When it comes to making a small space look bigger, you’d be forgiven for assuming that using smaller furniture pieces is the key.

But you’d be wrong. Okay, you don’t want super-sized furniture, but surprisingly enough, using a few bigger furniture pieces can help make a space feel larger.

One of the tricks is to use a few key, simple statement pieces in plain fabrics, rather than multiples. And if a piece of furniture can have more than one purpose, that’s even better. For example, a coffee table with storage drawers.

Furniture with an open design is also helpful. A sofa that’s elevated off the ground, or dining chairs with an open frame, for example. Round pieces rather than rectangular is another trick.

Low furniture can be a good choice as well. Simply by being lower it opens up more space above the item.

Also think about positioning. Spreading things out makes thing look more spacious, and keep things away from the walls where you can. Two small side tables rather than one big coffee table can open up space in the middle of the room.

And finally, furniture should never block pathways or light sources.

If you’ve either been to the Palace of Versailles or seen photos of it, then you’re probably already aware of how multiple large mirrors can make a small space look dramatically bigger.

When you’ve had a busy, challenging day, there’s nothing better than retiring to a cosy, welcoming bedroom when the end of the day arrives.

One way of achieving a welcoming bedroom is through the use of accessories. Comfy cushions and throws in calm colours are a good place to start. A bed that looks inviting is definitely going to draw you into the room for peace and relaxation..

Expand outwards and choose calming colours for the walls as well. Soft blues, deep greens and other deeper, warm colours can work beautifully. Avoid it being too much with warm lighting to create feelings of serenity.

Flowing curtains and peaceful artwork can break up the space and provide points of interest without disturbing the restfulness.

We’ve tackled a few different ideas for making small spaces look bigger, but chances are you’ve never thought about doors in this context. Doors opening into a room can take up valuable floor space and interrupt the flow of the home.

Removing a door is a great way to create the illusion of more space. Because your eyes can now look further afield to the next room and beyond, the room you’re in feels bigger. You can also widen the opening where the door used to be to enhance the illusion.

Another option to consider is sliding, or pocket doors. These slide along a track instead of opening out like a standard door. Sliding rather than opening means they take up less floor space and cause less of an obstruction. Sliding barn-style doors have been popular for a few years now, or, if your walls allow it, you can slide the doors into the wall cavity.

In small spaces, every millimetre counts. So take a look at the doors to your room and think about what other options you have.

When it comes to making small spaces look bigger, window treatments play a significant role. Here are some tips for using window treatments to create the illusion of a larger space.

Choose light-coloured curtains or blinds: Light colours reflect natural light and make a room feel more open and airy. Opt for shades like white, cream, or pastels to brighten up the space. Avoid heavy, dark-coloured window treatments that can make the room feel smaller.

Use sheer or semi-sheer curtains: Sheer curtains allow light to pass through while still providing privacy. They create a sense of depth and make the room appear more spacious. Choose lightweight fabrics like voile or chiffon for a delicate and airy look.

Extend the curtain rods beyond the window frame: Mount the curtain rods several inches above the window frame and extend them beyond the sides. This technique visually enlarges the window and allows more natural light to enter the room. It also creates the illusion of higher ceilings.

Install floor-to-ceiling curtains: Hanging curtains from floor to ceiling draws the eye upward and creates the illusion of height. Choose long curtains that pool slightly on the floor for an elegant and spacious look. Make sure the curtains don’t cover the entire window when opened to maximize natural light.

Use vertical stripes or patterns: Vertical stripes or patterns on curtains or blinds can give the impression of higher ceilings and taller windows. This draws the eye upward and creates a sense of spaciousness. Avoid horizontal stripes or busy patterns that can make the room feel cluttered.

Keep window treatments minimal: In small spaces, it’s best to keep window treatments simple and unobtrusive. Avoid heavy valances, elaborate swags, or multiple layers of curtains, as they can overwhelm the space. Choose clean, streamlined designs that enhance the room’s openness.

Consider using blinds or shades: Blinds or shades can be an excellent choice for small spaces because they take up less visual space when fully raised. Choose light-coloured or translucent options to allow natural light to filter through while maintaining privacy when needed.

When you first walk into a space, the flooring is one of the biggest factors in how big the room looks. It’s easy when you start with a big room, but there are some flooring tricks you can use to make your space look bigger.

As a starting point, use the same flooring throughout all the spaces in the house. Linking them together gives the illusion of a bigger space.

Colour is also important, as darker floors paired with lighter colours for the wall, trim and moulding create the illusion of a bigger space.

