It’s no secret that home prices have risen to great heights in recent years. With low supply and high demand in Snohomish County, Washington, these prices aren’t predicted to drop anytime soon. But as real estate agents who’ve handled the housing market in all sorts of scenarios - from the ‘90s market to the 2008 market to the Covid market - we at Barnett Associates know that fluctuations and changes are normal. No matter what the market looks like, it’s important to know how to work with what you have. So maybe your budget left you with a bedroom that’s slightly smaller than you planned - but that’s nothing to be discouraged about. Here are our top 4 tips to easily increase the size of your space when you can’t, you know, actually increase the size of your space.
1. Choose the Right Paint
Oftentimes, it’s assumed that light colors are the only way to make a room appear larger. While this is typically the case, you aren’t only limited to off-whites and light grays. And while we’re a big fan of grays, here in the Pacific Northwest, it can benefit your space to add in something other than gray tones to contrast with the amount of cloud coverage and rain we have.The main goal here is to give the illusion of a wider room that has more depth. Light colors are inherently reflective, which is why they make a room feel bigger. But pairing light paint color with a darker accent wall can create contrast to achieve this illusion as well. So, while you may want to stick with a neutral taupe or crisp white, pairing a pale blue with a navy blue accent wall can benefit your space too. Another way to achieve this is to use an eggshell, semi-gloss, or satin finish instead of matte because these finishes will boost that reflective property.
2. Get Creative with Storage
If you lack ample closet space and don’t want to clutter your bedroom with extra furniture, opt for a bed frame that offers hidden storage. For instance, some frames have a drawer that slides out from underneath while others lift up on hinges. Not only does this option use space that would otherwise be wasted, it makes getting to your stored items convenient. Another great storage option is using your bed head or footboard for storage. You can’t go wrong with a nice chest as your footboard for blankets and sheets. Some have used their headboard as a bookshelf as well - your nighttime read will be just in reach.
3. Use Mirrors as Decor
Remember how we said that the reflective property of light paint makes a room feel bigger? This applies to mirrors as well. Not only will mirrors add a design element to your space, their reflective property will brighten and give the impression of a taller, wider room. The great part about adding mirrors is the endless options. Whether you decide on expanding your bedroom with a vanity mirror, a standing mirror, or simply resting a small mirror or a shelf, you can’t go wrong.
4. Floating Shelves are Your Friend
Freeing up floor space by utilizing wall space will open up your bedroom while giving you the opportunity to channel your inner interior designer. Floating shelves are a low commitment, budget friendly way to do this. Floating shelves can be used in place of night stands, bookshelves, and other bulky furniture. Plus, they’re pretty easy to install, no matter your skill level (just read the instructions first!). There are other types of furniture that can be converted to the floating type, too, such as laps. Accent lighting is a great way to brighten a room, and hanging sconces from the wall or lamps from the ceiling will open up floor space as well.
All in all, there are plenty of ways to turn that cozy little bedroom into a space that feels as spacious as you dreamed it to be. Using decor to change a space not only helps you to use the room more practically, but it allows you to personalize your bedroom to be uniquely yours.
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