Living in a Bigger Home

Is your home getting too small? Here are some things you can do to make your home seem larger. This can be a definite advantage when you are selling a small house. You could even like the results enough to take the edge off the urge to move!

1. Wall Color -- Use light shades of colors that have a warm feeling such as red, yellow, brown and orange. These colors can make a room seem bigger and more welcoming. To give a particular room the sense of added depth, you might want to try the approach of using light colors on three walls and a coordinated darker tone on the remaining wall to make it look like there is more depth in that direction.

2. Using Light -- Sufficient lighting makes any space seem larger. The impression of openness is assisted by bright lighting, since we associate brightly lighted places with open spaces. Focus the lighting on the walls so they will be brighter. You might want to have lighting controls that will allow you to dim or increase the intensity of the lights in each room to meet your mood.

3. Minimum Furniture -- Rooms that have too much furniture tend to look smaller than they really are. The more crowded a space is, the smaller it will appear. Be sure not to crowd your furniture together when you want to make the room look larger than it really is. Avoid putting overbearing armchairs and overstuffed sofas in cramped spaces. To maximize space, use dual purpose furniture. An example would be a footstool or seat that opens up for magazine or pillow storage. This would save the space otherwise needed for a second dedicated piece.

4. Reduce Unattractive Clutter -- Having efficient storage is important in small spaces. The more unneeded clutter you have in your home, the smaller it will seem. This is not just a matter of making your home nicer for prospective buyers, but a good thing to keep in mind in having a healthy outlook for yourself too. Come up with storage systems and solutions that fit your family's needs and lifestyle. By reducing clutter, your house will seem more appealing to guests and homebuyers.

5. Be Mindful of Your Choices in Decorator Items As Well -- The accessories you choose can have an impact on the appearance of size. Use light colored curtains to allow plenty of light during the day. Choose light colored furniture, or as a minimum use light colored covers for the furniture, because choosing light colors will give a more open appearance to the space.

6. Mirrors -- Use wall and door mirrors to give depth to a room. This is one of the most direct and effective home tips ever. Mirrors can be beautiful decorative pieces in themselves, and they serve the additional purpose of adding visual depth.

These six techniques can save you money and effort in the necessary task of making your home more attractive and marketable. When it comes right down to it, these suggestions are among the most efficient methods to improve the value of your home as well as simply making it look great.


Article furnished by Colorado's Louisville real estate specialists of Automated Homefinder.