6 easy ways to add space to your home without extending

By Ruth Doherty published 23 July 20

With our homes becoming our sanctuaries more than ever before, the desire for a bigger, airier space is increasing. But, when it comes to renovating, there are many ways to increase space in the home without extending.

With plenty of high-style kitchen projects under its belt, The Main Company knows a thing or two about making the most of what you've got. Here they share their six top tips.

How to add space to your home without extending:

There are plenty of things you can do to create a roomier feel to the family home without carrying out major works. Discover five top tips below.

1. KNOCK DOWN WALLS

Removing walls to make two smaller rooms into one larger ‘living’ area is a key technique for maximising space and is often the basis of an effective open plan design.

The Main Company has embraced this trend for open plan living and the majority of its projects now showcase this contemporary design style. Different zones can be created using rugs and sofas, to create separate areas that serve different purposes, whilst still retaining a sense of spaciousness.

2.REARRANGE THE FURNITURE

For a quicker alternative, moving items that are currently placed around four walls of a room to just two walls, and bringing furniture and units into the centre of the room, will create an enhanced feeling of size and space. Flooring should run parallel to the longest walls and not across them to create a visually bigger room.

3. BLEND THE FIFTH WALL

Try to have no defined difference between the ceiling and the walls, to encourage a fluid continuity between vertical and horizontal surfaces.

See Also:Ceiling Decorating Ideas

4. TAKE THE INSIDE OUT

Furthermore, if possible, extend the floor from a living area to the outside at the same level, so that when patio doors are open in the summer, the outdoors is brought inside and vice versa.

5. SMOKE AND MIRRORS

In terms of decorating, subtle lighting should be used in various areas rather than a blanket spotlight, and mirrors should be used to bounce natural light around the room.

6. STICK TO ONE COLOUR

A particular colour accent should be connected from one end of the room to the other, to tie the whole design together. These techniques will create a more spacious home that feels bigger and airier, without a full building extension.