People who live in smaller apartments or suites often look for ways to make it seem like they have way more square footage than they actually do. This can include arranging artwork, floor coverings, and furniture in creative ways. There is one simple, surefire way to make your living space look bigger than it is, and that is by using blinds. The right kind of window treatment can make a huge difference in how it accentuates the area and gives the appearance of increasing a room’s square footage. If you are interested in learning how to use blinds to your advantage, keep reading over the informative list of tips below.
Merge Utility with Aesthetics
You will want whatever blinds you choose to meld with the overall decor of the room they are going into. This means you will have to make your choice based on color, length, and opaqueness. If you are trying to go for a room enlarging feel, it is best to stick with lighter colors. Darker colors tend to make a space feel more enclosed, by choosing white, cream, or eggshell type colors, the blinds will lend a peaceful, airy feeling to the room.
Sheer blinds are another great option for making a space feel larger, but not everyone is comfortable with the privacy level that sheer blinds offer. If that does not bother you, you will be impressed with just how much natural light that sheer blinds let into a room, which in turn can make it feel a lot larger than it actually is. However, there are blinds available that have both sheer and full privacy options together in one.
If you prefer the function of shades over blinds, keep in mind that lighter colors are still going to be the best choice. In addition, avoid patterned or textured shades, as they can actually make a room feel smaller than it is. Your best choice is solid, light colored shades to achieve the goal you want.
Keep Window Coverings Flush with Windows
Anytime you are selecting a window covering for a smaller room, make sure that what you go with is flush with the actual window. Vertical blinds and heavy fabric roman shades are typically bad for this. For a better fit and overall aesthetic, stick with classic blinds, wood blinds, or even roller shades. If you hire a professional installer, you will be assured a perfect fit.
Use Mirrors to Your Advantage
Mirrors are commonly used in interior design to make rooms feel bigger by placing them strategically. If you use one to reflect a window, it gives the illusion of more light entering the room, which in turn will make it seem like there is a lot more space than there is. Experiment with some decorative mirrors to see what kind of affect you can get.
Plan for Low Ceilings
Low ceilings give the appearance of a short and squat room. You can work around this issue quite easily by making sure that any window coverings you use are mounted close to the ceiling. This will have the tendency to draw people’s eyes up rather than down, and make the roof seem a lot more vertical adding the illusion of height.
Declutter the Area Around Windows
Clutter such as furniture, plants, and shelving located around windows can make things far more enclosed. Try and declutter the space around your windows to make it seem more open and give a clear line of sight toward the windows. You will be surprised by how much larger a room will feel with a distinct lack of clutter.
FAQs
If you are trying to go for a room enlarging feel, it is best to stick with lighter colors. Darker colors tend to make a space feel more enclosed, by choosing white, cream, or eggshell type colors, the blinds will lend a peaceful, airy feeling to the room.
Do blinds make a room look bigger? ›
Wider blinds won't necessarily make a room look bigger if they then dominate the free wall space. Wider slats in Venetian blinds, however, can help to make the window feel a little smaller, making it look as though there is more empty wall space and thus making the space itself feel larger.
How do I make my windows feel bigger? ›
Install Floor-Length Curtains
Another strategy to make windows appear larger is to hang floor-length curtains. By extending the curtains from ceiling to floor, you draw the eye upward, giving the illusion of higher ceilings and larger windows.
What is the purpose of blinds in windows? ›
Window blinds have varying thermal effects: they can block unwanted heat of the summer sun and they can keep in heat in cold weather. But in both of these applications, they also reduce light to varying degrees, depending on the design. Many kinds of blinds attempt varying balances of privacy and shade.
What window treatment makes a room look bigger? ›
Along with allowing more light into the room, sheer shades can also offer an unobtrusive view to make the space look bigger. If sheer isn't the option you are looking for because of the privacy aspect, you can choose window treatments of a lighter colour.
Do windows make a room look bigger? ›
In many cases, small rooms have shorter ceilings. Having longer windows installed can make the room seem bigger than it is. For a luxurious touch, a floor-to-ceiling window works wonders.
