Making a Small Apartment Feel Larger: 10 Pro Tips

Do you think the secret to comfortable living lies in square meters? Not at all – it's about the right approach to space planning and interior design. Follow the advice of experienced designers, and low ceilings will no longer feel oppressive, a small room will seem more spacious, and every item will have its place.

1. Simple Space Planning

"No matter how small the apartment is, follow basic logic in forming the space," advises designer Nikita Zub. "Typically, the layout looks like this: hallway – public area – private space (bedroom). When this arrangement is violated in the layout, illogical solutions arise."

2. Secrets of Floor Finishing

"Lighter and cooler floor tones visually expand the space," explain designers from BeInDesign studio. "Instead of laminate, it's more effective to use planks of varying lengths; and if you use glossy tiles on the kitchen floor, light will reflect off them, making the room feel airy and lighter. "

3. Ceiling Painting

"I never paint the ceiling with white paint – I always choose an off-white tone that matches the wall color," shares decorator Julia Golavskaya. "A good solution is to paint the walls and ceiling in the same color. Try using a wainscoting – it makes low ceilings look higher."

4. Accent Walls Work!

"A bold accent wall, such as a photo wallpaper or a colorful finish, visually makes the room more spacious," says Natalia Preobrazhenskaya. "The secret is simple: a contrasting wall balances the space and slightly diverts attention from horizontal planes. If you don't want to re-wallpaper, look for an alternative: an interesting shelf, a footstool, a small console with a unique design, a striking painting or poster."

5. What You Need to Know About Doors

"In a narrow hallway, don't block the passage with swinging doors – it's better to open them inward into the room," explains architect Nikita Morozov. "Sliding or folding doors can solve the problem of tight passages – they require less space. Interior doors with windows and/or glass panels allow natural light to enter rooms without windows."

6. Use Mirrors

"Place them opposite windows – and the room will fill with light," shares advice from an expert on small spaces, Ksenia Ysusupova. "Large mirrors placed on the floor give the interior a light bohemian touch and expand the space. Another great idea is to hide a distribution panel behind a mirror that mimics a window frame."

7. Storage Systems

"Try to use the full height of the room to its maximum. For example, make wardrobes up to the ceiling, placing long-term items, seasonal footwear, down jackets, and coats on upper shelves," says Maks Zhukov. "Plus, built-in wardrobes up to the ceiling seem like part of the room rather than bulky or out of place, unlike regular wardrobes. For saving precious space, use furniture itself as storage: for example, a footstool, the space under the table or on the wardrobe – put attractive boxes there for items you don’t use often."

8. How Light Works

"Recessed LED lights aimed at the ceiling provide pleasant diffused light. This light visually lifts the ceiling and evenly illuminates all interior spaces," explains designer Nikolai Vashantsev. "Place table lamps and floor standing lights in the room – they create soft lighting and a pleasant atmosphere."

9. Furniture Arrangement

"Furniture in a small space should be placed along the walls to avoid dividing the room into even smaller zones," advises Daria El'nikova. "Built-in appliances and transforming furniture help free up space significantly."

10. Nothing Extra

"I urge everyone to give away all excess and stick to the rule: bring home a new clothes bag from a boutique – immediately take out the old one. Got new plates – give away the old ones," says designer Diana Balasheva. "Unconditionally get rid of what you don’t use – free up space for living."