Live in a small apartment? Here’s how you can make your home look bigger and more spacious without spending much

Does your small room or space make you feel congested? Not anymore! A few tweaks can make even a small room feel bigger and more spacious without renovating.

Living in an apartment often means living with limited space, especially in busy metropolitan cities where every square foot counts. And when your home starts feeling cramped, knocking down a wall or renovating the layout may seem like the obvious solution, but what if your landlord doesn't allow it? Or what if a major renovation simply doesn't fit your budget?

Small Home, Limited Budget? Here’s How to Make Your Apartment Look Bigger, Brighter and More Open (Pinterest)

By Ishika Narang

Ishika Narang is a Multimedia Writer at the Hindustan Times, with over three years of experience in digital journalism, specialising in health, lifestyle, beauty, and consumer-focused reporting. Her primary coverage areas include evidence-based health journalism, preventive care, wellness trends, and affiliate-driven consumer guides tailored for digital audiences. She began her professional journey in digital media, where she developed expertise in multimedia storytelling and platform-optimised editorial strategies. Over the years, she has worked with reputed organisations such as Park+, Jagran, and Wavel.ai, steadily building credibility in health and consumer journalism. Her work reflects a strong progression in editorial responsibility, combining research-backed reporting with audience-focused content formats. At Hindustan Times, she produces in-depth health and lifestyle features, expert-led explainers, and data-informed consumer stories. She also focuses extensively on affiliate articles, creating well-researched buying guides, product comparisons, and recommendation-based content that balances commercial intent with editorial integrity. Alongside writing, she conceptualises and manages social media storytelling, ensuring content is informative, engaging, and optimised for platform-specific consumption. Her subject expertise includes preventive healthcare, nutrition, supplements, women’s health, beauty trends, consumer awareness, and affiliate commerce content. She integrates expert consultations, peer-reviewed research, verified product analysis, and transparent sourcing. Her strengths lie in evidence-based storytelling, simplifying complex information, and producing reader-first affiliate content that prioritises trust and value. Ishika holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) in Marketing from Guru Gobind Indraprastha University, which enhances her understanding of consumer behaviour, digital commerce, and audience engagement, skills that complement her specialisation in consumer and affiliate journalism. She is committed to ethical reporting, transparent affiliate disclosures, rigorous fact-checking, and maintaining editorial credibility, ensuring every story upholds reader trust and journalistic standards.

Read moreRead less

If you've been dreaming of a home that feels more open, airy and spacious without spending a lot, you're in the right place. With a few smart decor tweaks and thoughtful changes, you can create the illusion of a larger space without touching a single wall.

Let natural lighting be the main character

This is one of the easiest ways to make the room look larger. This is by maximising the light that comes in the room, as bright spaces tend to feel more open, while dark may make a room feel enclosed.

For this, choose the lightweight curtains in a sorter or the neutral shades.

Note: Using floor-length curtains may give the illusion of taller ceilings.

Use a mirror to create the illusion of space

Except for doing the fit check, the mirror can do a lot more than this. It can make a compact room appear brighter and more spacious. Place a large mirror opposite or near a window so that it reflects the light around the room.

Note: If you do not want to drill on the wall, then you may also use the large floor mirror to add an extra depth.

Choose the lighter colours

There is the reason why neutral colours are in a trend nowadays. Lighter colours reflect light that can make the wall appear less imposing. Try a palette of warm white, beige, cream, soft grey or muted pastels for the larger surfaces, then add personalisation through cushions, artwork, rugs and smaller decorative pieces.

Pick the furniture that does not overpower the room

One of the mistakes people make in small homes is choosing furniture based only on whether it fits the space or not.

A bed may technically fit against a wall, but if it is oversized and bulky, it can make the room feel congested. Look for the furniture with alim profiles and lighter proportions. This makes the room feel more spacious.

Use vertical space

Walls may be used in the place of floors if the flooring isn't enough. You may consider that place to have bookshelves, artwork, a storage unit, and cabinets.

Note: Just avoid using every wall space, as it can still make your room feel cramped.

Do not push everything against the wall

It might seem sensible to push every piece of furniture against the wall to create more floor space, but that isn't always the best solution. Sometimes, leaving a little space between furniture and walls can make a room feel more spacious.

Don't forget about lighting

Even the well-designed small room can feel congested if it is poorly lit.

Instead of relying on a single overhead light, create layers of lighting. Combine ceiling lights with floor lamps, table lamps or wall lights to illuminate different areas of the room.

Warm lighting can also make a space feel more inviting, particularly in bedrooms and living rooms.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What colours make a small room look bigger?

Do mirrors really make a room look bigger?

Is large furniture bad for a small home?

Powered ByAsk HT