Making a cottage feel bigger involves smart design choices and thoughtful decoration that maximise light, create visual flow, and minimise clutter.
Effective Techniques to Enhance Cottage Space
Based on key design principles, here are proven methods to make your cottage feel more spacious and open:
1. Use Lighter Shade Paint Colours
- Lighter paint colours, such as whites, creams, and pastels, help walls recede visually.
- They reflect more natural and artificial light, making rooms feel brighter and airier.
- Painting ceilings a lighter shade than walls can also enhance the sense of height.
2. Create Flow Through Flooring
- Using the same flooring material or colour scheme across adjacent rooms creates a continuous visual line.
- This seamless look tricks the eye into perceiving a larger, uninterrupted space.
- Avoid abrupt changes in flooring between areas where possible.
3. Take the Doors Off
- Removing doors from non-private rooms (like between a living room and dining area) opens up sightlines.
- This creates a sense of connectivity and makes the entire living space feel more expansive.
- Archways or open doorways enhance the feeling of flow.
4. Opt for Minimalist Window Treatments
- Heavy or elaborate curtains can block light and make windows appear smaller.
- Choose simple, sheer fabrics, blinds, or shutters that allow maximum natural light penetration.
- Positioning curtain rods higher and wider than the window frame can make windows look larger and ceilings taller.
5. Use Mirrors
- Mirrors are powerful tools for creating an illusion of space and depth.
- Placing a large mirror opposite a window reflects light and the view, making the room feel twice as large.
- Multiple smaller mirrors can also help bounce light around the room.
6. Furnish Carefully
- Select furniture that is appropriately sized for the room. Overstuffed or overly large pieces can overwhelm a small space.
- Choose multi-functional furniture (like ottomans with storage or pull-out sofas).
- Arrange furniture to keep main pathways clear, promoting easy movement and visual flow.
7. Decorate with Restraint
- Clutter makes any space feel smaller and more cramped.
- Adopt a 'less is more' approach to decor. Choose a few impactful pieces rather than many small items.
- Keep surfaces clear and organised. Smart storage solutions are essential for maintaining a tidy, spacious feel.
Implementing these strategies can significantly alter the perception of space within your cottage, making it feel more open, bright, and comfortable.
