Living in a condo in Toronto can mean making some sacrifices when it comes to what you keep in your home. That huge leather sectional that might look great in a 2000 square foot house, might make your 750 square foot condo seem pretty cramped. Space is always at a premium in Condoland, it can sometimes seem like there isn’t enough room to swing a cat. But there are ways to make your space look and feel bigger. Here are 15 ways to help.
1. Use very light colors or very dark colors to give a room depth.
Medium shades can make a room appear smaller, but when you use bright whites and deep dark paint colors, you create contrast, which creates depth and the illusion of a larger space.
2. Get a bed with storage.
Make the most of your bedroom space, and remove clutter by investing in a bed with drawers and shelves. Shelves can double as a bedside table where there is no room for one, and drawers can be used to store linens and other laundry that doesn't require hanging.
3. Hang your TV on the wall.
Consider mounting your TV on the wall to free up the space underneath. The size of your TV and the way your wall is constructed will determine the method you should use in order to hang your TV. Always use the factory suggested instruction method for your situation, and be aware of where hidden things like pipes and wires are at when drilling holes into your wall.
Also, always check your condo corporation's Declaration and By-laws before you do any work on your condo that will make holes in your walls. Depending on the scope of your project, you may need the services of a professional handy-person, and in some cases you may need permission from the corporation before starting the work.
4. Hang floor-to-ceiling curtains.
Hanging long curtains just below the ceiling that sweep all the way down to the floor is like putting stiletto heels on a room. Ceilings instantly look higher. IKEA’s is great because they consistently carry inexpensive 96″ curtains that are harder to find in other stores.
5. Mirrors.
Not only do mirrors come in handy for checking yourself out, they’re a great way to make a room seem bigger. A mirror will give the optical illusion of a room being bigger than it actually is, making it perfect for a small condo.
6. Use a few larger decorative accents instead of many small decorative items.
Lots of small knick-knacks tend to feel like clutter and make a room look smaller. Use the triangle rule and symmetry when styling vignettes on coffee tables, nightstands, dresser tops, and dining tables and limit decor groupings to 3 or 5 items. But you don’t need decor accents on every single surface of your home. Let a room “breathe”.
7. Vertical Plants.
Not only do plants add some much needed life and greenery to your condo, you can get a vertical plant like this one that doesn’t take up that much space.
8. Use a few lamps to spread light evenly around the room instead of relying completely on one overhead light.
Having multiple sources of light in a room can make the space feel more expansive. It’s really helpful in rooms that have limited natural light.
9. Trash can inside door.
If you aren’t doing this already, you should start. Trash cans inside doors have been saving me space for years. I don’t even live in a small condo and they’ve been a life saver in cramped quarters like my kitchen.
10. Use rugs to define the spaces.
Area rugs help rooms feel finished and pulled together. But they can also create the illusion of more square footage. They also help prevent the sounds in your unit, like footsteps or TV from disturbing your neighbours.
11. Buy a visually interesting ceiling light fixture.
Incorporating ceiling lights with details draws the eye upwards and adds height to a room.
12. Declutter, declutter, declutter.
A regular "decluttering" of cabinets, closets, and any other rooms that start feeling too “full” can help prevent your home from being overcrowded. Even a large room that is cluttered will feel small.
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