Ingenious interior buys to make your space appear larger than it is
Feeling cramped in small square footage? We’ve found the best home hacks that’ll lend the illusion of space whatever the size of your abode.
Go Big or Go Home
You may be tempted to pick out micro-sized furniture pieces but we recommend purchasing one oversized statement item to act as a focal point for your room.
In living rooms, buy the biggest sofa you can fit in and cut back on odd-end tables. To further make a place look more open, hunt for sofas with exposed legs. The same applies to bedroom furniture – you can then slide straw or metal baskets underneath to act as extra clothes storage boxes.
Metal storage basket, AED85, H&M Home, at Mall of the Emirates
Bring the Outdoors In
Aside from being one of the easiest ways to fill negative space in a room, fresh greenery can add depth and airiness to your home.
Look for house plants or trees with slim trunks so not to obstruct a window’s views or block off corners. If you’re not blessed with a green thumb, opt for realistic faux versions of your favourite plants instead.
Faux jade plant in a pot, AED229, Crate & Barrel, visit Mall of the Emirates
Designer tip: Don’t be afraid to invest in large-scale paintings or photography pieces. While we love a curated gallery wall of smaller pieces, hanging oversized artworks stops a room from feeling too cluttered.
Let There Be Light
Hang a huge mirror opposite a window or in a dark corner to bounce light and make your living room appear more spacious.
Gold sun mirror, AED349, Zara Home, visit Mall of the Emirates
Designer tip: Always hang curtains from the floor right up to your ceiling to make pokey frames look bigger than they are. Go for the same colour as your walls, which we recommend keeping bright and white or very dark for depth.