Whether you’re in an apartment or your new home is lacking in square footage, you know the struggle of trying to create the illusion of it being bigger than it actually is. There are plenty of tips and tricks out there that we have found that can help you on your quest of creating a more calming, open and functional home.

1. Contrast - Use very light colors or very dark colours to give a room depth - or use paint dark-to-light low-to-high, this strategy draws the eye upwards.

2. Dual Purpose Furniture - Utilize hidden storage or multi-functional furniture. To keep your floor, walls and surfaces as clear as possible you have to find a somewhere to put all of your stuff!

3. Less Is More - Use a few large decorations rather than a lot of small decorations, which can start to feel like clutter. You want the space as open and free as possible - opt to display one large wall accent or piece of art instead of a bunch of smaller pieces, it’s okay to leave some walls blank. Use the cantaloupe rule - if the decorations are smaller than a cantaloupe, don't keep it, it’ll just crowd a room. 

4. Lighting - Use a few lamps to spread light evenly instead of just relying on one overhead light - especially in rooms with limited natural light. Multiple light sources in a smaller room can make it feel more expansive. You could even ditch the overhead all together, or, maybe consider an interesting or unique ceiling light fixture that draws the eye up.

5. Rugs - Use a rug to give a room a finished or pulled together feeling, as well as creating an illusion of more square footage - but keep it small and simple. It could also be a good tool to separate a room into smaller spaces. 

6. Accenting - Opt for a large statement piece of furniture, it’s more effective to have 1 accent chair than four. Go big - use a few large pieces of furniture in place of several smaller pieces; with open and large blocks of color, the room will appear calm and comfortable.

7. Mirror Mirror - Using a large sized mirror makes a space seem much bigger than it actually is, and if the placement is just right it will reflect light and a view back into the room. Pick a tight entrance area or rooms with dark colours or with little natural light. 

8. Show some leg - Get furniture with exposed legs to make the room feel less "boxy". Chairs, sofas, bed, etc. with exposed legs gives the illusion of more space.

9. Declutter declutter declutter - Too much clutter makes a room feel full, even when it's a bigger sized room. Clean unnecessary stuff off countertops, shelves, coffee tables, end tables, dressers etc.

10. Emphasize on the vertical - A tall shelf , some vertical shiplap, floor to ceiling curtains or some element that emphasizes the height of a space opens it up. 

11. Break some rules - Having an unexpected piece of furniture gives a space personality and makes it  fun. Maybe a beanbag or swing for a chair... Maybe even both? Go crazy.

12. Above all, keep it simple - the more pieces, possessions and patterns you have in a room the more cluttered it will feel. Consider an accent wall if you want wallpaper or keep the crazy colors to a door. Keep a balance and you’ll be just fine!