No matter if it’s your dorm room, your first apartment, an unused spare room, or a guest room, many of us have experienced the frustrations of a smaller space at some point in our lives.
A compact room can sometimes frame a sense of disorganisation and chaos, especially if it’s a shared accommodation or a high-traffic zone such as an open-plan studio flat.
So, if you’re pressed for storage space or have an awkwardly shaped room, don’t panic. It’s 100% fixable. That’s right, you can totally be living large in a small space!
Image: KARA - White 1-Drawer Desk from Maisons du Monde
Here is a list of ten ways to make your small room appear bigger:
1. More Visible Floor Space
Having visible floors will instantly create a larger space. Get started with decluttering your floors, as that will always make a room feel more spacious.
Glass tables are a perfect furniture option for your living room, as sunlight will be filtered through to the floor generating a spacey appearance.
2. Hang Your Curtains Higher
Did you know that by hanging your curtain rod higher it creates the illusion of a taller window and a larger room? Sheer materials like voile give your room an airy feel and allow more light to flow throughout the room. A rule of thumb is to ensure your curtain sits 4-6 inches above the window frame.
3. Create a Window Seat
Windows are a great way to escalate your space and create a panoramic vision of your room. Adding a stool or bench by your window area allows you to take in the view outside, in addition to creating a nook inside. Why not save even more space by placing an ottoman underneath your window - you will still have a window seat, plus a new place to store your go-to items such as shoes and blankets.
Go green - Upholstered in soft green velvet, this storage bench will breathe new life into your bedroom and keep it tidy, too. The best bit? That pocket-friendly price.
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- Green
- Velvet, Wood
- Wood
- H 45 x W 110 x D 39 (cm)
Unavailable
from Made.com
Check out our box of tricks. Squirrel away blankets, books and board games in the Habitat Pandora Ottoman. Its vented lid detailing and grey velvet upholstery gives it a glam finish. Park it under a window or at the foot of the bed. Pandora makes quite the textural treat. Is it time for a Spring...
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- Grey
- Fabric, Velvet
- Single Colour
- H 45 x W 120 x D 46 (cm)
Statement storage - Abel's for those who make statements – even in their storage solutions. We love the vibrant botanical print, rounded, padded shape and slim brass legs – this is a combination dreams are MADE of. Hiding all your clutter never looked so good. Weight: 14.5kg. Leg...
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- Multi-Coloured
- Fabric
- H 46 x W 111 x D 41 (cm)
Unavailable
from Made.com
Flip-top ottoman with generous internal storage. Traditional deep-buttoned upholstery. Gas lift stay arms. Black lined interior. Black stained Ash frame. Ideal for storing bedlinen, throws and cushions. Delivered assembled.
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- Beige
- Fabric, Wood
- Single Colour
- H 50 x W 140 x D 45 (cm)
£259.99
from My Furniture
4. Go Magnetic
What do you do when you don’t have much counter space, but you do have wall space? Use magnets. Apply a self-adhesive magnetic caddy to the tiles in your bathroom to deposit your everyday cosmetic items. You could install a magnetic strip to a wall in your kitchen or a magnetic block stand to store your knife set. Or go a step further and use magnetic paint or wallpaper in your small office to hang all your notes. Don’t you just love science?
5. Invest in a Sofa Bed
Need to lounge and sleep? Sofa beds are a perfect option for you to maximise your compact space. In the past sofa beds have been known for their uncomfortable springy and lumpy reputation. However, nowadays there is a wide range of smartly designed plush sofa beds to help serve for both relaxation and practicality.
Let it all go with Lars. This sofa bed has a gorgeously thick seat cushion and backrest, making it a super lounge-worthy sofa turned sleepspace. SCANDI STYLE - Clean, minimal, relaxed. Lars boasts all we love about Scandinavian design. Available in a range of colours – it’s a sofa bed...
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- Grey
- Fabric
- 3 Seater
- H 82 x W 211 x D 85 (cm)
Unavailable
from Made.com
The Kota orange fabric 3 seater sofa bed is designed for comfort with a sumptuous mattress, yet its compact proportions make it ideal for the space-challenged. This versatile sofa bed features a click-clack mechanism that allows the back to flip all the way down, transforming a 3 seater sofa to a...
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- Orange
- Fabric
- 3 Seater
- H 90 x W 189 x D 102 (cm)
Now: £420.00
Was: £525.00
from Argos
A stylish sofa bed which can be effortlessly transformed in seconds - ideal for guests and occasional use. Folds out to the equivalent size of a single bed. Ideal for use in family rooms and studies. Soft and practical velvet fabric. Deep padded upholstery with distinctive fluted quilting. Sleek...
