8 Small Space Hacks to Make Any Room Feel Instantly Larger

It’s no secret that designing a small space—be it an apartment, small home, or even a dorm—can be a daunting challenge. Even seasoned decorators can struggle with the hurdle of limited square footage.

But, with a few simple hacks even the smallest rooms can be completely transformed. To prove it, we’ve put together some small space hacks that will make a small room feel instantly larger, no contractor required.

1. Utilize Vertical Space

With square footage at a premium, vertical space is a great way to add some practical functionality to your room. Wall-mounted shelving maximizes storage without taking up more than its fair share of floor space. Make your wall space multitask as a place to house books, clothing, storage bins, and decorative objects – adding both function and personality to your space.

Stylist Tip: One of our favorite small space hacks for your bedroom is to try replacing your nightstand with a bookcase. This will triple your available storage without taking up any more floor space. Not to mention, replacing your nightstand means one less piece of furniture to buy!

2. Stay Organized with Hidden Storage

Clutter instantly makes any space feel claustrophobic—but the effects are especially noticeable in small rooms! Keep clutter at bay with creative storage solutions.

In small spaces, we love furniture that does double duty, like this bench with interior storage. These three-drawer nightstands also offer that extra little bit of storage that a small space needs! And we love storage baskets for good-looking storage solutions that allow us to tuck things out of sight but within reach.

3. Draw the Eye Up

One of the greatest culprits of making your small space look (and feel) smaller? Low ceilings. Luckily, there’s an easy trick for combating this optical illusion. Hang your curtains high! A good 6 inches above the top of your window frame is an easy rule of thumb.

Why does this help? Because when you hang your curtains too low, your room will look smaller and more cramped, but hanging your curtains high will create the illusion that your space is taller and will make your ceilings seem higher. Just make sure you get curtains that are long enough, so they still hit the floor when you hang them extra high!

4. Save Floor Space

You don’t want to over-stuff a small space with furniture. But on a practical level, you want to make sure you have what you need to accommodate both day-to-day living and entertaining. The last thing you want is a bunch of extra seating that you never use crowding your small space.

Instead, look for clever ways that you can tuck extra seating into your space that won’t take up too much room. Try tucking a few stools under a console, or placing a storage bench behind your floating sofa. Seating that you can pull out when you need it, and tuck away when you don’t, is a great way to make use of dead space.

5. Go for Clear Furniture

When all else fails, a good old optical illusion is a great way to make your small space seem larger. One of our favorite small space hacks, clear furniture in glass or acrylic is a great way to open up a small space.

These pieces serve their functional purpose, but they have the added benefit of not taking up visual space or adding weight to the room. It’s a small space win-win!

6. Choose Leggy Furniture

Bulky furniture that sits directly on or close to the floor adds a sense of visual weight and makes your room feel fuller. On the other hand, furniture perched on elegant, tapered legs creates more of a light and airy feeling. And the extra floor space under a couch or bed that’s perched on legs offers a place for extra storage.

Design Historian’s Note: As styles go, Mid-Century Modern furniture is a great choice for small spaces. The furniture from this movement was heavily influenced by the life in smaller, urban spaces, hence the functional and small space-friendly designs.

7. Layer Your Lighting

In a smaller space, you may be tempted to minimize your lighting so you don’t add more to an already small room. But multiple lighting sources are actually your friend in a small space. Don’t be afraid of an overhead light, wall sconces, and a few table lamps. These varied light sources create depth and make a room feel larger. It’s also a great way to soften the lighting if your space doesn’t get a lot of natural light.

8. Add Mirrors

Just like clear furniture, mirrors create an optical illusion that makes small spaces feel more open. They trick the eye into thinking there’s more space and they bounce light around, which helps create an open, bright feel.

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Note: This post was originally published on Modsy’s blog and included links/CTAs into the project funnel. All images were created using Modsy’s 3D rendering software and included links to shop all the furniture and decor pictured in the designs.