Do blinds make a difference? ›
Window blinds—vertical (Venetian blinds) or horizontal slat-type (louvered-type)—are effective at reducing summer heat gain and reducing glare, while providing good daylight indoors.
What increase the size of the window? ›
The correct answer is Ctrl & +. Windows has a zoom feature. This zoom feature allows enlarging the size of the window.
How do I make everything bigger on windows? ›
To change your display in Windows, select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Display. To make only the text on your screen larger, adjust the slider under Make text bigger. To make everything larger, including images and apps, choose an option from the drop-down menu under Make everything bigger.
How do I force a window to be bigger? ›
Click on the top of the window. Hold and drag the window down. Drag in the opposite direction if you want to make the window bigger again. To resize horizontally on other computers, move your mouse to right or left side of the window.
Blinds of all kinds, from pleated to venetian and roller, can help protect furniture and carpets from fading. Blinds also help keep rooms cool in the summer, providing essential shade on bright sunny days.
Why choose blinds? ›
Unlike shades, you can adjust the slats to control light and ventilation. For example, when completely closed and lowered on a sunny window, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45%. They can also be adjusted to block and reflect direct sunlight onto a light-colored ceiling.
Are blinds good for windows? ›
Blinds will reduce heat gain in summer by reflecting the heat back out the window, particularly if the external surface is white or close to white. In winter, if the blind is well-fitted (roman blinds are a great choice for this job), the space between the blind and window traps still air to prevent heat loss.
How to make a room look bigger with blinds? ›
How to Use Shades to Make Your Home Look Bigger
- Choose blinds and shades that are low-profile and flush with your windows. ...
- Mount your window treatments outside of your windows. ...
- Install sheer shades for the ultimate in natural light and openness. ...
- Hang a mirror facing your windows and window coverings.
Some expert tips to make a room look bigger include using lighter paint colors, hanging curtains at ceiling height, incorporating large mirrors, using multi-functional furniture, and utilizing wall space for storage.
How do you visually enlarge a room? ›
8 Ways to Make a Space Feel Larger
- Accentuate the vertical. Draw the eye upward so a room looks more spacious. ...
- Consider “see-through” furniture. ...
- Lighten up surroundings. ...
- Go big with accents. ...
- Get away from the wall. ...
- Simplify the color scheme. ...
- Skip the curtains. ...
- Bring nature indoors.
While window treatments can help to add value to your home, there are some cases when the opposite holds true. If the blinds or shutters are outdated or in disrepair, that may end up lowering the value. Likewise, inexpensive plastic blinds purchased at hardware or home goods stores won't add anything to your home.
Are blinds or curtains better for a small room? ›
Consider the size of the room
Large living and dining rooms and bedrooms can often look better with full length curtains, either lined or sheer. Smaller rooms are often better suited to blinds.
Is a room darker with blinds up or down? ›
The brightest light and UV rays come in a downward angle directly from the sun. If your goal is controlling light but not closing your blinds completely, then the best option is to turn the slats up. Completely closing blinds in the upward position is also the preferred direction for the maximum room darkening effect.
People who live in smaller apartments or suites often look for ways to make it seem like they have way more square footage than they actually do. This can include arranging artwork, floor coverings, and furniture in creative ways. There is one simple, surefire way to make your living space look bigger than it is, and that is by using blinds. The right kind of window treatment can make a huge difference in how it accentuates the area and gives the appearance of increasing a room’s square footage. If you are interested in learning how to use blinds to your advantage, keep reading over the informative list of tips below. 
Sheer blinds are another great option for making a space feel larger, but not everyone is comfortable with the privacy level that sheer blinds offer. If that does not bother you, you will be impressed with just how much natural light that sheer blinds let into a room, which in turn can make it feel a lot larger than it actually is. However, there are blinds available that have both sheer and full privacy options together in one. 
Clutter such as furniture, plants, and shelving located around windows can make things far more enclosed. Try and declutter the space around your windows to make it seem more open and give a clear line of sight toward the windows. You will be surprised by how much larger a room will feel with a distinct lack of clutter.