CEILINGS & WALLS

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1. Raise the roof. If you have the height to do it, lofting your ceilings (above) is an underutilized option to consider. “A full-vault or box-vault ceiling has a huge impact on the feel of the space,” says Brett Kappelle, of Barker Kappelle Construction, who has seen tiny rooms look twice their size with raised ceilings. “It sounds more complicated than it is, but it’s not difficult for a professional to do.” If you can’t vault your ceilings, simply going from 8-foot ceilings to 9- or 10-foot ceilings is a small change that can make a big difference. Paint moldings the same color as the ceiling for an even more expansive feel.

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2. Let light in. Allow more natural light into your home by installing sliding glass doors, enlarging your existing windows (left), or adding more. Skylights and solar tubes, which draw in bright light from outside and reflect down a tube into your home, are great options. Bonus: You’ll have less need for artificial light and a lower energy bill.

3. Open up. Older homes usually feature small rooms in a chopped-up floor plan. Opening up walls completely, or even partially to half-height, will convert the home to an open-concept layout that produces a more spacious feel.

4. Bump it out. Installing bay windows in a small space can make a substantial difference. They maximize square footage and provide abundant natural light. “They’re a little more expensive than traditional windows, but bumping out the space really creates a lot of volume spatially and visually,” says Marshall Hickox of Homeworks Construction.

5. Find your niche. Building decorative niches into the walls between studs is a great way to utilize unused space, Hickox says. “Everyone has little knick-knacks to display. Wall niches provide that extra place to showcase them without taking away from existing space.”

KITCHEN

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7. Expand openings. Widening the entrance to your kitchen can ease traffic flow. Arched openings, for example, feel spacious and add character.

8. Scale it down. Glenda Anderson of Details International, says there are more options than ever for appliances of a smaller scale. Gain storage and counter space when renovating your kitchen by downsizing to smaller-than-standard ranges, fridges, dishwashers, sinks and more.

9. Camouflage when you can. Concealing appliances, such as the refrigerator and dishwasher, behind cabinetry is another option for giving a tight space a sleek look.

10. Look to the light. Don’t accentuate bulky cabinets, especially upper cabinets, with a dark color. Instead, stick to lighter-color, double-height cabinets that extend to the ceiling to draw your eye upward. Glass-front cabinets with lighted interiors are another way to add visual interest without bulk (above).

BATHROOM

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11. Bring down the curtain. Switch your shower curtain for a glass door, and your whole bathroom will feel bigger and more open (above). “Most people can’t increase the size of their bathroom. Making the switch to a glass door removes any visual obstruction, plus the shower will feel less claustrophobic,” says Hickox, who used this trick in his own home. A glass partition, as opposed to full doors, is an alternate splash-guarding option for some spaces.

12. Pick a pocket. In a tiny bathroom, choose a pocket door over a standard hinge door, which takes up too much space with its swing.

13. Pass on a pedestal. While they look nice, pedestal sinks don’t offer any storage where you might need it most. Now there are vanities with slimmer profiles. Look for cabinetry at a depth of around 16”, instead of the standard 21.

FLOORING

14. Go lightly. Choose lighter- color woods and wood-laminate flooring options, such as maple, oak and bamboo. Shirley Hilton, of Pacific Imports International, likes tauari, also known as “Brazilian oak,” because it has a rich color without being too dark.

15. Get the skinny. Go with smaller-size floorboards versus wide planks. “They will draw less attention to the lack of space,” Hilton says. Floorboards around 3” to 3 ¾” are a happy medium.

16. Stay low-pro. Avoid tall baseboard molding (which tends to visually close in a small room) and, instead, pick floor moldings with a small profile, such as a simple quarter round.

DECOR

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17. Be picky about paint. Although it may seem unexpected, Tiare Noelani Cowan of Archipelago Hawaii, Refined Island Designs, often recommends dark paint colors for small rooms; they can make the walls and ceilings of a small room recede. Lighter, cool tones of neutrals, greens and blues, on the other hand, when carried through several adjoining rooms, visually expand each space and create a flowing sense of openness.  

18. Make it mono. A mostly monochromatic color scheme with additions of various patterns and textures keeps it interesting without overwhelming the eye with too much information. Sheer fabrics and frosted glass are great, subtle ways to divide your space without completely closing it off.

19. Watch it shine. Choose finishes with simple profiles and reflective materials to open up rooms. Stainless-steel appliances and shiny fixtures and hardware reflect more light, making a small space feel larger. Hanging mirrors and mirrored closet doors work, too.

20. Let it breathe. Select smaller-scale furniture (nothing heavy, dark or overstuffed) to allow space to flow around and underneath each piece (left), suggests Cowan. Glass-topped coffee and dining tables will keep the furniture from weighing down the room. 

21. Edit, edit, edit. Don’t crowd your home with tons of accessories—too many focal points will create visual chaos. Instead, pare down and choose your favorites and you’ll appreciate what you do have displayed even more. You can always rotate your selection.