Tiny house living may be a trend for some, but for others small-spaced apartment living is their only choice (hello, New Yorkers!). Fortunately with interior design there are a handful of tips and tricks you can use to make your space appear bigger! Whether you're hoping to make your small, low-ceiling living room appear grander or hoping to capitalize on your teeny bedroom space, we're excited to share a few of the best tricks we've come across to making your small home spaces look bigger!

1) Paint the Ceiling 
Yup, you heard us! Paint the ceilings of your space a crisp light color (usually white) to draw the eyes upward and to brighten up any shadowy areas. Even if you don't have a lot of natural light to depend on, the lighter and brighter the space, the bigger and grander it will appear. We've also seen some choose to wallpaper a ceiling to create more dimension and encourage the eyes upward. 

2) Use Multifunctional Furniture Pieces
Rather than cluttering up a small space with multiple pieces of furniture, choose pieces with multiple uses and capitalize on ultimate functionality. For example, use a coffee table that doubles as storage space or an ottoman. Or, choose a tv-stand that doubles as a bookshelf for added storage and shelving. Be creative when it comes to your furniture choices and always -- if possible -- try to double each piece's use to maximize space!

Photo Credit: Wayfair 

3) Make A Statement With Fun Pieces

Choose one statement piece for each small space, whether it be a patterned rug, a fun armchair, or a super unique pillow cover. By keeping most of the space simple and only adding one statement piece, you won't make the room too busy or distracting, but will also add a sense of dimension and texture to the overall look of the room!

4) Bring On The Natural Light
If you are lucky enough to be blessed with windows and natural light, take full advantage of the vibrancy a little sunshine can bring to any space. Rather than keeping your blinds and curtains drawn tightly, open 'em up and let light pour in. The more natural light you can let seep in, the larger a room will appear to the naked eye. Feel like you need to maintain a little privacy from nosy neighbors? Just be sure to draw the curtains back in the mornings to fill the room up with light.

Photo Credit: Ashley Winn Design

5) Choose Neutrals And Light Colors
While darker colors can scream glamour and sophistication, the use of neutrals and lighter colors will absolutely make a space appear larger and more vast. If possible, opt for as many of these lighter hues as possible and use bright and/or darker colors and patterns sparingly.

6) Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall...
Adding a mirror or two to your walls can open up a space instantly, as it serves to reflect both light and trick the eye into thinking the space is larger than it is. Don't feel the need to go overboard with a massive mirror large enough to fill a department store's dressing room, even just adding a small one as a part of your photo collage can be enough to add that extra depth you're hoping for.

Photo Credit: The Neotrad 

7) Photo Walls Tell Great Stories (And Add Height!)
Share your family's favorite memories, places, and faces with a unique photo collage wall. Using various sizes of frames and extending the gallery toward the ceiling adds a sense of height and an element of creative dimension that will open up even the tiniest of spaces. Photo Credit: Digital Mom

8) Color Coordinate Shelves & Books
Along the lines of our neutral decor tip, color coordinating your knick knack shelves and bookcases is appealing to the eye and creates a crispness and orderliness that truly sets any room up for success. 

9) Get Rid of Clutter
Although styled shelves and photo walls can be nice in adding some character and dimension, sometimes removing all senses of clutter is all you need to streamline a tiny space and create a more grand appearance. Spend some time de-cluttering and really clean up your space to take full advantage of every square inch of your space! 

10) Show Some Leg
... with the furniture, that is! Choosing pieces that have taller legs that allow each item to sit away from the floor is just another of the many simple tricks to growing those tiny spaces. Plus, with a little lift you can often capitalize on the under-side storage for out of season decor and other storage items. 


Any other tips or tricks that you've used in your own homes to add some space? We'd love to hear! Be sure to visit us on INSTAGRAM and comment with your own ideas and tricks.