5 Design Tricks That Will Make Your Small Space Feel Big

5 Design Tricks That Will Make YourSmall Space Feel Big

Square footage is scarce and expensive in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach. Buyers trade space for location, and with the beach as a backyard, the tradeoff is worth it, but it leaves plenty of small rooms, awkward layouts, and tight kitchens to work around. As both a broker and a CSLB-licensed general contractor, Levine Homes Real Estate & Construction sees these layouts constantly in South Bay homes. Here are five ways to make a small room feel bigger without a full remodel:

Brighten the Room

Bring in as much light as possible. Bright rooms feel larger than dark ones. Paint walls and ceilings the same light color so the eye reads the space as one continuous area instead of broken-up compartments. If the room has a window, hang sheer curtains that let in natural light, and swap bulky fixtures for flush-mount lighting that does not eat into headroom.

Add Mirrors

Mirrors reflect light and add visual depth. A few well-placed mirrors, large and small, can make a small South Bay bedroom or hallway feel noticeably more open.

Streamline Storage

Tight coastal floor plans rarely come with generous storage. Keep everything flush with the walls; anything that juts out visually closes the room in. Recessed shelving is worth the extra framing work in an older home, and it is the kind of built-in upgrade our construction team handles regularly. In kitchens, a roll-away island or pantry adds function without adding permanent bulk.

Get Rid of Clutter

Clutter shrinks a room faster than anything else. Keep bathrooms down to daily necessities, and apply the same rule throughout the house: if you have not used it recently, find it another home.

Choose light-colored flooring

Light walls and ceilings lose their effect if the floor is dark. Keep flooring light to carry the open, bright feel all the way to the ground.