How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger
Published How we research
A small room can feel open or cramped depending on how you handle light, layout, and clutter. None of the tricks that work require knocking down walls or spending a fortune. Here is how to make a small room read as bigger than it is.
Products from this article
The highest-scoring picks from the buying guides this article links to. Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings.
+ Eight panels span up to 126 inches, wide enough to wall off a sleeping area in a studio
From our guide: Best Freestanding Room Dividers for Studio Apartments
+ Top lifts up to become a desk or dining surface, ideal for working or eating on a sofa
From our guide: Best Space-Saving Furniture for Studio Apartments
+ Solid wood panels give full visual privacy, unlike woven or slatted screens
From our guide: Best Freestanding Room Dividers for Studio Apartments
+ Two tables stack into one footprint and pull apart when guests come over
From our guide: Best Space-Saving Furniture for Studio Apartments
Let light do the work
Bright, even light makes a room feel larger, while harsh shadows shrink it. Use light, breathable window treatments during the day and save blackout panels for sleep. Hanging curtains higher and wider than the window also tricks the eye into seeing a taller, larger wall.
Create zones without walls
In a studio, a single open box feels smaller than a space with defined areas. A freestanding divider or an open shelving screen separates sleep from living and gives the eye a sense of distinct rooms, while still letting light pass through.
Keep furniture low and legged
Low-profile furniture leaves more visible wall above it, which reads as more space. Pieces with visible legs let light and floor show underneath, so the room feels airier than it would with bulky, floor-hugging items.
Cut visible clutter
Clutter is the fastest way to make any room feel small. Get everyday items off surfaces and into closed storage, and keep floors as clear as possible. A robot vacuum that lives under furniture helps the floor stay open and clean.
Popular right now
- Best Air Purifiers for Small ApartmentsBuying guide
- Best Stackable Storage Bins for ClosetsBuying guide
- Best Quiet Fans for Small BedroomsBuying guide
- Best Compact Ironing Boards for Small ApartmentsBuying guide
- Best Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper for RentersBuying guide
- Best Peel-and-Stick Backsplash for RentersBuying guide
Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.