Let’s face it, we all dream of living in a spacious and airy home where each item has its place and where we don’t feel overwhelmed by too much stuff. But sometimes, our homes don’t feel as big as we’d like, and it’s down to our habits rather than the size of our house. From clutter to poor lighting, there are numerous things that can make your home feel smaller than it is. I discovered that making a few lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. Here are the 14 things I stopped doing that made my home feel significantly bigger.
1. Hoarding Unnecessary Items
I was once guilty of being a ‘hoarder’, keeping items I didn’t necessarily need but felt too sentimental to part with. This clutter was eating up a lot of space and making my home feel crowded and small.
To solve this, I adopted the KonMari method of decluttering, which involves categorizing items and only keeping those that ‘spark joy’. I also made a habit of regularly donating items I no longer needed. It was challenging at first, but the result was a spacious, clutter-free home that felt much larger.
2. Overstuffing Storage Spaces
My closets and cabinets were overflowing with stuff, making it difficult to find items when I needed them. This made my home feel cramped and disorganized.
I decided to declutter my storage spaces, keeping only what was necessary and organizing items in a way that made them easy to find. I also used storage solutions like under-bed storage and hanging organizers to maximize space. This not only made my home feel bigger, but it also reduced my stress levels.
3. Keeping Large Furniture
Having large furniture pieces made my home feel smaller as they took up a lot of space. They also blocked natural light from flowing freely around the room.
I swapped out large furniture for smaller, multi-functional pieces that saved space and allowed more light into the room. For instance, I replaced my bulky sofa with a sleek, compact one and my large coffee table with a smaller nesting table. The result was a more spacious, airy home.
4. Using Dark Colors
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I used to love dark colors, but they made my rooms feel smaller as they absorbed light instead of reflecting it.
I switched to lighter shades for my walls and furnishings, which made a huge difference in how big my rooms felt. Light colors reflect light, creating an illusion of space. I also added mirrors to reflect light and make the room feel larger.
5. Ignoring Vertical Space
I was not making good use of my vertical space, leading to a cluttered and small-feeling home.
I started using walls for storage, adding shelves and hanging racks. This freed up floor space and made my rooms feel bigger. I also hung curtains high above my windows to create the illusion of higher ceilings.
6. Not Letting in Natural Light
I used to keep my curtains closed most of the time, which made my rooms feel dark and small.
I started keeping my windows open during the day to let in as much natural light as possible. I also swapped my heavy curtains for lighter, sheer ones. This not only made my home feel bigger, but it also improved my mood.
7. Keeping Too Many Decorative Items
Having too many decorative items on display made my rooms feel cluttered and smaller.
I decided to adopt a minimalist approach to decorating, keeping only a few key pieces on display. This made my rooms feel more spacious and less cluttered.
8. Not Using Mirrors
Mirrors can make a room feel larger by reflecting light and creating an illusion of depth, but I wasn’t utilizing them.
I started incorporating mirrors into my decor, placing them opposite windows to maximize natural light. This made my rooms feel larger and brighter.
9. Ignoring Underutilized Spaces
I had many underutilized spaces in my home, like under the stairs and corners, which were wasted space.
I started using these spaces for storage or creating cozy nooks. This allowed me to free up other areas, making my home feel bigger.
10. Not Keeping Things Organized
Disorganization leads to clutter, which can make a home feel smaller.
I started organizing my items, keeping like items together and everything in its place. This not only made my home feel bigger but also made it easier to find items when needed.
11. Overlooking the Importance of Scale
Using furniture and decor that were too large for my rooms made them feel cramped and small.
I started choosing items that were to scale with my rooms, ensuring they didn’t overwhelm the space. This made my rooms feel more spacious and balanced.
12. Using Too Many Patterns
Using too many patterns in my decor made my rooms feel busy and smaller.
I opted for a more minimalist approach, using fewer patterns and more solid colors. This made my rooms feel calmer and larger.
13. Not Cleaning Regularly
A dirty, dusty home can feel smaller and more cramped.
I started cleaning my home regularly, which not only made it feel bigger but also more enjoyable to live in.
14. Not Maximizing Outdoor Spaces
I wasn’t making the most of my outdoor spaces, which could have been used as an extension of my home.
I started utilizing my outdoor spaces more, creating comfortable seating areas and adding plants for a lush, inviting feel. This made my home feel much larger as I had more spaces to enjoy.