When you’re using things like floorboards or rectangular tiles, opinion is split. Some say running the boards or tiles lengthways along the room stretches the room out. This is particularly the case if the room and flooring extend into a hallway or second room.

However there are others that say running the boards or tiles diagonally is even better, as it “stretches” the room in both directions. It’s not common, but might be worth a try if you don’t mind being a little eclectic in your style!

Finally, choose your rugs carefully. Simple is usually best, so the eye skims over the rug rather than being drawn to it. Minimal patterns, using warm but subtle colours, are a good choice. And if you have carpet in the room, you can use a stripe in the rug running the length of the room to create the same stretching effect as achieved with boards.

If you’re going to the trouble of incorporating an al fresco area into your home, then it makes sense to ensure you can use it for as much of the year as possible. Which means thinking about weather!

Remember, too, that the solution you choose for shelter will potentially be quite different if you need to protect from sun, rather than rain, so you may require two different solutions. For this reason, you may need to make a choice between permanent and temporary solutions.

For example, you might have wide eaves to protect from both sun and rain, but also have some shutters or clear blinds you can deploy when it’s raining for extra shelter.

Other features such as pergolas can provide shade in the warmer months from a vine or creeper, while allowing the sun through in colder months when the vines lose their leaves.

By thinking through the purpose of your al fresco area and considering your local weather, you can put together the elements for a space that’s enjoyable all year round.

When you’re living in a smaller space, there are two approaches you can take. You can aim to make the space feel cosy and intimate, or you can aim to open the space up and make it feel as large as possible. I’m going to focus on the latter, starting with the basic element of colour in the space.

Your choice of paint colour is really important. Lighter paint colours reflect natural light, which helps to make the room feel bigger. So choosing a light, neutral colour palette incorporating whites, creams and pale greys is the most effective approach. Yellows are also good for reflecting light if you want something a little stronger.

Choosing a lighter colour for your ceiling is a good choice, as it increases the level of light reflection and also gives the illusion of additional height in the room.

Feature walls, generally painted in a bold colour, were a popular trend for a while, but have fallen out of favour. This is a good thing if you’re wanting to enhance the proportions of the space, as feature walls do tend to absorb rather than reflect light. If you want some variation in the room’s palette, focus on painting skirting and trims in a slightly different shade.

Another trick to make a room feel bigger is to make sure your paint colours complement other surfaces, such as flooring. This visual cohesion helps the space to flow, rather than coming to a halt at differences between surfaces.

And finally, keep your colour choices for furniture and decor light and airy, and use a complementary colour palette. This will continue the feeling of openness in the space and enhance the effect of enlarging the room.

It doesn’t matter where you live in Australia, there are going to be times of the year when being outside in the sun gets uncomfortable fast. Providing shade to your al fresco area is a great way to make the space usable for a larger portion of the year.

If you live in a recently built home, then chances are the al fresco area is incorporated with the main house, under the roofline and may even have a plaster ceiling. So you already have shade!

For everyone else, though, you’ll need to create shade. You could duplicate recent home designs and provide some sort of covered area for use as your al fresco space. Check with your local council, as a permit may be required.

If you want something a little less pricey, then a pergola may be the answer. A pergola is basically a timber frame for the space without any walls or ceiling. They can look a bit stark and the shade is only partial, but they’re a great support structure for growing a deciduous creeper or vine. Shade in the warmer months, open in the winter!

Longer term, trees are another option. Think about when and where the space needs shade, and choose trees to suit. Just make sure you plant them appropriately for their eventual size. I’ve seen too many people plant big shrubs or trees right next to a space, only to end up with trunks and foliage making the space smaller every year.

Another option is shade sails. You can leave them in place year round, or put them out for the hotter months and take them down in winter, if you buy the right type.

If you think through your plans for using the al fresco space, you will be able to choose a shade solution that strikes a great balance for enjoying the great outdoors without being hot and uncomfortable.

When it comes to wardrobes, there are plenty of “one size fits all” or “off the shelf” solutions. Okay, I’ll stop with the bad puns now!

Reality, though, is that we all have different wardrobe requirements, depending on the clothes we own. So although it’s perfectly acceptable to use a DIY product to create the interior of your wardrobe, if you want a wardrobe that really works for you, it’s important to do some designing first.

What Clothes Do You Own?

This may seem obvious, but it’s surprising how many people don’t stop to think about what their storage needs are before buying a wardrobe. They just accept whatever has been designed for them if they’re building and it’s custom-made, or buy what the salesman tells them to buy.

Instead, take the time to actually look at the clothes you currently own, and the best way to store them. A socialite with lots of long dresses has very different requirements to someone with lots of casual wear.