How To Make Small Spaces Bigger (Without Extending...)

Lose the Walls (above)

Do you need so many walls? That is to say, open plan layouts usually work better than lots of poky, separate rooms in smaller homes. Opening rooms up to one another is a fantastic way of allowing light to flow between rooms, brightening up otherwise dark areas of the home — and can make living in small spaces feel less claustrophobic. Although stud walls are the easiest to remove, it is still possible to take out solid walls providing the necessary structural supports are built in. Another point to consider when opening up spaces – particularly where kitchens are involved – is that fewer doors and walls mean fewer places to hide away mess, so if you err on the side of untidiness, build in ways of concealing clutter, such as half-height room dividers.

Be Clever with Flooring

There are a couple of rules to follow when choosing flooring to maximise the feeling of space. The first of these is to use the same flooring through several areas of the home in order to create a sense of continuity. Be it wooden floors, natural options such as jute and coir, stone tiles or carpet, keeping the flow going through rooms is a great way of conjuring up a sense of space. Secondly, laying long, narrow styles of flooring, such as rectangular floor tiles or wooden boards, through short spaces will make them seem longer, whilst laying them horizontally will make narrow rooms feel wider.

Avoid Radiators

Radiators may be an affordable heating option, but in the case of small spaces, they can get in the way. Underfloor heating (UFH) is the most obvious alternative, taking up no wall space at all and leaving you free to position furniture wherever you wish. On the downside, UFH costs more than standard pressed steel radiators — as a guide, 15 radiators in a detached house would cost about £2,000, whereas the UFH equivalent would be between £3,000 and £4,000. Look at some of the other alternatives, too, such as skirting radiators (try DiscreteHeat: 0845 123 8367), or contemporary ‘sculpture’ radiators: Bisque (020 7328 2225) and Feature Radiators (01274 567789) offer a good selection.

Colour Matters

Colours play a huge role in how spacious a room feels. In general it is best to stick to neutral shades, such as whites, creams, taupes and greys. However, if you want to be a bit bolder, confine strong colours to just one or two walls, keeping the ceiling pure white. Avoid using unique colours for each room, too, as it can be hard to create flow between spaces if each is painted its own colour. Using unifying colours through hallways and landings is a particularly good idea in tight spaces.

Make the Most of Natural Light

Whatever size your windows are, there are easy ways of coaxing more natural light into gloomy, small rooms. Firstly, in a compact space, keep the windows and cills free of any clutter. Choose blinds and shutters over curtains, and in rooms where privacy is an issue throughout the day, consider sandblasted glass as opposed to nets or voile. A cost-effective alternative to sandblasted glass is window film which you order made to measure and then apply yourself.

Use reflective materials in dark rooms, too, in order to bounce what light there is around the room. High-level windows and rooflights bring really good-quality light into rooms. They are also a good alternative to standard windows in built-up areas where the overlooking of neighbours is an issue under planning.

Space From Nowhere

There are lots of areas of the home that are often overlooked when looking for extra space. Alcoves either side of chimney breasts, for example, provide useful additional floorspace. Rather than viewing them as only good for fitted storage units, consider their potential for desk space, a nook in which to site a cosy armchair — or just leave them empty, hung with a picture, in order to increase the sense of open space. Redundant fireplaces also make for useful extra storage space. Even if you don’t want a working fire, knocking out a blocked-up fireplace will provide a place for books, a toy basket, newspapers etc.

If there is no space for wall shelving, look up. Shelves above doorways not only look great, but they also draw the eye up to focus on higher ceilings. Don’t forget your landing either — ‘living landings’ are increasingly recognised as the ideal way of gaining more space, providing the perfect spot for a home office or play area. In addition, there are some very nifty storage products out there, including stairs with pull-out drawers and ‘under-bath’ storage.

Think Vertically

If you are lucky enough to have high ceilings in your house, then be sure to use them. Small rooms with high ceilings offer the opportunity for platform or gallery beds – think a grownup version of the bunk bed – whereby the bed is raised onto a gallery spanning around half the area of the room, accessed by a ladder. The space beneath can be used either for storage or kept open.

If you have enough ceiling height to allow you to stand upright in a gallery area, there is no reason why it has to be a bedroom you put up there. Mezzanines can be created to house living rooms, dining areas above kitchens (SHOWN BELOW), home offices above bedrooms or even kitchens. You ideally want an original ceiling height of at least 4.5m – preferably 5m – if you plan on adding a full-height mezzanine.

Use Light Cleverly

Your lighting should consider the spaces you are working with. In narrow spaces such as landings and hallways, always keep lighting soft and avoid anything that sheds a harsh light. Using side-lights and wall-washers will blur the boundaries of the room, making the space feel less restrictive. If you have high ceilings, then take the opportunity to fit a talkingpoint chandelier that will draw the eye upwards. Use down lighters to highlight ‘extra’ areas of space, such as any alcoves or niches, and make use of mirrors.

Further reading:

• Is It Worthwhile Hiring a Lighting Designer?
• A Guide to Internal Finishes
• How to Make Contemporary Cosy