Whether you’re living in a compact apartment nestled near Central Park, or your suburban home is less spacious than you’d prefer, it’s important to make your rooms cozy and inviting without toning down the decor and comfort. Just because your living space is small doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up and trick the eye into believing it’s big!

Here are a few ways to make your small space feel larger with ease:

Declutter
First, look around the room. Do you have loads of unnecessary clutter? Take a moment to go through the area, and get rid of anything that’s taking up space and no longer serves a purpose in the room. This step will open things up and help you get the foundation ready for tweaks in the design and decor. Downsizing is key when you want to add more depth to a small space.

Take advantage of natural lighting
Natural lighting can organically make the space seem bigger. This task is a great opportunity to upgrade bold, outdated window treatments with something more simple and airy, such as sheer curtains. Not only will it let more natural light in, but it’ll also give your walls a new sense of style.

Be creative with the walls
Instead of filling your walls with only shelves and wall art, why not try a decorative mirror scheme? This approach can add some character to your room while also creating the illusion that it’s much bigger. The Spruce recommended hanging a large framed mirror on the wall or placing a free-standing mirror against it. Additionally, a side table or coffee table topped with a plated mirror adds the same effect to the room.

Floor-to-ceiling or wall-to-wall bookcases are another creative option for expanding the space. This storage option is a simple way to dress up the room, add functionality to the space and expand how tall your ceilings look, according to StyleCaster.

Don’t be afraid of empty space
Whether there’s space on the walls, or you have room to place a piece of furniture in the corner of the room, don’t think it’s necessarily a must to fill. Empty spots can be your best friend when you’re trying to make a room feel more spacious.

Place your furniture strategically
Traditionally, most people think you have to place furniture against the wall to make the most of the room’s space. This belief isn’t necessarily true! Sometimes, placing a chair at an angle or positioning the couch closer to the center of the room can make the space look bigger.

Follow a color theme
An easy way to streamline your space and keep the eyes flowing throughout the room is by following a color theme. Choose one hue in multiple shades, and use it in your furniture, window treatments, wall decor and other accessories. This strategy can make a large impact on the space.

Find a personal decorator
If the idea of making your small space feel bigger stresses you out, or you simply can’t figure out how to make it work on your own, a design consultant can help. A personal decorator from Decorating Den Interiors can come to your house for a free consultation to evaluate your space and provide suggestions based on your style and ideas for the rooms you want to improve. From there, you can work together to make adjustments in design and decor to make your home feel more cozy and inviting, once and for all.

So what are you waiting for? Don’t hesitate to contact a Decorating Den design consultant today!