Make Your Rooms Appear Bigger with These 3 Simple Window Tricks!
If you live in a condo, apartment, or even a townhouse, chances are that you have at least one room that you wish was just a little bit bigger. Whether it’s a kitchen, dining room, bathroom or even a bedroom, it is easy for these smaller rooms to end up feeling claustrophobic and cramped – especially if you don’t decorate them in the right way. Too much furniture, dark colours and many other factors can contribute to this suffocating effect, but luckily there’s a solution – and that is to dress your windows right.
Use Shades for Added Height…
Outside the window mounted shades are a perfect was to add a little height to your window, changing its perceived size and the size of the room overall at the same time. Most windows have a good amount of space between the window trim and the ceiling, so choosing to mount your shades 6 or 6 inches above the trim conceals where the window actually begins and lends to the illusion of a taller window. As an added bonus, by mounting the shades higher, they will leave more window exposed when they are drawn up, allowing for even more natural light to enter your small space and give it a breath of fresh air.
…And Curtains for Added Width!
This trick is similar to the first, with two major differences – the window treatment of choice are curtains, and they will help you add the illusion of window width to your small space, not height. In this hack, you mount the curtain rod well above the window (about half way between the trim and the ceiling) but make sure to extend the rod well beyond the width of the window.
When your curtains are hung and drawn back, they should only cover an inch or two on each side of the window with the majority of their fabric actually covering the wall itself. When curtains actually hang in front of the wall rather than the window it gives the illusion of added width beneath the fabric. For bonus window size, add short furniture beneath the window. A stylish antique dresser or other piece of furniture will cover the bottom edge, adding to the mystery of your window’s size.
Choose Your Coverings Wisely!
There are several different tips and tricks that you can use when choosing your window coverings to increase the perceived size of your window – and room. One popular choice is to layer different patterned or textured coverings – for example, instead of using just one of the above tricks, why not both in combination? A lighter shade with bold framing curtains provides an eye-catching contrast, as well as adding an illusion of depth, and of course, increased size.
Another popular window covering choice to increase the perceived size of your room is to choose light, breezy fabrics. These let more natural light into the room, making it look larger than it is. We all know that too many dark colours can make things dim and cave-like. An open, airy feel from your window coverings will do a lot to make the space feeler bigger than it really is.
Enjoy Your New Wide Open Space!
Whatever the room, any room with a window can appear larger by following these simple tips and tricks. There are many other factors that go into choosing blinds, curtains, shades, shutters or drapes, but this should be enough to get you started! If you’re interested in learning more about how windows can open up the space in your home, or would like information on the choices available to, contact one of our experts at 905-660-1127 or [email protected] – we’re happy to help.