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- Grey, Silver
- Fabric
- H 86 x W 183 x D 100 (cm)
£359.99
from My Furniture
Retro leanings - The angled wooden legs and buttoned details on the back rest give this sofa bed a real retro feel. But in moss green velvet, it's on-trend too.
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- Green
- Velvet
- 3 Seater
- H 82 x W 210 x D 110 (cm)
Unavailable
from Made.com
6. Storage on Wheels
Wheeled storage is the way to go when you have limited space in your home. You can use an open-wheeled cart for almost anything and in any room, from creating a drinks trolley in the kitchen, storing goods in the pantry, creating a station for your office essentials, to a moveable bedside table - your options are limitless.
Fashion fresh fruit cocktails atop this tropical bamboo trolley, crafted from iron and bamboo and conveniently transportable so you can enjoy delicious drinks in every room of the house or in the garden. Made of bamboo and iron. Includes two tiers. Height between shelves: 44cm. Due to the handmade...
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- Natural
- H 85 x W 76 x D 41 (cm)
Unavailable
from Graham and Green
Time for a drink, old sport? With this drinks trolley from A by Amara you'll always have a tempting tipple close to hand. With a shining metal frame, it has three tiers each topped with black mirrored glass. With more than enough space for sprits and glassware on the lower shelves, the top can be...
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- Black, Silver
- Metal
- H 82.5 x W 67 x D 36 (cm)
Now: £257.00
Was: £368.00
from Amara
Modern bar trolley with rich gold finish and clear glass. Easy to move and 2 wheels does have lock to make the table stable hence making its use hassle free so that you can enjoy your drinks and occasions. Two levels of storage will hold ample amount of bottles and other bar accessories. Kitchen...
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- Gold
- Metal
- Art Deco
- H 75 x W 40.5 x D 66 (cm)
This two-tier anodised aluminium trolley has two removable, hand finished Kaymet pressed trays. Trolley frame and trays are brushed, formed and hand finished before anodising. The Kaymet logo is labelled on the tray undersides. Featuring a classic design, this tray is manufactured by Kaymet in...
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- Silver
- Metal
- H 65 x W 53.5 x D 35.5 (cm)
Unavailable
from John Lewis
7. Statement Art
Not only does a statement art piece create conversation, but it also draws attention away from the size of your room. Position your art on a large surface area, such as above your bed or on top of your mantelpiece, as this allows it to be viewed and appreciated on a much larger scale.
Art that pops - The ideal finishing touch to any minimalist home? 'High Contrast' features abstract painted shapes, in – you guessed it – a contrasting monochrome scheme. It's a dream above your crisp linen sheets, or to add dimension to a laid-back living room.
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- Black & White
- Minimalist
- H 59 x W 42 x D 2 (cm)
Unavailable
from Made.com
Bold and colourful, 'Blue Abstract' by artist Helena Izett. Made in the UK and ready to hang on your wall, this canvas wrap print is housed in a deep painted wood-effect frame, creating an elegant shadow gap around the picture. Having studied Fine Art at Central Saint Martins college and History of...
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- Blue
- H 94 x W 64 x D 3 (cm)
Unavailable
from John Lewis
An elaborate composition featuring a colourful water lily, growing on the banks of the Nile. A vivacious blue lily flower takes centre stage, with a detailed backdrop showing the winding river Nile bordered by tall palm trees and a view of Aboukir in the distance. Includes black metal frame.
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- H 73 x W 52 x D 2 (cm)
£120.00
from Graham and Green
Flower boat art medium. Materials: Linen, spruce wood. Dimensions: h100cm: w80cm: d3.5cm.
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- Pink
- H 100 x W 80 x D 3.5 (cm)
8. Mirrors
It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book. Mirrors are a convenient way to make any room appear larger. Strategically place a large mirror in your hallway to give the illusion of a grand foyer. You could also add a full-length mirror in your bedroom to check out your outfits as well as add depth to the room.
9. Picture Ledges
Picture ledges are an affordable and clever way to display your favourite photographs and prints, in addition to displaying your most loved keepsakes, accessories, scents and ornaments. Remember to keep a balance between horizontal and vertical items to give the appearance of a fuller display.
10. Ladder Shelving
A ladder shelf is not just an interiors trend, but it’s a practical space-saving hack too. Store anything from your go-to spices in the kitchen to displaying your latest books in the lounge area. Use a ladder shelf unit to house your new plants in the conservatory or even to store your most used products in the bathroom.
By Keleisha Simpson – Interiors Writer, BA (Hons) Interior Design