Photography: Sue Stubbs
Short of knocking down walls, we are all limited in the space we can create in our homes. How can we trick the eye to make our homes appear larger?
Sometimes we’re simply hemmed in by the architecture of our home and the way we live within its walls.
Along with cutting the clutter to keep visual lines uninterrupted, choosing wall colours that are lighter in colour however goes a long way towards expanding your room visually and making your spaces feel less cramped.
White is often the go-to shade when it comes to creating the illusion of more space. But there are other colours you should consider … (Photography: Louise Roche / Styling: Kylie Jackes)
“Light and bright colours make a space more reflective, maximizing any natural light in the room, while bright colors also have the ability to create the illusion of a larger space,” interior designer Abbe Fenimore of Studio Ten 25 told Well+Good. “When using light and bright hues, paint trim and doors a fresh bright white to keep the walls from closing in visually, which keeps the room feeling larger.”
Of course, painting a room is the quickest and most economical of effecting a complete makeover – all you need are the tips and tricks to getting it right. Consider these colours to instantly make your room appear larger:
1. Grey
Warmer greys with a transition into ‘greige’ continue to feature in interior spaces and keep spaces light and bright without the cool sensation of more traditional greys. This small bathroom takes tiling right to the ceiling, drawing the eye upwards to make maximum use of the space.
A deep shade of grey gives this bedroom in a home on Sydney’s North Shore a sense of grandeur. (Photography: Sue Stubbs)
2. Aqua
As calming as the sea, aqua is the perfect colour to recede into the background like waves, without dominating the space. Paired with light colour timbers and natural textures in soft furnishings, add the occasional highlights of bolder colours, natural glass or metallics with the addition of objects, a cushion or lamp.
Group objects together of differing textures and materials to play on shades of your chosen hue.
3. Soft pink
Adding touches of pink gives warmth, without coming on too strong. If you’re feeling bold, try colour drenching to envelope a space in colour or, rather than painting a whole wall or room, simply highlight architectural features, which add interest and hero fine details.
4. Black and white
Black and white is a chic look in any style of interior – from crisp modern to classical period architecture dominated spaces. Adding details and accessories black lends a contemporary edge and punctuates a room with style, rather than it closing in. Use matte black for patina, high gloss, glass or ceramic for a bit of glam.
A high contrast palette of black and white has been used to create depth in this newly built Sydney home. (Photography: Nat Spadavecchia / Styling: Fiona Gould)
