Most of us will have at least one room in the house that we wish looked larger. You may have tried various decorating tricks to maximize the given space, from painting the walls a light colour, to carefully chosen sheer curtains and purposely placed lamp, but making the most of out your flooring is the number one trick, in our opinion, to make your room look and feel bigger.
What types of flooring make a room look bigger?
The right type of flooring can help shift the focus of a room’s size towards its appeal and function too. Here are five flooring tips to help give the illusion of a larger space in your home:
1) Light and dark flooring
Choosing lighter coloured flooring to compliment your furniture can expand the perceived size of any room and can open the space right up. Think cream carpets, natural and neutral toned tiles and whitewashed wood flooring. These attractive, light and neutral colours give a room an open and airy feel, making it appear larger, whilst also drawing in the natural sunlight from outside.
- Do dark floors make a room look smaller or bigger?
You may be surprised to learn that dark wood flooring can help to make your room look bigger too. Darker flooring offers an inviting feel and opens up a space.
Whether you choose rich colours or softer dark colours, they both have their advantages when it comes to expanding the appearance of a room. Dark wood is not to be afraid of, and once paired with the right cooling shade for wall colour, a space really can appear much bigger than it is.
2) One flooring for all rooms
Using the same flooring in several rooms in your home is proven to create a seamless effect that helps each room flow which makes smaller spaces in the home appear larger and part of something bigger.
Bathroom flooring on the other hand is something to be thought of separately due to the function of the room and the humidity and wetness of the room. Your bathroom needs flooring which is able to withstand these factors.
3) Parallel or diagonal flooring
Believe it or not, the way flooring is installed can help make a room look bigger than it is. As a general trick of the trade, installing flooring such as boards running parallel to the longest wall in the room instantly makes a room appear more spacious. Working in a similar way, if you opt for carpet for your small room, avoid busy floral and too-intricate patterns, and opt for something like vertical stripes instead to help elongate the space.
Another flooring installation trick that assists in opening up a petite room is to install boards and tiles diagonally. Although not the standard and typical thing to do, the eyes will be deceived into believing the space is larger and vaster.
4) Planks over strips
As far as space-enhancing tricks go, this is probably one of the easiest to execute. Simply choose wider planks over strips, which are at least 3 inches in size. Planks will make the room feel less busy and more open due to the fact there are less seams in the floor, as less boards are needed. It’s as simple as that!
5) Large tiles
As with larger planks, making a room appear bigger works exactly the same with tiles. Choose tiles which are at least 12 inch squares to help open up the space.Carpet floor tiles and luxury vinyl tiles are typically available in different sizes also, which is ideal.
To find out how we can make your rooms look bigger, call our team today on 01865 401 700 or contact us online.
FAQs
Diagonal Floors
Laying your floors diagonally is one of the most effective ways to create a larger space. Diagonally laying floors tricks the eye into seeing the pattern in a different perspective, which also creates more visual interest.
How can I make my room look bigger flooring? ›
Diagonal Floors
Laying your floors diagonally is one of the most effective ways to create a larger space. Diagonally laying floors tricks the eye into seeing the pattern in a different perspective, which also creates more visual interest.
What color floor makes a room look taller? ›
A lighter-colored cream or taupe carpet can brighten up a room and make it feel more spacious and airy. Or, pair a darker-colored carpet with lighter-colored walls and ceilings to make the room feel taller.
How can I make my room look bigger? ›
8 Ways to Make a Space Feel Larger
- Accentuate the vertical. Draw the eye upward so a room looks more spacious. ...
- Consider “see-through” furniture. ...
- Lighten up surroundings. ...
- Go big with accents. ...
- Get away from the wall. ...
- Simplify the color scheme. ...
- Skip the curtains. ...
- Bring nature indoors.
Keep your colors light. Light-colored walls and flooring will make a space feel roomier.
What color floor tile makes a room look bigger? ›
We recommend choosing pale tile shades such as white, cream, beige or grey because they can make the room look lighter and brighter.
Does wide plank flooring make a small room look smaller? ›
Contrary to what you might think - wide plank flooring does NOT make your space look smaller. In fact, in many small spaces, it adds unique visual interest. The wide planks play tricks on your eyes and enhance your space rather than taking away from your design.
Should floors be darker or lighter than walls? ›
There is no hard and fast rule about whether your floors should be darker or lighter than walls. The color combination you choose will depend on the design of your room, your personal preferences, and the look and feel you're trying to create.
What color vinyl planks makes a room look bigger? ›
Dark flooring can create a sense of space when paired with light-colored walls. A glossy finish can also help make the room pop, especially with a darker color. Placing planks parallel with the longer edge of the room creates a spacious feel.
What color floor is trending? ›
Color trends: green, blue, dark brown, ashy white, and gray. Gray is the most popular flooring color, offering versatility for warm and cool tones. A trend towards brighter and more open spaces in home design.
Use Vertical Space
When you're dealing with a small room, think vertical. You might not have much floor space, but by using the walls right up to the ceiling, you use the space you have more efficiently while drawing the eye upwards, making the room seem larger.
Does light grey make a room look bigger? ›
Does grey make a room look bigger? Light hues such as a soft grey can make a room feel expansive indeed. You could opt for this on all four of the walls, as a feature wall that creates a sharp contrast can sometimes make a room feel smaller.
What tile pattern makes a room look bigger? ›
Mixing 3 or more sizes together and creating a tile pattern from it can give your room the feel of being larger than it is. One of the more popular tile patterns that uses 3 or more sizes is called a Versailles Pattern. This pattern will help create a feel of expansiveness which in turn will make you room feel bigger.
What flooring brightens a room? ›
If it's naturally darker, with fewer windows to let light in, then lighter hardwood floors may help brighten up your space. If the room is already naturally bright, you may have the opportunity to choose a more striking dark wood flooring.
How do you make a room look bigger with laminate flooring? ›
Diagonal Placement Work Better
Another smart way to create an illusion of bigger space is to lay out the floor in a diagonal pattern. It works better than horizontal and vertical placement. The placement should be in a way that the wide part of the pattern faces you when you enter the room.
What type of flooring makes a room look bigger? ›
Wide Planks
Selecting wide floor planks is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make a room look bigger. Instead of thin strips, go for boards at least seven inches wide. Longer planks (four or more feet in length) can help as well.
What floor tile pattern makes a room look bigger? ›
Mixing 3 or more sizes together and creating a tile pattern from it can give your room the feel of being larger than it is. One of the more popular tile patterns that uses 3 or more sizes is called a Versailles Pattern. This pattern will help create a feel of expansiveness which in turn will make you room feel bigger.
What shape floor tiles make a room look bigger? ›
Most smaller rooms have a blocked-out square shape, but when you create a diagonal or criss-cross pattern with the flooring, the result is an illusion that extends the floor's size. However, checkerboard patterns are not always the best choice; when they're too small, they can appear to shrink the room even more.
What size floor tile makes a room look larger? ›
Larger Tiles Make Small Rooms Appear Bigger
Because grout lines are thinner and fewer as part of the layout, smaller rooms appear bigger when using larger tiles. Large-format tiles make floors look more streamlined – therefore, creating the illusion of more space.
