How To Use Curtains To Make Rooms Feel Bigger

It would be wonderful if every home was blessed with high ceilings and a huge amount of space but, sadly, this is not to be and there are many property owners out there that have to find ways to make their rooms feel bigger and more open without calling in a construction company to do some heavy lifting.

The good news is that there’s a huge amount that can be achieved in this respect and one particularly quick and efficient way of making your rooms feel more expansive is by choosing your curtain designs and styles wisely.

The trick is to draw the eye upwards as much as you can, so don’t be afraid to go for really tall statement curtains in smaller rooms. This will make the ceilings look a lot higher than they actually are and trick people into thinking the rooms are bigger. 

You can up the ante even further by installing your curtain rod close to the ceiling, instead of fitting it at window frame height. Installing the rod so it’s wider than the window itself will also mean you’re able to draw the curtains back fully, exposing more of the window and allowing more natural light to flood the space, making it feel bigger.

Your choice of fabric design can also make a big difference to how big or small your living spaces feel. If you go for something with a vertical stripe, for example, you’ll find that this also helps create an illusion of height, whereas if you opt for a horizontal stripe you will likely see the opposite of the desired effect.

Texture is another aspect to think about when choosing your curtain materials if you’re working in a smaller room. 

Heavier fabrics like velvet or corduroy can absorb the light and potentially the space feel even smaller than it already does, whereas lighter materials like silk or perhaps something sheer and almost see-through can make rooms feel more airy and spacious.

As for colour, opting for curtains in a neutral shade like white, cream or beige can help create a sense of space, even in the smallest of rooms. These shades are great at reflecting light and this helps to open up your living spaces, particularly if you ensure they complement your paint choices on the walls.

If you’re not keen on the ideas of whites and beiges, you can bring in some colour if you go for lighter tones. The same illusion will be created but you won’t have to strip the look back quite so far.

Of course, these are just a few little tricks of the trade you can employ to help make your rooms feel bigger, so if you need any further help or advice, make sure you get in touch with the Pret A Vivre team today to discuss your next interior design project.