A recent international survey identified Australia as the country with the largest homes in the world, measured in terms of floor space per capita. This makes sense when you think about the size of the typical project home built over the past 20 years. Most had four bedrooms and a study, a rumpus or family room, separate formal dining, outdoor patio and double garage, even though the average family was just three people.
Small Apartments Look Larger with a Few Old Tricks
Times have changed, and with that has come the rise in popularity of inner-city apartment living. Because the move to be closer to the city comes with a hefty price tag, many buyers have realised that they can no longer afford a large dwelling. While they have settled for smaller rooms, they are still looking for ways to create the illusion of space.
At Blind Concepts we can suggest an old trick for windows that will make a small window look larger and will not cost the earth. Typically, when we measure a window for a customer, we supply a blind that will fit neatly into the window recess. This defines the size of the window, immediately highlighting the boundaries of the frame.
Large Window Blinds Trick the Eye
To make the window appear larger, we can raise the height of the blind and also increase the width, so that the blind and any curtains the customer decides to hang later, sit much further outside the window frame. The mind assumes that the window behind the blinds and curtains is the same size as they are, tricking us into thinking the window is much bigger than it is. Alternatively, where the blinds are installed into the cavity or recess of the window, this creates more external space as the they are not taking up the space of the walls. This also creates the illusion of a larger room.
It’s All Done with Mirrors
As far as room sizes go, there are a number of different ways that smaller rooms can be made to appear larger. One of the easiest and most cost effective is to use mirrors to reflect light and bounce images around the walls. Either individual mirrors, or mirrors that go from floor to ceiling will create the illusion of a more spacious room.
Furniture on Legs – Who Would Have Thought?
Keep furniture light and go for pieces that are raised on legs, rather than sitting directly on the floor. The spaces underneath can then be seen, extending the eye back much further than if the pieces were solid. This can make a surprising difference to your perception of size.
Keep Floor Coverings Consistent
Use solid, continuous flooring in small spaces. Breaking up an open-plan area by having one type of flooring for one section, and something different for another will make the space look smaller. Avoid rugs or patterned carpets and research the paint colours that will add size to all your rooms.
Keep rooms uncluttered and tidy, and you will find it easy to fool the eye.