If you have already purchased a micro-apartment, you can try to make it seem more spacious.

Designers and architects have shared which techniques should be taken into account during renovation to make the home visually look larger in area.

Single color

The good old rule that the ceiling is painted white and the walls another color almost always works. But if you need to visually expand the room, you can sacrifice it, experts say. “If you completely paint a compact room in one shade from the baseboard to the ceiling, you can disguise the lines dividing the planes and thereby visually increase the volume of the space. In most cases, light colors will be a good choice, which reflect light better and increase permeability,” said Maria Nikolaeva, head of the architectural bureau MAD Architects.

Also, don’t be afraid to use black and white colors for the floor and walls. “Many are afraid to use white in the interior, complaining about the impractical approach and difficulty in maintenance. However, there are many vandal-proof paints on the market that are easy to wash. And white adds air to the space. Light colors reflect light, and the perception of space becomes easier, due to which it seems lighter and there is a feeling of more free space. It is worth noting that the black monochromatic color also visually erases the border in the interior and creates a feeling of boundless space,” said Anna Dobrokovskaya, founder and director of the Dobrokovskikh Workshop.

Deep dramatic shades, such as dark blue or dark green, will also be appropriate, said Alexey Zarodov, partner of the Syntaxis architectural bureau. According to him, they will create a feeling of infinity due to the fact that it is difficult to focus your vision on one point and build the boundaries of the room in your head.

Arrangement and loosening up

The feeling of dimensions is formed in our heads, and we can quite easily set the vector of perception in both a positive and a negative way, designers say.

“Often in a room with a limited area, there is a temptation to arrange furniture along the walls in order to make the most of the space. But if you push everything against the wall, it will send a visual signal that there is not enough space in the room to push things forward. Instead, you can move one or two objects away from the edge, such as a low sofa or a curved chair. This will add a sense of life to the room and will save it from the effect of a museum or a showcase. At the same time, it is important to leave a distance of at least 45–50 cm from the pulled-out furniture to other objects, so as not to bump into them when moving and not create a feeling of tightness,” said Alexey Zarodov, partner at the Syntaxis architectural bureau.

In addition to the correct arrangement of furniture, so-called “freezing” will help — shifts in planes relative to each other to visually break the wall itself — and complex wall plasticity. They will give the space additional volume, noted Dobrokovskaya. According to her, multi-layered decoration creates an interesting effect: a flat wall disappears — and the volume seems larger.

Paintings, mirrors and gloss

Another original way to visually expand the space is artistic painting on the walls. “Yes, we all remember the photo wallpapers of the early 2000s, but this is a really bad idea for 2024. Instead, it’s worth hiring an artist who will create an image that matches the spirit and color scheme. Seascapes or aerial landscapes work best,” said Maria Nikolaeva.

Mirrors are one of the most favorite techniques of architects and designers for visually enlarging space. “Reflection in a mirror really does visually expand the boundaries. When placing a mirror in space, take into account the physical properties of the surface. If the mirror reflects a storage area or an open wardrobe, then the number of things will seem twice as large, and if they are also folded carelessly, then the feeling of disorder will double. Secondly, to maximize space, it is better to place mirrors as wall decoration from floor to ceiling. For example, in the hallway, thanks to this technique, the space will visually double,” explained Dobrokovskaya.

In addition to mirrors, other glossy reflective surfaces are also great, but to keep the interior on trend, you can’t overdo it, says Maria Nikolaeva from MAD Architects. According to her, these could be glossy ceilings, lacquered furniture or shiny tiles on the kitchen backsplash.

One of the mistakes that studio apartment dwellers often make is choosing small furniture for a compact space, experts say. “A compact sofa, a small table and chairs — all of this creates the feeling of a dollhouse in a small space. Instead, it’s worth acting on contrast — for example, buying a large bed, but choosing a floating headboard to create the illusion of a high ceiling, and ditching the footboard. Wall sconces will eliminate the need to fill the corners with cabinets. The more small items the room is filled with, the more cramped it will seem. In the living room, it’s worth choosing a large sofa, but with a low profile, and a glass tabletop in the kitchen will make it more airy,” said the partner of the Syntaxis architectural bureau.

Give preference to furniture on high, elegant legs, advises Dantone Home designer Olga Pogrebnaya. She also recommended paying attention to multifunctional furniture. “For example, these could be fold-out sofas and armchairs with storage space. In addition, it is advisable to avoid colorful patterns in furniture upholstery and on large textiles – this will visually hinder the holistic perception of space. When buying furniture for a small apartment, you should also avoid an abundance of colorful patterns,” Pogrebnaya recommended.

Blocking the view from the window, especially if there is only one in the apartment, is also a bad idea in a small space. “There should be nothing in the line of direct view of the window opening that visually divides the room and blocks sunlight. Curtains should be as laconic as possible. If there is a feeling of excessive scarcity and flatness of the surroundings, then you can place live plants on the sides, which will create additional volume and a smooth visual transition between the room and the street,” says Zarodov from Syntaxis.

The right light is another important tool to make your apartment look larger in size, experts say. “For example, if you have a place for a chandelier, pay attention to lightweight structures with laconic slender elements; massive chandeliers will unnecessarily fill the volume of the room. And if the ceiling height is no more than 2.6–2.7 m, it is advisable to give preference to overhead lamps. Analyze the places where the light does not reach and complement these corners with spot lighting: floor lamps and table lamps are perfect for this task,” recommends Olga Pogrebnaya from Dantone Home.

A backlit ceiling will also help to visually expand the space. “It allows you to program it for different modes, and visually the ceiling border will seem to rise. You can make a glowing white ceiling or a soft blue (like the sky), this will become a highlight in the interior. And if you pay attention to the most ordinary and painted ceiling, it looks grayer and the border of the walls and ceiling feels like it disappears when using a glowing ceiling,” summarized Anna Dobrokovskaya.