Rearrange, Revamp, Restore: How to Make Small Spaces Feel Large

When you bought your home, it may have felt quite large with just you and your spouse, but once you started filling it with a few kids, an accumulation of belongings, and perhaps a few pets, it may have started to feel like the rooms are shrinking. Some days probably feel a little claustrophobic, and it may be hard to figure out how all that stuff got there, and how to get rid of it, so your home feels like a sanctuary again.

You don’t have to sacrifice a lot of things in order to reclaim that feeling of open, comfortable spaces in your home. It might be time to get rid of a few things, and swap out some old favorites for newer versions that will fit your lifestyle and space restrictions. Here are a few ideas to help you rearrange, revamp, and restore your sense of home.

Shrink Your Furniture

If your small rooms are full of large, bulky furniture, it’s not too difficult to determine how to maximize your space. Perhaps that four-poster bed or gigantic sectional looked nice in the store, but once they came through your door, you were faced with the problem of furniture taking over your home. Sell that thing at a garage sale, or a used furniture listing site, and start over. Did you know it’s easier to clean and more motivating when your furniture fits your space? Rooms also look less cluttered even when a bit of mess accumulates, because there are more open spaces that balance out the disorganization. So, replace that big couch with a two seater sofa, reduce that king-size bed to a queen, take out that gigantic dining room table and replace it with an adjustable table to meet all your needs and give you the space to feel refreshed.

Clear the Clutter

Understandably, spaces feel fuller when there’s no open space between furniture, and all surfaces are covered with stuff. If you’ve got furniture pieces pushed up against other furniture pieces all around the room, it’s hard to stage your room in all its beauty, because the eye doesn’t know where to look. Everything just flows together. Remove unneeded furniture pieces, and pare down your decorations to just a few key pieces that reflect your sense of style and generate conversation among your guests. Stage the remaining furniture pieces by centering them on a wall and adding a few -- just a few -- accents like two or three brightly colored pillows or a throw blanket. Pare down items on shelves, showcasing a few with open space around them, and pack up the rest. If you’re unable to part with the items, pack them up in storage and swap them out later when you need a change.

Paige One enjoys writing about a variety of topics, including home makeover ideas!