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.
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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.
Get the look This is a Flexform sofa. For similar lounge chairs, see Ideas to steal. For white-oiled oak floorboards like these, visit The Natural Wood Floor Co. The bronze sculpture is from Michael Werner Gallery.
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.
ML42 bar stools, By Lassen. Black Orchid two-arm wall lamp, Bluesuntree. The black marble island was custom-made for the scheme. For a similar look work surface, see Caesarstone’s Jet Black
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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.
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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.
Get the look: The dining table is bespoke. The Red chairs are from Stellar Works. The Hooked 3.0 lights are by Buster + Punch. The rug is from Linie Design.
Get the look: The panelling is painted in Stiffkey Blue Estate Eggshell by Farrow & Ball. The small basin was found at Mongers Architectural Salvage.
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.
Similar tiles, Bert & May. Try West Elm’s Cosmo side table. Wall lights, Hicken Lighting & Interiors
See Also: Cool Ways To Bring The Outdoors In
Get the look The table is from Mark Tuckey in Melbourne. Find a similar table at Benchmark. These are the 209 bentwood chairs by Thonet, available at Nest.
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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.
Bespoke mirrored glass island, price on request, Jo Berryman Studio. cabinetry painted in oval Room Blue estate eggshell, £60 for 2.5l, Farrow & Ball. cathedral limestone flooring, £116sq m, Stone Age.
Ritz chair, £549, Swoon, has this look. Peaks rug, from £2,075, Paul Smith for The Rug Company. Find similar vases at Jonathan Adler. Majesty sitting swan ornament, £45, Graham and Green.
See Also: How to decorate with antiqued mirrors
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.
Photography: uniquehomestays.com
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