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How to Make a Small Space Look Bigger

Maximize your square footage with these room-expanding tricks.

space-saving tips

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1 of 10

Maximize your square footage with these room-expanding tricks.

Add Multipurpose Pieces
Investing in furniture that serves many functions is a great way to streamline a room. An ottoman with built-in storage lets you tuck away blankets and books, and also makes a compact footrest.

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Photo: Mark Lund

See More: Decor Tricks , Style Solutions , Buying Furniture , Decor Trends , Painting & DIY

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The Color Coding tip is absolutely the BEST tip out of the 10. My husband and I live in a TINY one bedroom in Seattle, and this helps things stay a little more connected and less cluttered!!!!

by bhigley on Nov 05, 2009

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by TerriB2010 on Feb 10, 2010

If you do find a nice mirror at a flea market but the frame isn't your style or is nicked up you can cover the frame with fabric and personalize it even more.

by km31310 on Mar 19, 2010

i think you're supposed to just pick one or two tips and implement them in your home. I put a big mirror in my living room and it totally opened the space.

by ninamee on Jan 24, 2011

Honestly, I'm not sure why white is always the go-to color for small spaces. My hubby to be and I are looking to remodel an old home, and I think the white walls are just awful. Far too sterile for my tastes, I think I'll go with the pastel colors instead.

by cnamiotka on Mar 11, 2011

does anyone know where this bed frame is from?

by jessylalancette on May 06, 2011

It's from Anthropologie

by LauraBunch on May 24, 2011

My favorite is the functional stuff. We have both a storage ottoman (his video games go in there of course...) and we just got the Hunter Trunk from Crate and Barrel. I put all our board games in the 2 sides (opening up a whole shelf in the entertainment center) and the middle has space for wine bottles.

by eriley08@gmail.com on Jun 14, 2011

We have so many decorating differences that so far we haven't done a single thing to our apartment. We expect to move for work once he graduates so we don't want to invest too much in to painting nor do we want to spend a lot on furniture until we get settled in a more permanent place. Plus, he likes cityscapes and beach-y stuff while I like vintage historical (like the 30's and 40's and railways and old cars). I've tried to compromise somewhere around historical cityscapes but it hasn't worked...yet. I hope eventually he'll give up the struggle and just let me do what I want. :)

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by jhonmgt745 on Feb 01, 2012

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by tomcrooz on Feb 02, 2012

The last article I read here said to use dark colors for your walls to make them seem larger and contrast with light colors in your furniture. So, which one is it? Dark or light walls? Yesh

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by nahshal on Feb 07, 2012

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by Apollosan on Feb 10, 2012

this is such a great thing to know 'Investing in furniture that serves many functions is a great way to streamline a room. An ottoman with built-in storage lets you tuck away blankets and books, and also makes a compact footrest"..more power background check

by Apollosan on Feb 10, 2012