As much as it is charming to live in a home on the smaller side, we all know that it comes with its own set of challenges. A small home can be cozy and peaceful because it’s a relatively fuss-free abode, but having to fit all of your furniture into a limited space may make you feel claustrophobic and restricted. To avoid this, there are steps you can take to maximize your space without splurging on renovations. Here are our top tips on how to make your home look and feel more spacious than it actually is.

1. Choose furniture proportional to the size of the room. 

Interior decoration is all about paying attention to proportions. Whether you’re decorating your living room or bedroom, make sure that any piece of furniture is not touching the wall or ceiling. If it is, it’s already too large and will make any room seem cramped. To create the illusion of more room, make sure to choose pieces of furniture that leave more space between them and your walls.

2. Show some legs.

Furniture legs, that is. Creating a sense of openness and free movement of air around furniture makes for a roomier appearance, so choose tables and chairs that are leggy and appear light enough to “float.”

3. Keep things low to the ground.

Furniture that is lower and closer to the ground will give the appearance of more room because it leaves a little more space above it. For example, a mattress without a bed frame placed directly on the floor will achieve a minimalist look and make the bedroom seem bigger.

4. Hang a mirror (or two!) on the walls.

A full-length mirror is extremely helpful for expanding a room since it reflects light and the room itself, so place a mirror on an accent wall to create the illusion of a bigger space.

5. Avoid rugs and curtains.

Curtains and rugs add things that distract the eye in a room, making it look and feel small and cramped. Curtains also close off the room from the view outside even when they don’t cover the entire window. Light mesh shutters or cloth blinds offer a great alternative to curtains and will not subtract from the space in the room.

6. Play up the vertical and horizontal lines in a room.

Emphasize the vertical lines in a room by placing things like a floor lamp, a bare hanging bulb, or a tall shelf. This will make any room seem higher and more spacious. In the same vein, enhancing the horizontal lines with horizontal shiplap or horizontal wallpaper patterns will create the illusion of more movement.

7. Paint your walls white.

Aside from making a room look bright and airy, white blanks out the room and emphasizes the structure of your home. This is perfect for rooms that are way too easy to become cluttered. However, if you feel that an all-white interior is too much for you, you can add warm accent colors and elements, such as wood and wool.