3 Foolproof Ways to Make Your Home Feel More Spacious

Only a select few people in the world have access to auditorium-sized rooms, vaulted ceilings, grand halls and industrial-sized kitchens. The rest have to make do with what they have.

Whether you live in a one-room apartment in the big city, an attached home in the suburbs or a three-story house in a quiet neighbourhood, chances are you've thought about maximizing your space.

Luckily, making your home feel more spacious doesn't take major structural renovations, nor does it require any house additions. With a few tips, tricks and hacks, you can add roominess to your home in no time. Here are three of the best ways to make your home look and feel bigger.

Add Bay Windows to Open Up the Room

In truth, any large windows make a home feel more spacious. Floor-to-ceiling picture windows and broad architectural windows, for example, let ample natural light into the home, making rooms look and feel more open.

But if you want a window that truly, physically opens up a room, go for bay windows. These multi-sided, protrusive windows are generally constructed using a central picture window surrounded by casement, single-hung or double-hung windows. Since they protrude from the exterior of the home, they add space to a room. They also let more angles of light in, making the room brighter. Bay windows are the perfect choice if you want to add a dedicated area to a room, like a reading nook or breakfast nook.

Check out the bay windows from Golden Windows, which, in addition to being big and bright, are also energy efficient and solidly built.

Choose Light Colours and Mirrors for a Roomier Effect

With your bright new windows installed, it's time to make the most of your natural light. Darker shades absorb light, making a room feel dingier and more cramped. If you have dark wallpaper or an abundance of dark furnishings, consider switching them out for something lighter.

Shades of white work best because they have superior reflective qualities. Repaint your room white, and fill it with lightly coloured furniture – you'll be surprised what a difference it can make.

To further capitalize on the natural light in a room, add mirrors. There's no need to go overboard – you aren't creating a funhouse – but a few tastefully placed mirrors work wonders at visually opening up a room.

Take Time to Declutter and Organize

Clutter, in the form of excess furniture, small possessions, knickknacks and appliances, can have a constricting visual effect on a space.

Instead of leaving every possession out for the eye to see, implement an organizational system that makes smart use of space. If you're living in an apartment, consider floor-to-ceiling shelves or under-the-bed tubs. If you have a big house, make use of that attic crawlspace and basement. The less visual information you leave in a room, the roomier it will feel.

You don't have to live in a mansion to enjoy a roomy home. By adding more natural light with the addition of replacement windows, capitalizing on that light with the right décor, and ridding your house of clutter, you can turn any home into a wide-open sanctuary.

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