The most widespread misconception about small rooms is that we should do our best to make them look bigger than they are. Therefore, there is this belief that we should paint them white as this color creates a nice marginal vision, making the place look bigger than it really is.

First of all, I strongly believe there is no need to create that wrong impression. What’s the good of creating a false delusion while you constantly know what the truth is? Secondly, even if you want to make your room look bigger, white is not the right color to do it. White, and by extension all bright shades, create a vacuum space around your peripheral vision, not allowing you to see the depth of the place. That’s why your mind thinks the place is big when it is not.

In contrast, dark colors add depth to walls and make them look “pushed back” and hence bigger. Here’s the thing with dark colors. They make every inch count, and that is all you want with small rooms. So, like white, dark colors make a small room look bigger, but they add an extra special aspect to your little room.

I’m a big fan of white, but when it comes to small rooms, there is the sad truth that they make the room feel naked and somehow undesirable. Every room should provoke some sense of serenity, and when it comes to small rooms, more saturated shades are much more effective than white in creating that mood.

So, if you must make a room appear bigger, maybe lay off the white next time.

You Shouldn’t Put Big Furniture in Small Rooms

It’s quite reasonable to think that small rooms are no place for the big stuff. Well, this is another wrong assumption! Let me put it this way. In a small room, you’re limited in space, and in a limited space, you should be organized and a bit compact. The trick? A big piece of furniture will do the job as it can house smaller stuff in itself.

A big bed, for example, has enough room beneath it for all your books, your mini desk, your suitcase, and some of your other personals. Now, think of a big drawer that holds all your clothes, magazines, your laptop, and lots of other things you usually use during the day.

The truth is that by providing a lot of room for other small objects, a big piece of furniture leaves a great part of the room empty, making it look quite spacious. Another problem with many of us is that we want each object in the room for one purpose only. Just imagine how functional a small room can be if it has:

• Multipurpose furniture
• Murphy beds
• Built-in units; and,
• Multi-level layouts.

Such furniture will let you use the tiny room for several purposes without taking up a lot of space.

Small Rooms Would Make Depressing Bedrooms

Another misconception I keep hearing about small rooms is that they make depressing bedrooms. “It feels like a grave,” some would say. There is no way that can be true, and here’s why!

As babies, we grow up sleeping in small cribs or other similar confined spaces. This habit of sleeping in small cozy places remains with us to the end. On the contrary, during the times that we’re not sleeping, we prefer to have as much room as possible around us regardless of what we’re doing. There is also a psychological aspect to the story. In a small room, we have a higher awareness regarding what’s happening around us. This gives us the required comfort that lures us into a nice slumber. All you need is a nice color and a simple calming design. Next time you hear someone complaining about the size of their bedroom, remind them of their genetic tendency!