How to Make the Most of Small Spaces

From studio apartments through to the box room in family homes, one problem an increasing number of us struggle with is lack of space. But we believe every space no matter how big or small can look great and function brilliantly, so we’ve asked the experts for some design tricks to make your homes feel bigger, brighter and more organised without breaking the bank.

Clever space planning

Make sure every inch of usable space is utilised. Take a look around your room and see if there are any opportunities to build in storage. In small rooms with chimney breasts use the alcoves to house smart shelving and storage solutions to keep the remaining floor space free, creating a spacious feel. How about opening up under-stair cupboards? You could transform the space it into a functional work station to really make use of those awkward nooks.

Colour choice

Pale shades will always create the illusion of more space so look to pale cool neutrals, which are receding shades and will help maximise space. White will always look spacious, but if you’re worried this will look too ‘cold’ or want something with more character, pale warm neutrals are for you – they’ll help create a cosy mood but still feel light and airy. Download the Dulux Visualizer app to help narrow down your colour options and see them in real time on your walls at the touch of a screen.

Pairing furniture and walls in a similar colour palette will also give the impression of an open and seamless looking space.

Floods of light

The easiest way to make a small space feel bigger is to let in as much light as possible, but if the space in question doesn’t have a great deal of natural light, a few clever tricks and products could help.

Dulux Light + Space uses revolutionary Lumitec technology that helps to reflect up to twice as much light around the room, making even the smallest rooms look and feel more spacious compared to conventional Dulux emulsion paints.

Alternatively, using an emulsion with a light sheen such as Dulux Vinyl Soft Sheen will help reflect light around the space too.

To top it all off, consider using a large mirror somewhere in the space, which will create the illusion of an extra window and will reflect light around the room.

Special effects

Horizontal banding does an amazing job of making a tight space feel wider. By exaggerating the width of the space this effect will trick your eyes into thinking the space is larger than it is. For rooms with low ceilings, this trick can be used with vertical lines to create the feeling of more height.