the motion anyway.
The three options that you’ll have at your disposal are…
The same answer stands here as well. If I had to make a choice between the three options I would likely choose a basic television if I was on a budget and then later choose an LCD TV when I had more money.
My choice was once different but now I know that LCD TVs use up less energy and the costs I’d put into one would be given back to me each month with a lower energy bill.
All in all, the truth is that you always have the ceiling as a space option but chances are the ceiling will be the least ideal choice. Simply because the ceiling is not applicable for most home furnishing. Also, the wall will oftentimes offer the same advantages and require a lot less work.
Also the ceiling will likely be the least visually appetizing choice.
Level three is an option that requires the judgment of good taste and careful consideration for rare and unusual circumstances. But the good thing is that you know it is there if you need it.
Judge all Things Equally
As you may have noticed, the television was just one example, but if you begin to judge all things against the top-to-bottom strategy you’ll find it can help you save a lot of space in your home.
What I found most helpful when using this method was not assuming that I knew all of the options right off.
There are too many advances in today’s society to assume I’m on top of most choices that are out there. So, often enough I spend time looking for items on the internet that fit each level of decorating.
Sometimes I find new items to consider and sometimes I don’t, but many times it ends in good results and it’s well worth the effort invested.
Using the strategy has helped me save a considerable amount of (visual and walking) space in my home. It has also helped me get creative and have a lot of fun in the process.
The beauty of it is that, like me, all you have to do is remember that it’s there for you whenever you want to buy something new. But the good news is that that’s what Furniture for Small Spaces is here for.
You don’t have to go searching the internet for all of those space saving items. They’re right here at your disposal which will save you a lot of time.
All you have to do is simply keep an open mind. Remember that just because an item saves you the most space doesn’t mean it’s the best item to have in your home.
But even that’ll be an easy task for you. All furnishings on this site are compared against the top-to-bottom strategy and the only thing left for you to do is pick the choice that’s best for you.
Simply weigh the pros and cons and keep these things in mind…
…and you’ll be ahead of the game.
Once you’ve got that down, you’ll be able to make a confident buying choice in terms of space and finance.
source: furniture-for-small-spaces.com
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