20 Things to Avoid When Trying to Make Your Space Feel Larger

Creating an illusion of more space can be as much about what you don't do as what you do. Here are 20 common mistakes to avoid when aiming to make any room feel bigger.

1. Dark, Heavy Colors: Using dark colors can make a room feel closed in and smaller. Avoid painting all walls in dark shades or using bulky, dark furniture.

2. Overuse of Mirrors: While mirrors can help, too many can create a cluttered and disorienting effect.

3. Bulky Furniture: Large, heavy furniture can dominate a small space. Steer clear of oversized sofas and chunky tables.

4. Ignoring Vertical Space: Not utilizing walls for storage or decoration can leave a room feeling squat and cluttered.

5. Clutter Everywhere: Excessive decor, knick-knacks, and unorganized items can make a space feel cramped and small.

6. Poor Lighting: Relying on a single light source can create shadows and dark corners, making the room feel smaller.

7. Opaque and Heavy Furniture: Avoid using solid, heavy materials for significant pieces like tables or chairs. They can block light and sight lines.

8. Mixed-Up Color Schemes: Using too many contrasting colors can make a space feel disjointed and smaller.

9. Small, Busy Art: Lots of small art pieces can make walls look cluttered. Choose fewer, larger pieces instead.

10. Horizontal Stripes: Horizontal stripes, especially on walls or large rugs, can make a room feel shorter and more confined.

11. Covering Windows: Heavy drapes or large window coverings can block natural light and shrink a room visually.

12. Lack of Scale Awareness: Using furniture or decor that is too large or too small for the space can throw off the room's proportions.

13. Not Using Reflective Surfaces: Avoiding materials that reflect light can make a space feel darker and smaller.

14. Ignoring Under-Furniture Space: Not utilizing the space under furniture for storage or as visual relief can make a room feel cluttered.

15. Inconsistent Flooring: Different flooring types in adjacent spaces can visually break up the area, making it seem smaller.

16. Over-Defining Areas: In open-plan spaces, using too many dividers or rugs to define areas can chop up the space and make it feel smaller.

17. High Furniture: Furniture that is too tall can overwhelm a space and make ceilings feel lower.

18. Complex Patterns and Textures: Busy patterns or heavy textures on walls or large furniture pieces can crowd a room visually.

19. Wall-to-Wall Carpeting: This can make spaces feel dated and smaller, especially if the carpet is in a dark or heavy pattern.

20. Ignoring Storage Needs: Not planning for adequate storage can lead to clutter, which always makes a room feel smaller.

Avoiding these pitfalls will help maintain an open, airy feel in your space, regardless of its actual size. Remember, less is often more when it comes to creating a sense of spaciousness.