The trick is to combine the pleasant with the functional. A little paint, different lighting, a change of door... Increasing the space of a small room or a house is a matter of common sense but also of tricks to know!

--> atHome delivers them to you to easily obtain large spaces.

Space has become one of the most valuable assets, and the high cost of a square metre in the cities leads to the choice of smaller areas such as flats or studios; small, but urban and well located, this seems to be the credo of many households. In such a context, optimisation and enhancement of volumes is the key word. Here is an update on some key works for those who still feel cramped.

Repainting your walls to gain volume

Whether it's an office, bedroom, living room or all three, the colour of your paintwork plays an essential role in creating the impression of volume. For small areas it is recommended to choose a colour that will reflect light instead of a darker shade that will tend to bring the walls together. Is your paintwork faded or too dark? Do not hesitate to repaint in lighter tones, ideally white or a cold colour in pastel shades (blue, green, purple).

These tones will create a distance that will accentuate the volumes. However, beware of the exposure! While cold colours will breathe freshness and dynamism into a bright room (facing south or west), these same colours can become sad and austere if the space is too dark. It is up to you to compose by opting for light colours with a touch of warm tones (the whole series of off-whites: creamy white, straw-white, etc.).

For those who love colour and warm tones (yellows, reds, oranges), there is no need to censor yourself. If your small volume will not tolerate an abundance of colours or a shade that is too dark, you can nevertheless colour in small decorative touches. A frieze under a bar, the bottom of a niche-shelf, the outline of a cupboard. The colour will bring a little warmth and intimacy. Choosing shades can be difficult. To be sure of your shade, consider testing it on site.

Calling in a professional (painter or interior designer) to supervise and carry out the work is sometimes a better option than doing it yourself. Because once the colours have been applied to your wall, you will have to live with them every day!
The extra tipIf you opt for white, think about playing with the finishes. Lacquer, matt, natural gloss, the juxtaposition of materials will liven up the space for a less uniform look. For colour, think blue! A distant colour, any surface covered in it will seem further away than it actually is, provided it is exposed to daylight.

Changing the lighting in the room

Lighting is often the last wheel in the interior design process. Moreover, small spaces often have only one or two light sources. Changing and increasing the number of light sources can greatly influence the feeling of space.

First rule: avoid ceiling lights. Their light descends towards a precise point and leaves the corners of the room in darkness, shrinking the dimensions of the room. Instead, use a branch chandelier or wall lamps that light upwards and amplify the room. Another important point: rather than a powerful source of light, think of multiplying the light points (auxiliary lamps, halogens, wall lamps, etc.). The intersection of their beams will increase the perceived dimensions. Indirect lighting can also be an advantageous solution. By directing the light towards a ceiling or a wall, it will appear taller and larger. Completely re-lighting a room can involve complex work that can only be undertaken by professionals. Indeed, if your installation is not in accordance with your wishes, completely changing the infrastructure of cables and switches will be a difficult task.

The extra tip A piece of furniture lit from below will give the impression of floating, thus reducing its size. Some prefabricated furniture (bed, bar, bathroom furniture) offer this option. Otherwise, installing a lighting solution (fluorescent tubes, LEDs) is always feasible, provided that you are well advised (do not opt for solutions that heat up too much).

Mezzanines, podiums and stages

If your room is narrow but has a sufficiently high ceiling, the installation of a mezzanine could represent a significant space saving. For example, if you are the queen of studios and small bedrooms, the mezzanine will allow you to use the floor space to create another living space (office, living room, dressing room, etc.). If the problem is always the same: freeing up space for storage or creating volume, in certain configurations a mezzanine will have the opposite effect. Too imposing, it can be ill-adapted and literally "eat up" the volume and light. Thinking about a better layout for the studio or bedroom is then a more constructive idea. Beware, if your project is to build a large mezzanine to create a second level in your living space, be aware that this will increase the load on the walls. Therefore, think about calling on an architect or a specialist worker for its construction.

If the ceiling height is not high enough to allow the construction of a mezzanine, the platform or podium can be used instead. These solutions, which are usually used as a base for a bed, allow the creation of practical storage space. The only drawback is that they 'freeze' your design possibilities a little.
Bonus tip: As a practical solution, fold-away bed models are also worth considering. On a rail to be slid into a platform or raised above the living room, they offer a particularly clever two-in-one use for your room.

Think about it too....

- Doors and windows that "bite" into your rooms can be a real waste of space. Replacing your conventional windows with sliding systems will save you a lot of square metres. Think about it for your wardrobes too.
- Change your chests of drawers, cupboards and other wardrobes for functional and compact furniture. The new bathroom and kitchen furniture offers multiple storage solutions for optimised storage.
- Compartmentalise the space according to your movements and the different uses you have of your room. Use furniture and transparent partitions to create different zones. In a small space, nothing should get in the way of natural light, your most valuable ally.