When making interior design decisions for your home, whether it’s for your personal comfort or to make it more appealing to a potential buyer, it is important to make sure you are getting the most out of your square footage. Even if your home does not have a lot of space to offer, there are plenty of strategies to help create perceived space and make your home feel more open and spacious. Here, the real estate experts at the New Home Team of Maryland walk through some of the best ways you can design the interior of your home to make it appear larger than it is.
Monochromatic Palette
Believe it or not, the color of paint that you choose and how you use that paint can have a drastic effect on how large a room feels. Using a monochromatic palette, or a palette with one color, can help add space to a room, making it feel more open.
If your space is already open, such as a room with an open floor plan, sticking to one color will help tie it all together and make the already vast space feel more cohesive.
When selecting a color, consider lighter colors like whites, grays or creams to reflect light. This goes for not only walls, but for trim and ceilings as well.
Cohesive Floors
Creating consistency in a space isn’t limited to the colors of the walls. Using one style of flooring throughout a home can make a space feel roomier and more cohesive. For example, installing one style of wood flooring that spans throughout a kitchen, family room and entryway helps tie all of these spaces together into an area that feels like one large space. Using different materials such as carpet, hardwood, and tile all in the same space causes your eye to perceive three separate rooms rather than one open area.
Light Fabrics and Furniture
Fabrics such as curtains also contribute to the perceived size of a room. In general, the same principles apply. Fabrics that are lighter in color and weight make a room feel airier and create a sense of space. In contrast, heavy, thick curtains can make a space feel closed off and claustrophobic.
The same principle can be applied to furniture. When shopping for furniture such as tables and chairs to fill out a room, consider choosing options that are less bulky, have visible space underneath and are lighter in color. All of these factors help to preserve the airier feeling that larger rooms have.
Add in Some Reflection
Strategically placed mirrors can help create the illusion of space. The key to achieving this is placement. Some of the best locations to help extend the view of a room are near doorways, at the end of hallways, or on opposite walls from windows.
Recessed Lighting and Built-Ins
In any small room, it’s important to be frugal when it comes to how you are using space. Look for space-saving ways to incorporate storage and lighting in the area. Recessed lighting replaces the clutter and cords that come with traditional floor lamps and lighting fixtures. Opting for built-ins over bookshelves and tables reduces the amount of floor space being taken up by furniture. Both of these features are becoming more and more popular among buyers, and can help to make your home more appealing.
Learn More About Real Estate Trends from the New Home Team of Maryland
In such a competitive real estate market, it is important to make sure you are doing everything you can to make your house more appealing and ultimately more valuable. From curb appeal to interior design, the real estate team at the New Home Team of Maryland is here to provide you with the insights you need to stay ahead of industry trends. To learn more about real estate and housing trends, visit our blog.